One of Skyler Basco’s favorite inspirational quotes is: “Everything you’ve ever wanted is sitting on the other side of fear” (George Addair). This New Face of Tech winner is following her own dream to become a product manager, UX designer, or software engineer by studying computer science at Western Governors University. And she’s also sharing her own journey along the way on her YouTube channel to inspire current and emerging technologists to keep innovating.

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

It means continuing to create YouTube content to share my journey in tech, inspire others to build fun projects, and make people laugh along the way.

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

Promoting organizations that provide support, community, and resources for aspiring female technologists — such as Break Through Tech, Girls Who Code, and Rewriting the Code — will help women feel more empowered to break into tech careers.

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

Not knowing exactly where I belong in the tech space is a challenge that I’ve faced for a while. But I’m thankful for the incredible friends, mentors, and communities who’ve helped me realize that my journey has just begun and that I should continue to explore what excites me.

How do you stay motivated and focused on your goals?

My friends, mentors, tech communities, and other content creators keep me inspired to stay consistent in the pursuit of my goal to make an impact in the tech space.

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

I’m endlessly grateful for this scholarship, as it will be used to help fund my tuition toward a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science at Western Governors University.