Empowering Women in STEM: Pioneering Paths to Shape the Future
Experience passion and energy as these authors share their unique stories directly with you. Empowering Women in STEM: Pioneering Paths to Shape the Future covers a wide range of topics, including entrepreneurship, medical research, leadership, and non-profit organizations, not limited to just STEM fields. Explore stories from around the world, highlighting the influence of heritage from countries such as Mexico, Romania, Germany, Trinidad & Tobago, the United Kingdom, India, El Salvador, Brazil, Australia, and the United States of America. Discover the diverse backgrounds of women featured in this book, from military veterans to culinary experts, power engineers, researchers, and entrepreneurs. Each author shares their journey both inside and outside of STEM fields.
STEM encompasses a wide range of areas and roles that are constantly evolving and being redefined. Not everyone follows a traditional path to their current role, especially women in STEM. This book highlights the vast opportunities for non-traditional roles within STEM and emphasizes the versatility of having a background in this field. It encourages readers to think creatively, dream big, and carve out their paths. The authors featured in this book come from diverse backgrounds, ranging from military service to underprivileged upbringings to working in astrophysics and entrepreneurship. Each author shares their unique journey and offers insights into overcoming challenges that extend beyond the boundaries of STEM fields.
Empowering Women in STEM: Pioneering Paths to Shape the Future aims to help readers discover their inner strength and confidence, which are inherent in each of us, to have a greater impact on society. It serves as a guide for individuals in STEM fields or allies who wish to support those in these fields by providing insight into the challenges they often encounter. Through the stories shared in this book, readers will be able to identify the unique strengths and abilities that distinguish them, ultimately empowering them to forge and pioneer their paths and contribute to shaping the future.
Meet the Authors!
Foreword
Senior Lecturer, The University of the West Indies
Empowering Women in STEM - Pioneering Paths to Shape the Future isn’t just a book — it’s a rallying cry for progress. It reminds us that the future of STEM thrives on diversity, innovation, and the unique perspectives that women bring to the table. In a world that urgently needs bold ideas and fresh solutions, these stories shine as a beacon of what can be achieved when barriers are broken, voices are amplified, and paths are paved for others to follow.
What sets this collection apart is its dazzling diversity. Here, you’ll meet engineers who turned into bestselling authors, a physicist who first trained as a chef, an entrepreneur whose life story can be traced from one global challenge to another, a speech pathologist revolutionizing patient care, and much more. These women and men have not just forged careers; they have rewritten the rules, shattered stereotypes, and sparked movements. Their journeys, which traverse a variety of fields and feature true triumphs despite detours, are a powerful reminder that STEM is not just a field of study, but a platform for change.
(Excerpt from the Foreword)
Kim Mallalieu (BSEE MIT, PhD E&EE UCL) is a senior lecturer, leader of the Communication Systems Group, and staff steward of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Mainstreaming Committee in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at The University of the West Indies (UWI) St. Augustine Campus. She is the chair of the Campus ICT Steering Committee and principal investigator of the Caribbean ICT Research Program. She is also an inaugural member, and Deputy Chair, of the Board of the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago, where she also chairs its Board Review Committee.
As a keen advocate for gender equality for development, Kim is Vice Chair of the Advisory Board of the Network of Women in the Development Sector of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the UN specialized agency for telecommunications and ICT; and author of the ITU publication Women, ICT and emergency telecommunications: opportunities and constraints (available in the six official languages of the UN). She is coordinator of the Mentoring Program in Permanent Consultative Committee I of the Inter‑American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL), the specialist agency for ICT in the Organization of American States (OAS). She is also a longstanding member of the Board of the Caribbean Open Institute and more recently chief rapporteur and member of the executive steering committee of the Digital Public Infrastructure Safeguards Initiative, stewarded by the UN’s Office of the Secretary-General's Envoy on Technology (OSET) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Kim is a licenced amateur and marine radio operator, and the first woman in Trinidad and Tobago to title a dog in the sport of Internationale Gebrauchshunde Prüfungsordnung (IGP).
Chapter 1: The Unpolished MBA™: The Entrepreneurial Evolution of Women in STEM
Nobody makes it through life unscathed. In Monique Mills’ chapter she dives into her experiences of being an Electrical Engineering student, meeting her father after not knowing him for 20 years and ways her journey was anything but regular. She talks about transitioning jobs due to the work demands, how that affected her personal life and how she shifted gears to various industries to accommodate those changes. Her background in STEM helped her to prepare for each of these transformations and allowed her to thrive in new industries.
