June 19, 2019 — Accion Systems CEO and Co-founder Dr. Natalya Bailey is next in line for a major tech-industry industry honor. AnitaB.org, the leading nonprofit organization focused on the advancement of women technologists, announced that Dr. Bailey will receive the 2019 Emerging Technologist Abie Award. This inaugural award will be presented as part of the 2019 Grace Hopper Celebration, held October 1-4 in Orlando, FL.
The Emerging Technologist Abie Award recognizes a mid-career woman technologist in the first 10 years of her technical career. Dr. Bailey is being recognized for the creative ways she confronts problems and seeks solutions, as well as the potential she has to shape the future of her field in the coming years. Dr. Bailey is using her leadership and technological talents in high-impact initiatives, and is making important contributions to the advancement of women in technology.
“As an inventor who developed a new propulsion technology for small satellites that is safer, more economical, and smaller in terms of mass and volume while earning her doctorate at MIT, Dr. Natalya Bailey is an extraordinary example of someone who will shape the future of her field for years to come,” noted Brenda Darden Wilkerson, President and CEO of AnitaB.org.
In addition to the technical breakthroughs that Dr. Bailey has pioneered, the award recognizes her business leadership at Accion Systems. Dr. Bailey introduced a diversity program for hiring consisting of targeted recruitment, community outreach, co-op and internships, and community college outreach. The goal was to augment the Accion workforce with women and minorities that have been historically underrepresented in the industry. Over the past 12 months, 55% of Accion’s new hires were women.
The committee also recognized Dr. Bailey’s passion for giving back to the community and mentoring those in her industry. She is one of the first mentors for the Matthew Isakowitz Fellowship, a highly selective internship program for college juniors, seniors, and graduate students pursuing a career in commercial spaceflight. By teaching the fundamentals of leadership and entrepreneurship, she also is paving the way for a new generation of entrepreneurs by working as a board member at Youth CITIES, a Boston based nonprofit that empowers middle and high school students to innovate and drive change in their community.
“I am extremely honored to be the inaugural recipient of the Emerging Technologist Abie Award,” said Dr. Bailey. “Ever since I was a young child, I dreamed of going to space. Through hard work, education and many mentors along the way, I’ve been able to help create a new technology that will one day change space travel. I hope to continue to inspire the next generation of technical female leaders. Thank you to the AnitaB organization for this honor.”