From a young age, Lessie Lyttle (‘93) understood the power of perseverance. Whether competing in sports, serving as a combat medic or leading healthcare transformations, she built a life around leadership, service and determination.
Growing up in Chattanooga, Lessie found guidance and encouragement at Girls Inc., formerly Girls Club. There, under the guidance of University of Tennessee at Chattanooga professor Dorothy Stephens, she learned what it meant to be empowered. “Through Girls Club, I learned the value of friendship, mentorship and empowerment,” she recalled.
Her family later moved to Auburn, Alabama, where she continued her love for sports and academics. She played basketball, ran track and competed in fast-pitch softball, all while excelling in the classroom. After graduating with honors from Auburn High School, she set her sights on college. But when her family returned to Chattanooga following a tragic accident, she needed a way to fund her education.
Determined to achieve her goals, Lessie joined the U.S. Army Reserves, using the GI Bill to support her education. “I joined the U.S. Army Reserves to take advantage of the college tuition assistance it provided,” she stated.
Despite early acceptance to the University of Alabama, Lessie chose UTC for its tight-knit community and strong business program. “UTC provided the perfect opportunity to achieve my dream while remaining close to home.”
Majoring in Finance was a natural choice. “My love for numbers and problem-solving made math a natural strength of mine, but I knew accounting wasn’t the right fit for me,” she explained. “Finance became the logical choice, especially given my early interest in working on Wall Street.”
While academics were important, her time at UTC was also about building lifelong friendships and leadership experiences. One of the most defining experiences came when she joined Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. She had grown up admiring the women in her Sunday school who were members of the sorority.
1991’s student publication of the “University Echo” honoring Lessie and other active duty members.
“Joining Delta Sigma Theta was a pivotal moment in my personal development. It gave me the chance to grow as a leader, mentor young African American girls and travel the country connecting with a diverse network of like-minded, service-driven women.”
Following her time at UTC, Lessie’s career merged her finance expertise with her medical background, leading her into the world of healthcare consulting, supply chain optimization and strategic sourcing.
She built a successful career at Vizient, Inc., where she became Vice President/Principal, leading large-scale performance improvement initiatives that helped hospitals streamline operations, reduce costs and enhance patient care outcomes.
“My career has been deeply rooted in healthcare consulting, supply chain optimization and strategic sourcing,” she described. “At Vizient, I led large-scale performance improvement initiatives, helping hospitals and health systems enhance efficiency, reduce costs and improve patient care outcomes.”
As her career flourished, Lessie never lost sight of the people and experiences that helped shape her success.
“I have remained engaged with UTC alumni activities since graduating in 1993,” she said. “While I initially participated in homecoming events, I later sought more intentional ways to give back to the university.”
That desire to give back led her to UTC’s Alumni Board of Directors and the Black Alumni Council. “I have been involved with the Black Alumni Council since its inception because I wanted to help create opportunities for Black alumni to remain connected to UTC and each other,” she affirmed. “Through my involvement, I hope to support student scholarships, advocate for increased Black student enrollment and ensure that UTC remains a welcoming and inclusive environment for future generations.”