Even with her engineering background, she decided to complete her MBA, and this propelled her into her entrepreneurial journey and into the Start-up world. She talks about burnout and ways she was able to scale the business especially when starting from scratch. Even though she exited her first business, she has a new venture where she gets to help others align their technology, marketing, sales and customer success with their financial goals.
More about Monique
Monique is a degreed electrical engineer turned serial entrepreneur. With an emphasis on business innovation, she currently serves as the CEO of her strategy consulting firm, TPM Focus, which provides revenue-focused strategies to companies that are starting up or expanding. And she serves as President of her family-owned small-business acquisition company, Focused Innovation Group. She serves as Mentor, Advisor, Consultant, and Strategic Partner to several entrepreneurial and innovation organizations as well as economic development agencies.
She is also a Professor of Practice for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Georgia State University. With an electrical engineering degree from Rochester Institute of Technology and an MBA from Georgia Institute of Technology, she is an advocate for the diversification of STEM careers, expanded leadership, and equitable entrepreneurial opportunities for women and underrepresented minorities. Monique also hosts a podcast called Unpolished MBA ™.
Unpolished MBA™ is a podcast that dives into the real-world journeys of entrepreneurs revealing the twists, risks, and raw stories behind their business ventures.
Chapter 2: From Engineer to Entrepreneur and Life Coach: A Journey of Transformation and Leadership
CEO & Positive Psychology Practitioner, Dr Sophie Coaching SARL-S
Can a passion for engineering and the environment co-exist? Dr Sophie Jablonski tells us about her journey into the engineering field, earning her bachelors and master’s and eventually becoming an environmental consultant. She realized her passion for research which led her to pursue her PhD in another country. However, she put her studies on hold when her dream job became a reality and moved to the United States to work with the World Bank.
She eventually finished her PhD but during her journey she learnt about diligence, patience and the discipline required to achieve one’s goals. She also dives into how she lost her passion and became disconnected with the world. This is when she discovered the power of life coaching and psychology. She gained new experiences and was able to help transform her life and that of others through personalized coaching experiences.
More about Sophie
She is an engineer turned entrepreneur and positive psychology practitioner / life coach. After a 20-year career as technical expert in the field of development financing for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, she decided to embrace a new area of scientific expertise with positive psychology. She has set up her practice Dr Sophie Coaching in January 2023 and has since then supported dozens of clients on expressing their unique leadership and addressing issues related to career progression, work life balance, financial empowerment, stress management, and life adversity.
She embraces coaching as a pragmatic tool to implement scientific concepts and approaches in support of her clients’ flourishing (notably positive psychology). She is a certified life coach from the Life Coach School in the US and is a MSc candidate in Applied Positive Psychology & Coaching Psychology (MAPP-CP) at the University of East London since September 2023. In addition to coaching, she mentors young female engineers, contributes as a freelance writer for Janette magazine in Luxembourg, and has been an invited speaker for the Department of Engineering at the University of Cambridge.
She holds a PhD in Energy Technology and Policy from Imperial College London, an M.Phil in Environmental Science from the University of Cambridge, and an MSc in Engineering from Ecole Centrale Paris (France). Sophie was previously a Senior Energy Specialist at the European Investment Bank for close to 15 years, where she focused on investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency. Prior to this she worked as a Research Associate at Imperial College Centre for Environmental Policy in London over 2003 – 2009. She also worked at the World Bank in Washington DC for 2 years (2004 - 2006), where she was dealing with energy and transport infrastructure operations in the Middle East & North Africa region as a Junior Engineer.
Chapter 3: Black Girls do Engineer
Growing up in poverty, especially with a single mom and two other siblings can bring new perspectives to the table. For Kara Branch, she was a non-traditional college student who was married, had kids and was finishing off her degree while looking for a job. Her intelligence was her way out towards becoming a first-generation chemical engineer and earning her Executive MBA as well as many other certifications. However, she was usually seen as not smart enough even though she executed projects that no one could master. She was exhausted fighting in the male populated world of Engineering.
Kara changed her mind set to become the change she wanted to see. Knowing the value that she brings to the table, she decided to create a nonprofit called, “Black Girls Do Engineer”. This started off to help prepare her eldest daughter to become a software engineer from the age of 9 and ensure that she did not have the same trials that she did while creating a space for her and others like her who share the same passion.
More about Kara
She is also an Award-Winning Chemical Engineer. In 2022, she won the Mentor of the Year Award from Houston Innovation Award Gala, Grit- Executive Award from ALLY Energy, 2022 Women in the Fast Lane of S.T.E.M Role Model Awards from Greater Houston Women Chamber of Commerce, Rising Star in Child Advocacy from Children at Risk, Outstanding Diversity Champion Award from Houston Business Journal, and S.T.E.A.M Trailblazer of the Year from Imagine Excellence.
