Shanelle Gibson’s journey from folding clothes in a warehouse to earning over $132,000 as a lead scrum master in tech proves that a college degree isn’t the only path to success.
At 33, the Loganville, Georgia, resident has built a thriving career in tech, leveraging determination, transferable skills, and targeted certifications.
The Breakthrough Moment
Ten years ago, Gibson was working grueling 12-hour shifts in a warehouse, earning less than $15 an hour. Watching her peers graduate from college and land corporate jobs, she felt stuck.
But in 2015, during another long shift, she had a life-changing realization:
“I just thought, ‘I shouldn’t be here. I feel like I’m destined for more,“
Fueled by this epiphany, Gibson quit her warehouse job and began applying for opportunities. She posted her resume on Craigslist, a move that led to her first role in tech as a phone dispatcher for ParkingSoft, a parking management software startup.
Climbing the Tech Ladder
Gibson’s proactive problem-solving skills quickly caught the attention of her manager, leading to a promotion to customer support analyst.
The role introduced her to technical tools like SQL and JIRA, laying the foundation for her tech career.
Over the next few years, Gibson transitioned into technical support and project management roles at companies like Ceridian Dayforce and UnitedHealthcare. While the roles paid better, she craved more challenging work.
In 2021, Gibson discovered the scrum master profession, a role that appealed to her knack for organization and problem-solving.
After completing a two-day Scrum Alliance certification course for $400, she landed her first scrum master position at UnitedHealthcare. She has since advanced to her current role as a lead scrum master at a healthcare firm.
Breaking Barriers and Earning Six Figures
For Gibson, crossing the six-figure salary threshold felt both surreal and validating.
“Society tells us that you need a college degree to land a high-paying job,” she says. “Hitting that milestone helped me realize that there’s no special formula to earning six figures.”
Gibson credits her success to a combination of technical skills, such as Agile project management, and soft skills like problem-solving and time management—abilities honed during her years in retail and customer service.
Advice for Aspiring Professionals
Gibson encourages others to recognize the value of their transferable skills and embrace continuous learning.
“Whether you succeed in college or not doesn’t define who you are as a person,” she says. “Whatever you want to do, if you have the right attitude and put in the work, you’ll achieve it.”
Her story underscores the growing accessibility of high-paying careers in tech for those willing to explore non-traditional paths.
By taking advantage of certifications, online resources, and determination, Gibson transformed her life—proving that success is attainable, even without a degree.
This story was culled from one of CNBC Make It’s Ditching the Degree series.
