Natalie Stevens dreams of leading a technology team at a company — and making a difference in innovating the technology space. This New Face of Tech winner is currently a student at Penn State where she is majoring in General Science with a Statistics concentration. But, that’s not all; she’s also continuing her education by pursuing an MBA.

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

It means that I am going to help change the way that people today think about technology.

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

Getting the word out about what it really means to work in STEAM! The possibilities are really endless, and I think that exploring these options with girls when they are young will help them open doors to different careers or paths they didn’t even know existed.

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

For me, it was trying to pave my own path. There is no one way to achieve my goal. So when trying to figure out my own way, it can sometimes be a challenge. I don’t always know if I’m going the right way, but there is always something to learn.

How do you stay motivated and focused on your goals?

I keep my motivation by staying connected. There is so much information out there on leadership and data. Talking to professionals who are doing similar things and staying well-read helps inspire my excitement and passion, making me more and more motivated.

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

The funding from 1,000 Dreams Fund and HARMAN is going to help me continue to hone in on my skills and understanding of technology. Taking classes that focus on different technologies and having the opportunity to get hands-on experience is crucial in the field I want to pursue!