The Next IT Girl is a technology education nonprofit exposing young women of color nationwide to multidisciplinary programs to pursue a career in tech.
According to the National Science Foundation (NSF), Black women earned 2.9% of science and engineering bachelor’s degrees awarded in 2019. Despite growth in enrollment, the representation remains significantly low in comparison to other demographics.
Founded in Indianapolis, IN in 2015. Napiya, a self-proclaimed techie-fashionista took a leap of faith to Indianapolis, IN for her first job in tech. As a computer science graduate, she was already familiar with the lack of representation of women and people of color pursuing STEM degrees in college. Not realizing there wouldn’t be any representation once becoming a corporate employee that she would be the only Black woman on her team and amongst the department. Napiya lacked a sense of community, support, and self and set out to find fulfillment.
From fashion to passion, after countless hours of research, Napiya came to the conclusion that the Next ‘IT’ Girl’s focus would be toward women African American, Black, and of color ages 8-22. That decision was made based off of two things; personal experience and underrepresentation. Napiya wanted to tell her story of the many obstacles she faced to become the next it girl. Statistics about women in tech, the lack of women in the tech industry didn’t stand out as much as the lack of race did. How is there a significantly low number of representation in an industry that creates solutions to be inclusive to all.
After a year of discovery and research, Napiya applied to a local pitch competition to present The Next IT Girl. With only a logo and a story to tell, Napiya won the pitch competition. Winnings included; $300 grant, legal services, design marketing, and an entrepreneur community network. The Next IT Girl journey began!
We are a technology education nonprofit exposing young women of color ages 8-22 to multidisciplinary programs to pursue a career in tech.
