Christina Ortega: “Championing Diversity in STEM Learning”

Title: CEO
Organization: Mission Bit
Age: 37

Christina Ortega is the CEO of Mission Bit, a San Francisco-based nonprofit that provides free computer science education to high school students from under-resourced communities across the Bay Area. Having grown up without access to technology herself, Christina is driven by a deep personal commitment to ensuring more young people have the opportunity to gain the skills that can change their trajectories.

Under her leadership, Mission Bit has grown over the last 7 years, today serving 2,700 students annually, 97% of whom are students of color, nearly half female, and 50% identifying as Latino and/or Black across their youth programs.

Christina has been instrumental in shaping the future of tech for Bay Area youth, building a model that doesn’t just teach coding. It builds self-confidence, community, and professional readiness for young people who have historically been excluded from the tech economy. She is committed to keeping Mission Bit’s curriculum industry-leading, launching an AI course this summer and expanding the organization’s reach through an in-school accredited program that brings computer science into the classroom during the school day, creating even more exposure and access at the school level.

Her impact extends beyond the numbers. In 2021, she received a Jefferson Award for her contributions to the Bay Area community. She was most recently featured on Kron4’s Live in the Bay to speak about her work and Mission Bit’s expanding course offerings. Through partnerships with leading tech companies, she’s created pathways for students to gain hands-on access and learn directly from industry professionals.