In recognition of Women’s History Month, The Baltimore Times is highlighting women whose leadership and perspectives are helping shape their industries and communities. Chantel Desrameaux is one of those women.
A technology professional, educator, and community advocate, Desrameaux has spent more than a decade navigating the world of technology consulting—an industry where women, particularly women of color, remain underrepresented. Through that experience, she has developed a leadership philosophy rooted not only in strategy and technical expertise, but also in representation, perspective, and impact.
Desrameaux currently works in construction software consulting and project management, helping organizations improve complex systems and operational processes. Her career has included roles supporting Fortune 500 technology companies, where she has worked at the intersection of technology implementation, curriculum strategy, and delivery management.
But for Desrameaux, the journey has often come with a familiar reality.
“Early in my career, I started noticing that when I walked into certain meetings, I was often the only Black woman in the room,” she said. “In many cases, I was also the only woman.”
Moments like that can feel intimidating, she explained, particularly early in one’s career. Being surrounded by people who don’t share your background can quietly raise questions about belonging and whether your voice will be heard.
Yet over time, her perspective shifted.
“What once felt like isolation began to feel more like responsibility,” Desrameaux said.
Today, she sees those moments as opportunities to contribute a perspective that might otherwise be missing.
Helping organizations design and implement technology solutions that improve operations. Her work often brings together engineers, executives, and project teams, requiring both technical insight and strategic leadership.
“In many of those environments, women are still underrepresented, particularly in technical roles,” she said. “Being the only woman in the room is not uncommon.”
Early in her career, she believed success meant blending in—focusing on preparation, discipline, and letting her work speak for itself. But experience eventually reshaped that thinking.
“Leadership isn’t about minimizing who you are to fit the room,” she explained. “It’s about bringing the full strength of your perspective into it.”
Desrameaux believes women often bring an important dimension to leadership, one that looks not only at systems and strategy but also at the human impact behind decisions.
“We tend to ask questions about how those systems affect people,” she said. “That perspective strengthens organizations.”
Originally from Florida and of Jamaican decent, Desrameaux earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Science. Before transitioning fully into technology consulting, she spent two years teaching chemistry and biology at a public high school—an experience that reinforced her passion for education and mentorship.
Her interests often sit at the intersection of healthcare, education, and technology, three sectors she believes have tremendous potential when innovation brings them together.
She remains deeply engaged in service and community impact. She has also taken on leadership roles in organizations supporting women in technology. As a former leader in Modernizing Medicine Women Innovating in Technology (MMWit), she helped advance conversations about representation and opportunity in the tech industry.
Her commitment to building supportive spaces also extends into a new venture she recently launched with her husband.
Together, they created Lakay Sober Living, a recovery home in South Florida designed to provide stability and dignity for individuals rebuilding their lives after addiction.
“In many ways, that work reflects the same philosophy that has guided my professional journey,” she said. “Spaces matter. Leadership matters. People thrive when they feel seen and supported.”
As Women’s History Month shines a spotlight on women breaking barriers and reshaping industries, Desrameaux hopes her story resonates with women who may find themselves in similar situations.
“Being the only woman in the room doesn’t mean you don’t belong there,” she said. “Often it simply means your voice, your perspective, and your leadership are needed in that space.”
And when women bring their full perspective into the room, she believes, organizations—and communities—become stronger because of it.