Heidi Olinger

Heidi Olinger is a dedicated advocate for girls in STEAM as the President and Founder of Pretty Brainy, a nonprofit organization established in 2008 to empower girls in science, technology, engineering, art + design, and math. An award-winning educator and keynote speaker, Heidi emphasizes the importance of learning from mistakes in leadership and social impact. In addition to creating transformative STEAM curricula, Heidi has authored "Leonardo’s Science Workshop," which encourages creativity and problem-solving in young readers. With experience as a faculty member at Colorado State University and adjunct instructor for the National Science Foundation’s I-Corps program, Heidi has played pivotal roles in education and nonprofit marketing. Previous positions include Executive Director of Stories on Stage and Director of Marketing at Newfield Network, complemented by a robust background in strategic communications and journalism. Heidi holds a Master's degree from the University of Colorado Boulder and a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.