Donna Auguste facts for kids

Donna Auguste, born in 1958, is an inspiring African-American businesswoman, inventor, and helper of others. She is well-known for her important work in technology and for starting her own very successful company.

From 1996 to 2000, Donna was the co-founder and CEO of Freshwater Software. Before that, she was a senior engineering manager at Apple Computer. There, she helped coordinate the development of the Newton PDA, which was an early type of handheld computer. She also worked as a senior director for US West Advanced Technologies.

In 2000, she sold Freshwater Software for a remarkable $147 million! That same year, Fortune Magazine recognized her as one of the "25 Women Who Are Making It Big in Small Business." She also won the 2001 Golden Torch Award for being an outstanding woman in technology. Later, after returning to study for a Ph.D. at the University of Colorado Boulder, she was honored as an "eminent engineer" by Tau Beta Pi, the nation's oldest engineering honor society.

A Curious Start and Strong Education

Donna Auguste's journey began in Texas. She later moved to Louisiana and then to California, where she attended college. She and her four sisters were raised by their mother.

Early Curiosity

From a young age, Donna loved to explore how things worked. She would often take apart doorbells and other electrical appliances. She wanted to understand the mechanics and secrets inside them. This early curiosity showed her passion for engineering.

Overcoming Challenges in College

After high school, Donna enrolled in a challenging program. She studied electrical engineering and computer science (EECS) at the University of California, Berkeley. She faced many obstacles to earn her Bachelor of Science degree. In a program with mostly male students, Donna sometimes felt left out. However, she persevered and succeeded.

Donna Auguste later became the first African-American woman to attend the PhD program at Carnegie Mellon University. This was another amazing achievement in her educational path.

Building a Tech Career

Donna Auguste's career is full of innovation and leadership in the technology world.

Early Work in Software

While doing research in applied science and artificial intelligence at Carnegie Mellon University, Donna interned at Xerox Corporation's Palo Alto Research Center. There, she met people who would later start IntelliCorp. In 1986, IntelliCorp hired Donna as a software engineer. She worked on technology products that used artificial intelligence. After four years, she took a break to bike through Japan.

Innovating at Apple

When she returned, Apple Computer hired Donna in 1990. She became the lead software engineering manager for the Newton PDA development project. At Apple, Donna was well-liked. She received praise for her excellent management skills and her technical contributions. She even held several patents for her work on the Newton PDA.

Founding Freshwater Software

In 1996, Donna moved to Boulder, Colorado. She joined U.S. West Advanced Technologies as a senior director. She worked on interactive television applications. During this time, Donna saw the huge potential of the internet. She decided to start her own company: Freshwater Software Inc. This company provided software solutions to help businesses monitor their important web applications.

Freshwater Software grew very quickly. It went from a small start-up to a nationally recognized multimillion-dollar software provider. The company served big clients like Alta Vista, IBM, Microsoft, Go.com, and Merrill Lynch. In 2001, Mercury Interactive Corp. of California purchased Freshwater Software for $147 million.

Helping Others Around the World

After selling Freshwater Software, Donna Auguste decided to focus on helping others. She founded the Leave a Little Room Foundation, LLC. This is a special organization that helps provide housing, electricity, and important vaccinations to communities in need around the world.

Donna is a Catholic and a member of Cure d'Ars Parish in Denver.