For Edwina Payne (T’86), a career in information technology that has swept her all the way to the office of senior vice president and chief information officer hinges on her own tenacity and the support of a loving family.

Payne, who worked as an analyst for the Kellogg Company in Michigan before making the leap into IT in life sciences, says that more women were joining the tech ranks when she graduated in the mid-1980s. As those numbers have dwindled over the years, she’s often asked about how women in IT can make it to where she is, leading large teams across disciplines at Avanos Medical in Alpharetta, Georgia.

“Becoming CIO was the furthest thing from my mind when I started,” she laughs. “I still have that offer letter from the Kellogg Company making the princely sum of $24,000. What I say to girls, to anyone really, is give 110 percent. You’d be amazed at how many people show up to work and give 80 percent. People ask if it bothers me when I’m the only female in the room, and my answer is no. If you’re the one knocking it out of the park, they won’t care whether you’re male or female. They will want you on their team.”

She credits her decision to go into the technology field to the wisdom of her parents, laborers who grew up in large families and instilled the importance of a college education from a young age. A former coal miner, Payne’s father encouraged her to pursue a career in computer technology because it seemed like a field that would offer job security. Their support and encouragement eventually led her to life sciences, where she says she’s able to help others, returning the favor she enjoyed from her parents.

A typical day ranges from crafting technology solutions with her team to meetings with financial officers and supply chain experts who ensure that the pain pumps, tubing, and other medical devices manufactured by Avanos are of the utmost quality and arrive on time.

Marcia Calleja-Matsko, global director of IT strategy and governance, says Payne thrives on variety and problem solving, easily juggling employee management with meeting clients’ expectations. “She is a manager that allows me to lead while providing consultation on organizational direction,” Calleja-Matsko says. “The work we do is critical for the company’s success.”

“If you’re the one knocking it out of the park, they won’t care whether you’re male or female. They will want you on their team.”

—Edwina Payne

Lorraine Valk, owner of Parable Christian Store and Payne’s best friend of more than 30 years, says Payne’s commitment and positivity infect those around her. “Edwina just never gives up,” Valk shares. “Two years ago, we were in Rome and got stuck in a rainstorm. Cabs were all full, so we just ran through the whipping rain for over a mile, water up to our ankles, laughing and soaked to the skin. Every setback is an opportunity, and she just embraces challenges as they arise.”

It’s a mindset, joyfully passed on from parents who wanted more for their daughter, that has served Payne her entire life. She’s proud to be a first-generation college student who works in the life sciences industry.

“As a medical devices manufacturer, what I do every day matters,” Payne says. “We have the opportunity to make the lives of people better through what we do.”