“Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.” This quote from the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg is what inspires Abby Ruby, a junior at Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa. The New Face of Tech winner is majoring in business management and health services leadership. Her dream profession is to become a healthcare administrator within the field of health IT to improve the quality of the infrastructure.

What does being the New Face of Tech mean to you?

The New Face of Tech is empowering emerging female leaders to break down the barriers that have been set upon us for entrance into career fields. This challenge specifically equips women to break into male-dominated industries.

Women are underrepresented in STEAM. How can we change this?

We can change the way the conversations are held. Women who are leaders within STEAM fields need to share their stories, open their doors, and be willing to offer advice that helped them succeed. The environment will change when all genders have an equal opportunity to pursue their dreams.

What are some of the challenges you have faced along the way?

As a junior, I did not have enough time to change my major to a technology degree. But, I enrolled in a health IT class last spring, which inspired my entrance into this field. I rely heavenly on online instruction through YouTube and different websites.

One of the main challenges I have seen is male dominance in IT. To be honest, imposter syndrome is stiff within the entry of the IT field for females.

How do you stay motivated and focused on your goals?

One of the things I have created is a vision board. On it, I incorporate the goals I want to accomplish in the future as well as my current accomplishments. I think it’s important to envision yourself where you want to be, but it’s also important to remember where you started and how far you’ve come. This technique has allowed me to stay motivated and focused on my goals.

How will funding from the 1,000 Dreams Fund and HARMAN help you reach your goals?

Through the funding, I will be able to break into the IT field. I will be pursing relevant certifications in health IT to continue my goal of healthcare administration.