Texas Women’s Foundation (TXWF) has announced that High Tech Rising (formerly High Tech High Heels), a nonprofit incubated at Texas Women’s Foundation 25 years ago, will receive its Special Recognition Award at the upcoming 2026 Leadership Forum & Awards Celebration on April 29.
High Tech Rising is dedicated to achieving equitable representation for women in the STEM workforce, creating pathways for women to achieve economic, security, stability and success in alignment with TXWF’s mission.
Karen Hughes White, Texas Women’s Foundation president and CEO, said, “We are so proud to celebrate High Tech Rising. What began as a quiet movement led by The Women of TI in 2001 has become a regional force for good, with more than $2 million awarded in scholarships and support for girls in STEM. High Tech Rising is building the next generation of leaders.”
Laura Steffek, president of High Tech Rising, said, “Texas Women’s Foundation’s Special Recognition Award is a powerful milestone as High Tech Rising embarks on our next chapter. Twenty-five years ago, we began as a small group of colleagues at Texas Instruments who saw a critical gap in the STEM pipeline and formed High-Tech High Heels to help solve it. Every young woman deserves the opportunity to pursue the STEM career of her choice, limited only by her talent, aspiration and willingness to do the work. Not all girls have that opportunity today. This award belongs to the pioneers who started this journey in 2001, the hundreds of board members and volunteers who have fueled our growth, and most importantly, the 89,000+ young women we have served.”
In addition to honoring High Tech Rising at the 2026 Leadership Forum & Awards Celebration, TXWF will honor seven outstanding women:
Five Maura “Women Helping Women” Award honorees:
- Debra Hunter Johnson, Reciprocity Consulting Group, CEO
- Kimberly Bizor Tolbert, City of Dallas, City Manager
- Margie Aguilar, ISP Creative, Company Lead
- Olga Martinez Hickman, Ph.D. Bachman Lake Together, Executive Director
- Thear Suzuki, EY, Retired, Global Client Service Partner
And two Young Leader Award honorees:
Sponsorships, ticket packages and tickets are available for purchase: www.txwf.org/leadership. Forum information: https://txwf.org/join-us/events/lfac-event/lfac-award-leadership-forums/
About Texas Women’s Foundation:
Texas Women’s Foundation (TXWF) raises funds from a broad base of donors, including individuals, foundations and corporations. These resources support nearly $5 million in investments each year to help eliminate the barriers to women’s economic security, stability and success through targeted research and advocacy, intentional grantmaking and leadership programs. Since its inception in 1985, TXWF has invested nearly $90 million in grantmaking in support of Texas women, their families and their futures, and another $25 million in research, advocacy and educational programs for a total impact of $115 million over the last 40 years. As TXWF prepares for its next 40 years, the organization’s vision for a strong and vibrant Texas for all will remain at the forefront of its work.
TXWF’s targeted research into the issues impacting the economic security of Texas women and families will continue to guide its work. The biannual “Economic Issues for Women in Texas Report” also provides corporate and community leaders, and state and local lawmakers with critical data to inform policies, practices and programs across the state. In addition, Texas Women’s Foundation is an acknowledged leader and advocate in the mission-aligned investing movement, deploying 100 percent of its invested assets – endowments, operating investments and donor-advised funds – in a values-based portfolio that yields strong financial returns and social benefits that align with its mission. For more information, visit www.txwf.org, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram or donate now.
About High Tech Rising:
Founded in 2001 by a group of women at Texas Instruments, High Tech Rising (formerly High Tech High Heels) is a volunteer-led non-profit dedicated to increasing the number of young women pursuing degrees and careers in STEM. Through strategic grants, partnerships, and volunteer engagement, High Tech Rising works to ensure that every young woman has the confidence to pursue a STEM career, limited only by her talents, efforts, and aspirations.
For more information, visit:hightechrising.org