Kara is a recent winner of the 40 Under 40 Class of 2023 from the Houston Business Journal, and this is just the start. Kara has served as a leader across multiple S.T.E.M. industries and truly loves the work she does as the Founder and CEO of Black Girls Do Engineer. She is a mentor and changemaker for the future leaders of S.T.E.M.
Chapter 4: The Anti-STEM-Advocate
For those who often grow up in STEM families, they either grow to love STEM or despise it. Abigail Wurzbach tried everything within her power to move away from the STEM field. However, she now works exclusively with small businesses to help promote their stories in manufacturing and get others involved in this field. She learnt the importance of connecting with people and how this can be valuable in any environment.
She talks about overcoming imposter syndrome and becoming an advocate for more manufacturing careers for students. She also dives into the criticality of mentorship and how this has also helped her on her journey. With her knowledge of the industry and an untraditional pathway she shares how many people can become involved in STEM without having a hard science background.
More about Abby
She is also a 2023 graduate from York College of Pennsylvania with a degree in Business and Non-Profit. As a Business Solutions Specialist at MANTEC, she listens to manufacturers’ stories and helps them to find the best ways to grow. She is a member of Women in Manufacturing, a learner, and a self-proclaimed “Connector of People.” In her free time, she enjoys hiking and working out, spending time with friends and family, and raising Highland Cattle on her family’s farm in Brogue, Pennsylvania.
Chapter 5: A Journey through the Molecular Cosmos: Unveiling the Wonders of Science
Scientist, UC San Francisco
There is a transformative power of passion and scientific curiosity, and Dr Verima Pereira embodies that. Growing up in India, her humble beginnings and curiosity for biological systems would create the foundation for her to later contribute to this world. Her PhD focused on the gut microbiome and allowed her to unravel its pivotal role in health and disease while also exploring critical concepts of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the context of dysbiosis where an imbalance in the microbiome leads to adverse health outcomes.
Dr Verima decided to focus on Liver cancer research to provide better therapeutic strategies for improved patient outcomes and discusses its role in this chapter. She also emphasizes the importance of teamwork and the transformative power of collaboration which aided in making significant strides in the work she was doing. She talks about the importance of mentorship and how this allowed her to navigate challenges by making more informed decisions.
More about Verima
She is an accomplished molecular biologist and research scientist with over 15 years of laboratory experience. She possesses a wealth of expertise in molecular biology, with a particular focus on areas such as CRISPR technology, Next generation sequencing, MALDI TOF MS. Dr. Pereira is known for her meticulous attention to detail, organizational skills, and ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams. Dr. Pereira holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Gastroenterology/Microbiology from P. D Hinduja National Hospital, University of Mumbai. Her doctoral research centered on understanding the gut microbiome. She has also made significant contributions to the study of the gastric microbiome in patients with dyspepsia and non-dyspepsia, as well as the development of protein chip arrays for screening enteropathogenic micro-organisms.
Currently serving as a Postdoctoral Scholar at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), Dr. Pereira is engaged in research on the Integrated stress response and its potential for treating hepatic carcinoma. She is also involved in identifying biomarkers for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in combination with anti-PDL1 therapy. Previously, she conducted research on clotting mechanisms in premenopausal women on contraceptives and analyzed plasma samples from COVID-19 patients to identify relevant markers. Dr. Pereira's contributions to the field have garnered recognition, including being featured as a guest on the "Ordinarily Extraordinary" podcast, which showcases women in STEM. She has also received awards for her work, such as being recognized as one of the top 100 read articles in the field of microbiology in 2017 for her publication in Scientific Reports. Through her dedication to scientific excellence and mentorship of aspiring scientists, Dr. Pereira continues to make a lasting impact on the scientific community.
Chapter 6: Solving the Puzzle of Medical Chemistry
Scientific Director within Global Discovery Chemistry at Johnson and Johnson Innovative Medicine.
Scientists get to solve puzzles to help people and that’s exactly what Dr Callie Bryon does every day. A chemist by training, she talks about her experience in pursuing her PhD and how her natural tendency to ask “Why?” formed the foundation for her inquisitive mind. She gives some background information about the role of mentors who have guided her in her research and helped her through failed experiments.
While she may no longer be working in the lab, she leads diverse teams who seek to solve larger medical puzzles related to disease. She stresses the importance of training others to use their talents to create therapies which can benefit mankind and truly make a positive impact on the planet.
