Conversations with Levon Whyte

Today we’d like to introduce you to Levon Whyte.

Hi Levon, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
After my undergraduate degree I worked for 2 years as a mechanical engineer for the government of Jamaica doing product testing and quality assurance. However after that job became somewhat monotonous and coupled with a growing interest that I had with alternative energy and energy conservation I started looking for opportunities to pursue graduate studies in energy.

After applying to multiple schools a partial scholarship offer came from the University of Rochester. I didnt have a concrete idea of where the balance of the funds would come from but my mother encouraged me to take the leap of faith and go.

After graduate school I got a job in Massachusetts as an energy engineer. At the time I had no friends or family that was close to where I lived and that point I ended up turning to the 2 hobbies I had gained interest in while growing up: music and photography

Photography became both an outlet and a way to connect with people. As I learned and grew, people started asking me to shoot events and portraits, and that slowly evolved into professional work.

I love photographing people — their emotions, their energy, their stories. My first wedding shoot was a defining moment for me. It was a long, tiring day, but when the couple saw their photos and expressed how much it meant to them, I realized photography wasn’t just a hobby — it was a way to give people memories they could cherish for life.

As for music I bought myself a guitar and tried out for the band at the church I used to attend. At that point I realized there was so much I needed to learn to be able to play well enough for “prime time”. With the time that I had I spent hours marrying the music theory and general knowledge that I had as a child with all the information that was now available online (as opposed to 10 years prior when YouTube etc. did not exist). Since that point I’ve improved but I always consider myself as not yet achieved and am still learning more as I get the time.

After around 4 years in Massachusetts my company won a project with a utility based in Rochester and asked if I would consider relocating back to Rochester to manage that client. It was an opportunity to take on a more senior role and it also aligned with my personal life as my then girlfriend- now wife was living there at the time.

After moving back to Rochester my girlfriend and I got married and over the course of 3 years we had our 2 daughters. After needed more space with bigger family and being tired of the cold winters we decided to move to Atlanta.

Moving to Atlanta has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. In just a couple years, I’ve found a network of Black professionals, creatives, engineers, and musicians who inspire me. Atlanta feels like a space where Black excellence thrives, and being surrounded by that kind of energy has pushed me to grow in new ways.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Overcoming Obstacles Along the Way

My journey hasn’t been without struggle. Graduate school at the University of Rochester was academically tough and financially challenging. Before I had got to the University I was banking on getting a part time job on campus that would help defray expenses. However, those plans and actual expenses did not align. At one point, I couldn’t afford my rent and to leave house I had been in. In addition to this I was completely unprepared for the bitter cold and snow that Rochester New York and by the end of my first semester I was discouraged and depressed. Fortunately, there was an older woman from the church that learned of my ordeal and offered me a place to stay for the rest of my studies. Between her kindness and the support Jamaican community in Rochester that bridged the gap in some of the resources I needed I was able to successfully complete my degree and graduate without owning funds or having to extend my stay.

When I entered the professional world getting a job after graduate school, I also faced new challenges there as well. In a relatively new country and also a new state (I had moved from Rochester New York to Massachusetts for my job) I had a hard time adjusting to the US work culture and also navigating racial relations in and outside the workplace. I had worked for two years in Jamaica before starting my graduate program and was used to a very collaborative and supportive work environment. However, I had to get used to a more independent and a bit of an insular work environment. There was also the challenge of being the only black engineer in many of the spaces I worked in. In my first 2 years I struggled with confidence and believing in myself. The imposter syndrome was a real phenomenon for me. However with help from mentors and as I began to take on and successful complete larger and complex projects I learned to trust my judgment and my abilities. Over time, I grew into someone who could walk into a room, share ideas, and stand confidently behind them.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Today, I’m a Senior Program Manager at McKinstry. I develop and manage energy and infrastructure projects for cities, universities, schools, and healthcare facilities. I spend my days analyzing systems, developing models, and guiding clients toward long-term cost savings and sustainable solutions.
What drives me is knowing my work makes a real difference — not just for organizations, but for the environment and the communities they serve. Along the way, I’ve earned both my Professional Engineer (PE) license and my PMP certification, and I’ve contributed to foundational technical documents like the New York Technical Resource Manual and the Connecticut Program Savings guidelines. It’s humbling knowing that studies I’ve led are now used across the industry.

Outside of my day job I am a photographer and a musician and have recently began teaching beginner guitar classes.

What were you like growing up?
I was born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica as the middle child of three. My mother was a music teacher and school administrator, and my father was a pastor, so education, music, faith, and community were constants in our home.

From ever since I knew myself I always loved math, science and anything that involved understanding how the world worked. People knew me as “the smart kid.” I skipped grades, started high school when I was nine years old, and graduated at fourteen. When I was fifteen, I took the SAT and received scholarship offers to study in the U.S. My mother wasn’t ready to send me away alone at that age, and honestly, I’m grateful. Staying in Jamaica helped me build deep friendships and gave me a sense of grounding that I still carry today.

During high school I came to understand the difference between science and engineering. A teacher explained how engineering is the application of scientific principles to solve problems and it was at that point I knew I wanted to do some form of engineering because I loved solving problems. For undergrad I decided to pursue mechanical engineering. I loved designing machines that could accomplish things and so that was a natural fit for me.

My early encounters with Photography

When I was young, my mom brought home a Polaroid camera from one of her part time jobs as an election worker responsible IDing individuals. I was immediately fascinated by the idea of capturing a moment instantly. I was old enough that she would let me take our family pictures and also shoot whatever events I was interested in. It was at that point when my interest in photography began

Years later, after grad school, I bought my first real camera. Having moved to Massachusetts with no family or friends when i had just arrived, photography quickly became both a favorite hobby and a way to connect with people. As I learned and grew, people started asking me to shoot events and portraits, and that slowly evolved into professional work.

Born into Music

Music was also a huge part of my upbringing. My mom taught music and so my siblings and I knew music theory and practice from a young age. My mom also put us in countless bands, ensembles and performances. My brother plays multiple instruments and is a recording gospel artist, and my dad also used to sing in an acapella group .

Contact Info:

• Website: lwhytephotography.com
• Email: lwhytephotography@gmail.com and lwhytemusic@gmail.com
• Instagram: lwhytephoto