Meet Lesly Luque: Women in Tech Giving Back

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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / November 19, 2024 / Duke Energy
Leadership roles with Latinas in Tech and Women in Technology of Charlotte fuel Luque's drive to expose others to unique opportunities

By Michael J. Solender | illumination Contributor

Six years into her career at Duke Energy, Lesly Luque can only pause in wonder when she looks back at how far she's come in the journey to her "dream job."

The senior cybersecurity analyst works as a scrum master, a role within IT Compliance Enablement that facilitates team workflow using best practices and principles in project support.

She joined the company in 2018 in a three-year IT rotation program after working as a business analyst at a large bank in Charlotte, N.C. Just 16 months earlier, when Luque graduated from Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU) with a bachelor's in computer science information systems, she wasn't aware that someone with her background could have a career in the energy sector.

"My parents hoped for me to become a doctor or lawyer," Luque said. But the more she was exposed to the problem-solving elements and team coordination within IT, the more she enjoyed it.

"I was very attracted to learning different roles that the rotation offered. A whole new world of challenges opened for me."

Overcoming challenges

Luque arrived in Charlotte at age 5, the child of Mexican immigrants.

Despite challenges, she integrated fully into the community, considering herself an American, and her parents encouraged her to pursue her dreams. With exceptional academic achievements, top SAT scores and extensive community service, Luque earned a scholarship to JCSU.

"Through federal programs, I gained residency, got a Social Security card and pursued my education and career goals," she explained, noting upon enrollment at JCSU that she was encouraged to pursue a STEM curriculum given the burgeoning opportunities in tech. "I was always strong in math, though had no idea of the types of jobs available to me in the IT field."

Bringing unique experiences and diverse perspectives to Duke Energy's talent pipeline

Luque, the first in her family to graduate from college, has the work ethic and character that Duke Energy looks to recruit into the company.

"When you think about Duke Energy and the service territories we operate in, they're incredibly diverse," said Bonnie Titone, senior vice president and chief administrative officer. "We're in seven states. It's important for us to look like the communities we serve. We find that good ideas and innovative thinking come from people who don't have the same background or experiences, those who didn't take the same journey, because they bring a different perspective to problem-solving."

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