Jimmia T. is inspired by the James Baldwin quote, “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”

She says it illuminates her journey into the tech industry. “It has required a lot of perseverance, but I’ve never regretted choosing this path,” says this New Face of Tech winner. “Everything is new territory for me, but I’ll never know my full capability if I don’t try.”

To pave her way to her dream of becoming the head of user experience at a major tech company, Jimmia is studying informatics at University of Texas at Austin.

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

It motivates me to keep striving to build my career — not only to aid my own journey, but to one day help me mentor and connect other young Black girls entering the tech industry.

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

Outreach! I didn’t know about the UX field until college. Companies should do more to reach out to women about the numerous roles available in the tech field that merge tech and the arts.

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

No one in my family is in the tech field, so I’ve had to navigate recruiting for internships on my own. I’m very thankful for the friends and mentors who have helped me along the way.

How do you stay motivated and focused on your goals?

I am motivated by my grandmothers, as neither of them had the opportunity to attend college and I hope to make them proud.

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

Receiving this grant will help ease the financial burdens that come with being a college student, so I can focus on my studies and on building my career.