Today we’d like to introduce you to Kara Branch.
Hi Kara, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a girl from a small-town, Port Arthur, TX, who loves to learn. My mom was a single mother, and everyone told my mom I was smart, but no one ever told her what she could do with her smart daughter. I always knew I wanted to go to college because college was my only way out.
I went to college to study Chemical Engineering and pick up another degree (my Executive MBA) along the way. I have had the chance to innovate across many industries. My love and passion for Engineering have now overflowed into my community and all around the world.
I founded Black Girls Do Engineer because of my eldest daughter. When she was 9, she told me she wanted to be a software engineer. When she told me this, I was taken aback because I have always been the only black women in all my roles. I didn’t want this for her. However, when she told me this, I knew I had to do 2 things. (1) of anyone one can help her become an engineer, it was me, her mom, and (2) I wanted to create a space for girls who share the same passion as her to be a part. That was the day my nonprofit was born in 2019.
My nonprofit is now entering it 5th year and is a success. I have multiple chapters, and I have impacted over 2000 girls.
I am also an author of a children book “What is S.T.E.M?” I have my own S.T.E.M kit line STEMXposed, and host my own podcast, “Inspire to Empower Her”.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It most definitely has been a roller-coaster ride, but I always keep the fun in it. Building a business takes a lot of commitment, time, and money to stay in operations. Passion is also the key to success, but those hard days can deem the passion. I just stay focus and keep the right people around me.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us a bit more about your business.
Here at Black Girls Do Engineer, we are passionate about developing girls and young women ages 6 to 21 in all areas of STEM. Our organization goals are to provide access, awareness, and advocate for two million Black American girls to pursue STEM careers by the year 2050. Our organization will provide mentoring, personal growth regimens, STEM projects and activities, STEM challenges, and guidance on career paths based on insight from professionals that are leaders in the STEM industry. We are a membership-based organization. Girls join into our program.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Impact and changing people’s lives. I just want to do for others what I wish someone would have done for me.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.blackgirlsdoengineer.org
Image Credits
Kara Branch