More about Callie
Callie has led the Peptide group within Medicinal Chemistry since 2023. Callie joined J&J as a Senior Principal Scientist in 2020, relocating to the Philadelphia suburbs. Prior to J&J, she was at Genentech in Discovery Chemistry in South San Francisco CA for a number of years that were critical to her scientific and professional development. Her first position in industry was at Amgen in Medicinal Chemistry, joining after completing her American Cancer Society Postdoctoral Fellowship at California Institute of Technology.
Chapter 7: Writing and Teaching about Materials and Sustainability
Founder and Consultant, JLFG Communications (DBA Material Value Consulting)
A lifelong musician and engineer-turned-writer proves that analytical thinking and creativity can co-exist in the same brain. Julia Freer Goldstein shares how she was able to keep both engineering and music in her life while also becoming a materials science geek. She talks about switching majors and how that helped her to discover more about her career path and her passion for materials science. This passion led her to complete a PhD, directing her journey by choosing a research project that inspired her.
Her journey from an engineer to a writer was built upon the foundation of diligence and support from her mother who always provided honest feedback. While she provides examples of roles that she worked in, she also gives some advice on navigating this field and how she founded her own company. Julia also talks about how she wrote her first three books and what motivated her to do that. She always strives to make a difference and gives examples of how she has done this through sharing information through her books, presentations and workshops.
More about Julia
She is an award-winning author and business owner on a mission to make manufacturing more environmentally responsible. Her books include Material Value (2019), Rethink the Bins (2020), Beyond the Green Team (2022), and Materials & Sustainability (2024). Julia has a background in engineering, journalism, content writing, and teaching. She holds a PhD in materials science from UC Berkeley, an MS in materials science from Stanford, and a BS in general engineering from Harvey Mudd College. Her company, JLFG Communications (DBA Material Value Consulting), works with manufacturers to help them connect business goals, environmental action, and effective communication strategies. Julia lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest near Seattle. When she isn’t working, you can find her out walking, running, hiking, bicycling, or swimming. She also plays flute and piccolo in the Woodinville Concert Band and the Ah Tempo Flute Choir.
Chapter 8: Falling into STEM
RF Wake & Plume Modelling Scientist, Astrion
Every 10-year-old dreams of becoming Willy Wonka but very few of them can go back and tell their 10 year old self that instead they actually got a PhD in Astrophysics. Dr Claudia Morello can do that even though her pathway was very non-traditional. Although she started off in culinary school, she soon turned to calculus and Applied physics and was the only culinary student to ever do so in the 20-year history of the school. Eventually, she majored in Astrophysics but had a difficult time with sexism in this male populated environment.
She gives her experience with finding out about the expected path of a physicist where one needed to earn a PhD in that environment and how she was able to navigate this challenge. She also provides some more insight into the challenges she faced at graduate school such as being an outcast because of how she looked and dressed. This led to her suppressing parts of her personality in efforts to keep her head down and blend in with the crowd. She talks about how her mental health was affected and her road to recovery.
More about Claudia
Her research focuses on the electromagnetic interactions of sunlight on ice crystals ejected from cryovolcanoes on Saturn’s moon, Enceladus. After graduation, she plans to work as a physics researcher in a lab studying space dust.
Claudia has had a winding road to her current career path but could not dream of doing anything else. She is very passionate about increasing the diversity in STEM fields and spends much of her time volunteering at outreach events. In her free time, she also enjoys baking, knitting, hiking, and playing with her rescue dog, Hank.
Chapter 9: From Roots to Revolution: My path from First-Gen Immigrant Woman Engineer to AI Leadership
Worldwide Business Development Leader, Industrial AI at Amazon Web Services (AWS)
What has been the worst toilet that you’ve ever had to use? Imagine being given two bricks and then shown an open field where you had to make that into a toilet. Dianne Eldridge compares different stages of her life to some of the worst and most high technology toilets she has encountered throughout the process. Having an Indonesian mother who moved to China allowed her to grow up in China, she later moved to Canada and eventually to Texas with lots of stops in Singapore, Malaysia, India, Italy and many more places along the way.
Dianne talks about being burned out in her career and how she made a unicorn switch to a more challenging but very rewarding role. She is now a leader in AI at Amazon Web Services, and she reflects on her journey in getting there. She also talks about her own daughter’s journey into the engineering field and shares some lessons that she learnt over the last two decades in the corporate world.
More about Dianne
Dianne Eldridge is a trail blazer at the forefront of AI integration in the industrial sector. As the Worldwide Business Development Leader for Industrial AI/Generative AI at Amazon Web Services (AWS), she drives the creation, launch, and scaling of revolutionary AI services.
