Steve and Jana, the co-founders of the Stena Foundation, believe that financial inclusion and quality education can be a catalyst for change, and can break the chains of generational poverty to lift local economies. Both come from rural communities themselves, Steve from the Kamas Valley and Jana from Council, ID. Steve is the son of a school teacher, and Jana the daughter of a mill worker. Steve worked full-time while attending school at the University of Utah to make his college education attainable and, with the great support of Jana, has become a successful serial entrepreneur in Utah’s thriving technology sector.
Prior to being acquired by Mastercard, Steve was the Chairman, CEO and Co-Founder of Finicity, an industry innovation platform providing consumer-permissioned financial data and insights, and is a pioneer in the fields of financial data and inclusion. Steve is currently the Chief Engagement Officer, Global Open Banking for Mastercard.
Jana has come up against barriers to success in her educational journey and is personally invested in the equitable access and support systems for not only students from rural communities but also minority groups and non-traditional students. She has dedicated her time to thoughtfully raising their family, supporting Steve’s endeavors, and often provides his most cherished and important insights.
The Stena Foundation celebrates community and is focusing initial efforts in the communities and regions closest to home. Current projects include a partnership with the University of Utah to create a Center for Financial Technologies, as well as cross-sector curriculum and degree programs in the Fintech space. The Foundation is also working with the Sorenson Impact Center, and Utah and Idaho State governments, and public universities, to research successful pathways to post-secondary education for students from rural and underserved communities.
Through the important driving principles of Urgency, Purpose, Leverage, Insight, Focus and Teamwork, the Stena Foundation believes in providing critical thought leadership with the objective of inspiring others to act now by contributing to the creation of inclusive economic prosperity for all.
We’re doing some amazing things and are excited to partner with like-minded individuals. Add the Stena Foundation to your inbox today for updates on our work and upcoming partnership opportunities.
We’re doing some amazing things and are excited to partner with like-minded individuals. Contact the Stena Foundation at marketing@stenafoundation.org or follow us on social media for updates on our work and upcoming partnership opportunities.
Jana serves as a co-founder and creator of the Stena Foundation. She grew up in Council, Idaho as the daughter of a local sawmill worker and has devoted much of her life to thoughtfully raising a family of five kids, caring for aging parents, and supporting her husband, Steve, in a variety of entrepreneurial endeavors. Steve has said Jana often provides his most cherished and important insights. In high school, Jana was made to feel by a teacher that she was academically challenged, and this led to great discouragement in receiving a higher education.
Because of this experience, she is deeply invested in equitable access and support systems for not only students from rural communities but also minority groups and non-traditional students. She trusts that her efforts will help empower and enable students to overcome the barriers they face, and ultimately assist them in thriving both intellectually and economically.
Steve is one of the co-founders and creators of the Stena Foundation. He believes that financial inclusion and quality education can be a catalyst for change and can break the chains of generational poverty to lift local economies. Steve is from the Kamas Valley and is the son of a schoolteacher. He attended the University of Utah and worked full-time while in school in order to make his college education attainable.
With the support of his wife and family, Steve has become a successful serial entrepreneur in Utah’s thriving technology sector. Prior to the company being acquired by Mastercard, Steve was the Chairman, CEO, and Co-Founder of Finicity, an industry innovation platform providing consumer-permissioned financial data and insights, and is a pioneer in the fields of financial data and inclusion. Steve is currently the Chief Engagement Officer, Global Open Banking for Mastercard.
We are all team members and each one of us is equally important to attaining our goals. Words matter. How we treat each other matters. You can’t expect to make a positive impact on the world without first attending to your stakeholders, partners, and mission-focused communities.
The ability to hone in on a task, and to make every minute matter is what turns insight into action. When we choose to focus, we make the best use of our time and resources.
We practice constant curiosity and have a passion for research and data-driven solutions. It is imperative that we take the time to analyze each step we take and look for learning opportunities. This approach will ultimately drive the greatest degree of mission focused impact.
We recognize that we can’t succeed alone. Leverage is about finding the most efficient way to partner with our networks and to use our resources to achieve our goals.
We must understand the why and strive to do the right thing every time. Our mission is firmly front and center. Always.
