The engineers who will solve society's biggest challenges may be sitting in today's middle and high school classrooms. Yet for many young people, particularly those without access to mentors, professional networks, or role models, engineering never feels like a path within reach. For Zoom Cares, expanding opportunity has become a defining focus of its philanthropic work through the $10 million AI For Good commitment. As artificial intelligence transforms education, the workforce, and nearly every aspect of society, the company believes that preparing the next generation of innovators requires more than access to technology. It requires helping young people see themselves as future engineers, problem-solvers, and leaders. That vision led Zoom Cares to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE).

As Zoom celebrates its 15th anniversary, the company is investing in young engineers who will shape our future. Through a $500,000 gift from Zoom Cares, the NAE will expand its Pathways into Engineering initiative by growing EngineerTeen, a program that engages students at a pivotal point in their educational journey through mentorship, connections with engineers, and real-world experiences. The program helps young people see engineering as both accessible and achievable while deepening their understanding of how engineers improve lives.

“For too many students, engineering is a world they view from the outside. EngineerTeen changes that by inviting them in: into conversations with real engineers, into a community of peers who share their curiosity, into the sense that this field has a place for them. When a student stops being a spectator and starts belonging, their whole sense of what's possible begins to shift.”- Simil Raghavan, Director, NAE Pathways into Engineering

For more than six decades, philanthropy has helped the NAE advance initiatives that strengthen both the engineering profession and its future workforce. This year marks the final year of the NAE’s Campaign for Leadership in a World of Accelerating Change, which strengthens the Academy's ability to identify and promote expertise, provides trusted independent advice to government leaders, elevates and advances appreciation for engineering, and engages and inspires future generations of engineers. Zoom's investment in EngineerTeen directly advances that final goal, helping more young people discover pathways into engineering.

The Academy's distinguished members not only drive innovation through their own discoveries and leadership but also extend that impact through the companies and foundations they lead. That commitment is embodied by Zoom founder and CEO Eric Yuan, elected to the NAE in 2025, and Chief Technology Officer Dr. Xuedong D. (XD) Huang, elected in 2023. Their leadership reflects a shared belief in engineering excellence, innovation, and creating opportunities for future generations.