In honor of National STEM/STEAM Day on November 8, which promotes awareness and education in science, technology, engineering, art, and math, we want to highlight some remarkable Asian American women who are pioneering in the tech industry. Traditionally, the image of app developers often skews towards a specific demographic, typically excluding Asian American women and other diverse groups. This lack of representation is a significant issue that needs addressing.
Representation matters greatly, especially on occasions like National STEM/STEAM Day. It’s crucial for children, regardless of gender, to see diverse role models in STEAM fields. By showcasing leaders who break the mold, we can expand perceptions of who can succeed in these areas and inspire underrepresented youth to envision themselves in future careers.
Here are three outstanding Asian American women — a dedicated mother and two innovative sisters — who are paving the way for future generations in technology.
Meet Maya Tran
Maya Tran, the daughter of Vietnamese immigrants, created an educational app called VietnameseWords, designed to teach users basic Vietnamese phrases. She also developed a cooking app featuring traditional Vietnamese recipes showcased on her social media platforms. Maya shared that as a child, she confided in a female computer science teacher her aspiration to develop software, but instead of encouragement, she was told, “You’re not a boy or a genius, so that’s unlikely.”
This discouragement didn’t stop her. After years of perseverance, Maya became a mobile app developer for a tech company, and she runs her own independent app projects alongside her career. “I’ve had to advocate for myself continuously,” she reflected, adding that she’s motivated by the desire to provide for her family. When her company needed an app created, she confidently asserted, “I can do it in two weeks,” and successfully delivered the project, proving her capabilities.
Maya’s journey began with the need to preserve the Vietnamese language, which is often hard to learn solely from books. By joining programming communities and participating in mentorship programs, she refined her skills and expanded the functionality of her app to better serve her audience.
Introducing Priya Nair
Priya Nair, a 21-year-old Indian American, launched a platform called SupportCircle during the pandemic to connect college students and alumni for mentorship and resource sharing. Her goal was to create a supportive environment where students could connect with role models in their fields.
Initially, Priya found coding daunting. However, everything changed when she attended a hackathon in the 9th grade where she worked with an all-girl team to build a website in just 24 hours. This experience ignited her passion for technology, leading her to participate in over 45 hackathons, where she learned to develop iOS apps, websites, and more.
After attending Apple’s 2018 Worldwide Developers Conference, Priya felt inspired to launch her own projects. Witnessing young entrepreneurs successfully launch their apps motivated her to create SupportCircle, especially as many of her peers faced challenges due to the pandemic. “What started as a simple matching service quickly evolved into a comprehensive platform for career growth,” Priya explained.
Say Hello to Sofia Nair
Sofia Nair, Priya’s 16-year-old sister, is also making strides in the app development realm. Recognized as one of the winners of the Swift Student Challenge, Sofia attended the 2021 WWDC with her innovative app, HealthHub, set to launch soon.
Watching Priya sparked Sofia’s interest in coding as a tool for solving real-world issues. After facing a personal health challenge, she was motivated to create an app that provides accessible resources to those with gastrointestinal disorders. “I realized that many people lack access to necessary health resources for various reasons,” Sofia remarked. “HealthHub aims to empower users to manage their conditions with minimal technology.”
Sofia’s journey has solidified her desire to bridge the gap between healthcare and technology, ensuring that others have the support they need.
These stories showcase the importance of representation in STEM fields and highlight the incredible impact these women have on the tech landscape. For more insights on home insemination, you can read our other blog post here.
Summary
In celebration of National STEM/STEAM Day, we highlighted the inspiring journeys of three Asian American women in tech: Maya Tran, Priya Nair, and Sofia Nair. Each has made significant contributions through their innovative apps, proving that representation in STEM is crucial for the next generation. Their stories encourage young individuals to pursue their dreams, regardless of societal expectations.
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