Amazon Aims to Grow the STEM Workforce by Empowering 2M Students Through Access

Recent data shows that jobs in STEM are expected to grow 15% between 2021 and 2031. Amazon (AMZN) is committed to helping develop the next generation of the needed STEM workforce by providing access to computer science and STEM education to 2 million students, across almost 8,000 U.S. schools, by the end of the 2022–2023 academic year.

Studies show that only about half of U.S. high schools offer computer science courses. With economically disadvantaged schools serving BIPOC students even less likely to offer the curriculum.

Through the Amazon Future Engineer program, the global technology giant has a vision to reach millions of students from underserved and historically underrepresented communities to inspire them to pursue STEM careers. The program is designed to help students build skills in computer science and coding that will prepare them for high paying and in-demand jobs in the near future.

Denise Quashie is the Head of Global Startup Marketing Programs for AWS as well as the Creator of the AWS Impact Accelerator Program. As a former non-technical founder herself, Denise thrives on helping others achieve their dreams. She spoke with Built By Girls for the video series How I Started in STEM to discuss her career as a Black woman in tech and also to inspire the next generation of young women and non-binary individuals to pursue careers in STEM.

“With the Impact Accelerator Program, we're really truly focused on underrepresented founders; women, LGBTQ+, Latino, Black founders that haven't always had the same opportunities as others,” said Quashie. “I'm super passionate about this program. It's a personal thing for me, being a Black woman in technology, building a startup, being a non-technical founder, there were so many things that were stacked up against me. And, you know, being able to work for a company like AWS and use my privilege to be able to introduce this in an easier, more consumable way to founders like myself has really been the most rewarding experience of my career and personal as well.”

The Next Generation of STEM

This spring, Amazon awarded 400 scholarships, providing a total of $16 million in paid tuition for students to attend the U.S. college or university of their choice. As part of the Amazon Future Engineer Program, each student will receive $40,000 over four years to pursue a degree in computer science or engineering and also receive paid internship after their freshman year to gain real life work experience including mentorship from Amazon leaders.

More than 70% of the students receiving scholarships this year through the Amazon Future Engineer Program identify as Black, Latino, and Native American, and 50% identify as a woman or nonbinary.

“Simply put, we need diverse representation in STEM because it helps us build the right and great experiences that we need in technology, and that requires a diverse perspective,” said Mai-Lan Tomsen Bukovec, the Vice President of Technology at Amazon Web Services while speaking with Built By Girls for How I Started in STEM.

Mai-Lan is one of the most senior female executives at AWS, although she doesn’t have the traditional technical background one might expect. After graduating college with a degree in journalism she joined the Peace Corps working in sub-Saharan West Africa. This experience helped her realize the power of human potential, regardless of schooling, and the need for diverse backgrounds in the workforce.

“The hardest part about working in STEM was just getting started. Especially when you're early in your career, it can be so easy to just doubt yourself when you're surrounded by so many smart people,” said Mai-Lan. “It's not about other people. It is about you and all the awesome that you can do. And if your inner voice starts to doubt if you really belong here, you just need to shut that down and just go be awesome.”

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