Since Errika Moore (BSIE 96) was in high school, she has followed the mantra “making an impact, making a difference.” Throughout her distinguished career, Moore has remained engaged with Georgia Tech through several boards, as well as the Stewart School of Industrial & Systems Engineering, providing volunteer leadership and service while abiding by her personal philosophy.

In this interview, Moore discusses her particular passion for supporting female and minority participation in STEM fields, why she made the career move from corporate to nonprofit work, and how she continues to give back to Georgia Tech and ISyE — including serving on the ISyE Advisory Board — in what she calls “a lifestyle of servant leadership.”

You contribute considerable time to organizations in support of increasing minority participation in STEM-related fields. When did your passion for this begin, and how has it developed along with your career?

It actually began when I was at Tech. [In the early 1990s] women made up 10 percent of the student body. That’s in comparison with the 40 percent female population today. In addition, in my time at Tech, minorities represented about 10 percent of the student population.

As a result, I wanted to ensure that others could either have the same opportunities — or ideally, opportunities with even greater access. It became a personal passion that whenever I could specifically be involved with an organization that would increase access for women and minorities — such as my being president of the Georgia Tech Black Alumni Organization or serving on the board of the Georgia Tech Women Alumnae Network — I would raise my hand and join in.

For women in technology, there’s been a significant decline in the number of women graduating in STEM fields since the 1970s. And when you look at the upcoming job opportunities — by 2022, there will be 1.2 million tech-sector jobs — I want women and minorities to fill those jobs.

Previously you were the vice president of member services & external affairs at IT Senior Management Forum (ITSMF), a nonprofit organization that promotes African American representation in senior technology positions within Fortune 500 organizations. Currently, you’re the executive director for the Technology Association of Georgia Education Collaborative (TAG-Ed). Describe what you've done in these roles.

I opted to come out of corporate to specifically focus my energy on nonprofits, hoping to make a difference and be an advocate. At ITSMF my responsibilities included everything from identifying to recruiting to supporting black technology executives.

Who was an influential ISyE professor for you?

Augustine Esogbue, who is now professor emeritus. He was the first black professor at Tech and was like a surrogate father to me. Today he continues to be one of my greatest champions, confidants, and supporters.

He was also an advisor for the GTSBE, which was one of the first chapters of NSBE. He went on to influence hundreds of lives by serving as an advisor for the national organization.

In fall 2016 you received the Woman of the Year award from Women in Technology (WIT). What did winning this award mean to you?

To say it’s a huge and humbling honor is honestly an understatement. WIT is an organization that is highly committed to empowering women in every stage of life — from young women in high school and college to seasoned professionals.

My other mantra in my life is “to whom much is given, much is required.” So the Woman of the Year Award was not only a phenomenal recognition, but it was also a phenomenal responsibility to both uphold receiving the recognition and to ensure I’m doing something positive for the women I come in contact with through that recognition.

Where do you see yourself in the next three to five years? What would you like to be doing?

I have decided to stay committed to the nonprofit sector. There’s a saying that “only a life lived in the service to others is worth living,” so I’ve decided that’s the space for me. I’m fulfilling the purpose that was given to me 20 years ago. Now, how I will continue to serve in that capacity — that may be the question mark. As long as I can be an advocate and a champion, that’s what’s most fulfilling for me, from a career perspective and from a volunteer leadership capacity.

I also give thanks for having the opportunity to serve on the ISyE Advisory Board. [Former School Chair and Professor Emerita] Jane Ammons asked me to serve on the board, and coming from her, it was quite the honor to be asked. And the honor continued by serving under current School Chair Edwin Romeijn’s leadership as well. Being asked to serve and represent the department that shaped who I have become has been one of the most fulfilling opportunities I’ve had while serving Tech.