KRISTINA NEWTON RAISING THE PROFILE AWARD

Passionate about STEM education, equity, and representation of historically under-represented girls in leadership and technology.

Kristina Newton has worked for over 15 years in the technology and social impact sectors Born and raised in Lake Charles, LA, Kristina received her Computer Engineering degree from Prairie View A&M University, which explains her true love for southern culture and HBCU pride

Kristina moved to Atlanta, GA in 2006 and started her career as a technology consultant for Accenture where she would go on to develop business intelligence & analytical software solutions for several companies and industries worldwide After 7 years in the traditional technology development space, Kristina’s passions led her to explore the intersection skill, technology, purpose, and social good Leading the development of new programs for organizations such as Adventures In Missions, Girls Who Code, Technology Association of Georgia - Education Collaborative, and Wright Now Solutions, she developed a unique niche for developing people, creating innovative programs, and connecting underserved populations to opportunities and resources that help create sustained economic freedom and socioeconomic mobility

It’s this developed skillset, partnered with passion and personal experience, that has led to her successful entry into the roles of Nonprofit Organization Founder and Executive Director of Hope for Youth, Inc - more fondly referred to as HYPE HYPE is a nonprofit organization that empowers historically underrepresented girls with technology skills and prepares them to become future leaders in tech careers, cultivating a pipeline of diverse talent for the tech industry With a signature International Experience program and train-the-train model, HYPE Scholars grow in confidence, civic mindedness & global awareness while preparing to make a difference in their communities and the world through STEAM.

Kristina is a highly respected and regarded leader in the non-profit and social impact ecosystems, garnering rewards and recognition from organizations nationwide such as: Georgia Department of Education Building Opportunities in Out-of-School Time (BOOST) Grant Recipient and Advisory Council Member; 2022 Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women Impact Grant Recipient, 2022 Black Girl Freedom Fund Grantee;

2022 TEDx Emory Speaker; 2021 Women in Tech Woman of the Year in STEAM Education Finalist , One In a Millennial Award Finalist in the STEM Education Leader Category; Winner of The Balancing Act Atlanta Pitch Competition and television feature; Selection into the 2020 cohort of the Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative powered by Invest Atlanta; 2020 TEDx Pace Academy Speaker; Recognition as a GoodieNation Intentionally Good Founder of Tech Training Programs; 2019 Victory World Church True Woman of Courage Recipient; 2019 Spanx by Sara Blakely Foundation CCI Fellow; and 2018 Center for Civic Innovation Fellow

Kristina is passionate about empowering girls and young women to live lives full of hope, driven by love, and void of fear Over the past 5 years, under Kristina’s leadership, HYPE has experienced exponential growth yearover-year in revenue, student recruitment & retention, corporate partnership, and impact in the lives of over 800 girls internationally.

While these recognitions are a testament to the Kristina’s impact in the entrepreneurship and STEM education ecosystems, she is most proud of her identity as a Child of God and her relationship with Jesus Christ In her spare time, Kristina enjoys live music, adventure & travel, and exploring new foods to eat alongside her best friend and life partner, Brandon; and her favorite Labradoodle, Duchess