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Debbie Sterling          

Tech Engineer & Founder and CEO of GoldieBlox; Advocate for Women in STEM

An industry disruptor, Debbie Sterling is an engineer, entrepreneur, and one of the leaders in the movement toward getting girls interested in science, technology, engineering, and math. She is the founder and CEO of GoldieBlox, an award-winning company on a mission to "disrupt the pink aisle" with toys, games, and media focused on inspiring the next generation of female engineers.

Sterling launched GoldieBlox on Kickstarter, and in just a few years made significant strides in her quest to bridge the gender gap in STEM. Now recognized as a leader in children’s entertainment, GoldieBlox has reached billions of consumers through TV, radio, and digital with massively successful viral videos, the first free Super Bowl ad for a start-up, award-winning educational products, and a float at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Sterling has grown GoldieBlox's presence in more than 6,000 retail stores worldwide and her disruption of the toy industry has ignited a national conversation about breaking gender stereotypes in retail. Sterling shares her story of building GoldieBlox with audiences – inspiring groups to think outside the box, challenge the status quo, and achieve audacious goals.

When Sterling heard from Steve Jobs at her Stanford graduation that she should "never settle" until she found her true passion, she took it to heart. After graduating from Stanford with a degree in mechanical engineering and product design, she experienced firsthand how significantly men outnumber women in science, technology, engineering and math. She then became obsessed with the notion of challenging gender stereotypes with a toy that would introduce girls to the joy of engineering at a young age.

Among many acknowledgements, Sterling has been named TIME Magazine’s "Person of the Moment,” Business Insider’s "30 Women Who Are Changing the World,” and was added to Fortune Magazine’s prestigious “40 Under 40” list. In 2015, she was inducted as a Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship, a select group 'committed to helping develop the next generation of entrepreneurs around the world.'

Sterling continues to show young girls they can be anything when they grow up, including through the launch of the immensely popular GoldieBlox YouTube channel, featuring inspirational and educational videos that have over 100 million views and 660,000 subscribers. She has also been honored by the National Women’s History Museum with a “Living Legacy” Award for her work to empower and inspire girls around the world.

Speech Topics


Inspiring the Next Generation of Female Engineers

Close your eyes and picture an engineer. You probably weren't envisioning Debbie Sterling. Debbie Sterling is an engineer and founder of GoldieBlox, a toy company out to inspire the next generation of female engineers. She has made it her mission in life to tackle the gender gap in science, technology, engineering and math.

Think Audacious

When Debbie Sterling heard from Steve Jobs at her Stanford graduation that she should “never settle” until she found her true passion, she took this to heart. After graduating with a degree in Mechanical Engineering & Product Design, she had firsthand knowledge of how significantly men outnumber women in science, technology, engineering and math. Debbie became determined to “disrupt the pink aisle” with a toy that would introduce young girls to the joy of engineering. Less than three years after launching GoldieBlox on Kickstarter, she has launched a Superbowl ad, an award-winning iOS app, and GoldieBlox toys in more than 6,000 retail stores worldwide. Debbie has also recently been selected to join the Presidential Ambassadors for Global Entrepreneurship, a select group "committed to helping develop the next generation of entrepreneurs around the world." Hear Debbie’s story of challenging the status quo, achieving audacious goals, and igniting a national conversation about breaking gender stereotypes.

News


What you can learn from being asked to resign
GoldieBlox founder Debbie Sterling says, “At the time, I was completely caught off guard and painfully full of self-doubt. In retrospect, it was the best thing to ...
How I navigated being my husband's boss
Debbie Sterling of GoldieBlox reflects on what it was like to bring her husband on board at the startup.
GoldieBlox helps get girls into engineering - SFGate
Debbie Sterling was both embarrassed ("what a weird thing to suggest") and flattered ("oh, she thinks I'm smart") when her high school math teacher in Rhode  ...
Debbie Sterling Gives Girl Toys a New Tune | Person of the Moment ...
As the CEO of toy company GoldieBlox, Stanford-educated engineer Debbie Sterling wants to disrupt the “pink aisle” with an alternative to princess attire, tea ...
Women in Business: Q&A with Debbie Sterling, Founder of GoldieBlox
Debbie Sterling is an engineer and founder of GoldieBlox, a toy company out to inspire the next generation of female engineers. She has made it her mission in ...

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