Sarah H.’s professional dream is to pursue a career at the intersection of business, technology, and psychology. She knows that can mean a lot of things, so she’s keeping her options open. But she’s particularly interested in e-commerce and research in relation to social sciences and consumer behavior.

The New Face of Tech is a first-year student at Cornell University, where she’s studying information science. “I know that this award will help me explore my passions more in depth and understand what kind of work I want to do in the future by challenging me to draw on my existing skillset and build new skills,” she says.

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

It means joining a cohort of other girls who are also passionate about technology and aspire to make a difference in the world through their work. It means empowering women to enter an underrepresented field and inspire each other to become better versions of ourselves.

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

I believe that successful women in STEAM must share their stories and empower other women and girls to pursue their passions. By developing this connection and understanding each other’s struggles, women will feel more inspired to enter this field and support one another in the process.

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

The greatest challenge that I’ve faced is being denied opportunities to improve myself and refine my career interests due to limitations in my previous experiences and skillset. I hope to build the latter through individual projects and free educational resources to prove that I am just as qualified.

How do you stay motivated and focused on your goals?

I evaluate how I feel, what I’ve accomplished, and what I hope to accomplish at the end of each week. By reflecting on my thoughts and being honest about how I’m feeling, I’m able to adjust my goals for the upcoming week as well as take time to remind myself of the larger goals that I have set for myself in the long term.

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

It will allow me to gain experience with e-commerce and narrow down my (or discover new!) passions. The funding will also help me connect with other women who have the same goals that I do and help me become a more knowledgeable and confident individual.