Inspiring STEM Career Future at EXP's Women in STEM Career Day

On February 29, 2024, nearly 350 young high school women and non-binary students leaped into STEM at the award-winning EXP’s Women in STEM Career Day, hosted at Los Angeles Harbor College. Thanks to more than 120 volunteers who made this inspirational day possible, the students learned about STEM career possibilities from 31 exhibiting organizations and 42 panel speakers.

Keynote speaker Samantha Huerta, #LatinaGeeks Los Angeles President and Microsoft Digital App and Cloud Solution Architect, shared her motivation for participating, “Finding my place in the tech industry as a Latina and a first-generation college graduate has been both challenging and incredibly rewarding. Giving back to my community allows me to inspire the next generation to embrace their unique identities within the tech world.”

“I found it inspiring because someone who looks like me and comes from a similar background has achieved so much,” a student wrote in our post-event survey. “This inspired me to continue in the STEM field and believe in myself.”

“Giving these students the opportunity to see themselves in a successful STEM career in the future is one of the greatest motivators,” said Jessica Snyder, teacher at Da Vinci Science.

An INSIGHT Into Diversity 2023 Inspiring Programs in STEM award-winning program, EXP’s Women in STEM Career Day introduces high school young women and non-binary students to STEM-related careers. Students engage through expert panels, hands-on activities, networking opportunities, and “Lunch with a STEM Professional.”

Keynote Speaker: Samantha Huerta
#LatinaGeeks Los Angeles President and Microsoft Digital App and Cloud Solution Architect

As a first-generation college graduate and Latina Tech Professional, Samantha Huerta wants to give her time back to her community, share her story and lessons learned, and inspire the next generation to strive for more.

Samantha was born and raised in San Antonio, TX, and is the eldest of 4 children. Her passion for problem solving, technology, and knowledge sharing led her to her current role as a Digital App and Innovation Cloud Solution Architect at Microsoft and has been recognized as an industry expert in Cloud Application Development, DevOps, and Data Analytics.

Through critically examining her experience as a Latina in technology during her undergraduate studies at Duke University, Samantha became passionate about diversifying the tech industry and giving back to her community. Samantha is an avid learner and always looking for ways to skill up and learn something new. She loves sharing knowledge and helping others, which has driven her to volunteer her time through various organizations like HOLA at Microsoft and #LatinaGeeks in Southern California.