Leveraging a customer-centric approach, Dianne and her team craft strategies that align with client needs, embodying AWS's commitment to transforming groundbreaking ideas into global, multi-billion dollar enterprises.
With over two decades of experience in the industrial sector, Dianne's expertise spans critical areas including AI implementation, P&L, strategic business development, and global operations. Prior to her role at AWS, she served as Executive Director of Strategic Business Unit at Emerson, a Fortune 200 engineering and manufacturing powerhouse. There, she led a multi-hundred-million-dollar manufacturing portfolio with operations across the United States, China, Malaysia, and Italy.
Recognized as a 2024 finalist for 50 Women to Watch For Boards by 50/50 Women On Boards, Dianne is a highly sought-after speaker and thought leader in the field of industrial AI and women in technology. Her insights have been shared through TEDx talk and as speaker and panelist at prestigious events such as AWS re:Invent, World Bank AI Insight Round Table, AI&Automation Conference by A3, and the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) National Conference. Dianne's leadership extends to her roles as Advisory Board Chair for the Women's Energy Network (WEN) Houston and board member for the AI Technology Strategy Board at the Association for Advancing Automation (A3).
Chapter 10: Systems Engineering – Unlocking the keys to your Future
Fellow at Northrop Grumman
STEM is intimidating but it is everywhere, and Gabriela Coe loves this! While she started off her career as an officer in the US Army Corps of Engineers with her bachelor’s in industrial engineering, this Latina pursued her master’s in systems engineering after moving to civilian life. She talks about the world of systems engineering and the important work she did with the United Kingdom for their national fingerprint identification system and a network for their first responders. She also worked on systems that provided first responders with integrated communications after September 11 which played a crucial role in coordinating rescue efforts when a US Airways flight made an emergency landing on the Hudson River - an event later depicted in the Warner Bros. film Sully: Miracle on the Hudson.
Gabby also mentions the importance of diversity and the criticality of developing soft skills. Being able to lead with emotional intelligence and having a strong support system are also key to achieving success. She dives into the significant impact of improving yourself through education and ensuring that you have the resources that you need to do so. Her podcast, “Keys to the Future” helps inspire others to stay on their STEM based career journeys while also covering a diverse range of topics for navigating STEM challenges.
More about Gabby
Gabby serves as a change agent for her organization driving adoption of systems engineering and software development disciplines across the enterprise. During her time with Northrop Grumman, Gabby has worked on a variety of complex projects and held various systems engineering leadership positions supporting the Department of Defense (DoD) and civilian agencies of US federal, state, and local governments and international projects supporting the governments of the United Kingdom and Colombia. Gabby holds a M.S. in Systems Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and a B.S. degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Miami. Gabby was the recipient of the 2019 Northrop Grumman Invention of the Year Award for her work in advancing the adoption of software development best practices. She has received the INCOSE Expert Systems Engineering Professional (ESEP) and served as the INCOSE Training Working Group Chair until 2022. She co-presented the INCOSE SEHBV4.0 tutorial which was awarded the INCOSE 2020 Product of the Year. She co-authored a chapter on Knowledge Sharing as a Systems Engineering Process: Stories and Methods from Industry Experts for the Springer Women in Engineering and Science book Emerging Trends in Systems Engineering Leadership, Practical Research from Women Leaders. Gabby served as an active-duty officer in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Chapter 11: Navigating the Marine Industry towards Technology and Gender Equality Advocacy in STEM
Imagine sailing around the world as a Navigator and then ending up in the technology sector. Brazilian born Juliana Smith had a very nontraditional trajectory for her career and has dabbled in several industries. With a decade long career in the Oil and Gas sector, she maps out some of the challenging situations she faced for simply being female in a very male populated environment and how she overcame these. She recounts her lack of role models growing up and her journey in choosing to study Oceanography. She speaks about the struggle to secure internships during her degree as most of the work required intensive labour which gave a preference to male students.
Juliana recounts her experiences with sexual harassment both in the classroom and in the field and how it made it her feel ashamed and that she was causing trouble. As with the nature of the industry, she was told to brush aside an injury and did not seek medical assistance until she was diagnosed with bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome which shattered her navigating career as she later was deemed unfit to work due to the permanent nerve damage in her hands.
She talks about her introduction to motherhood and a new industry, data science, as well as the importance of setting boundaries to avoid burn out which she learnt the hard way. She underscores the importance of allyship and mentorship which significantly helped her to move forward in her career and prepare her for her role of becoming a STEM advocate through her newsletter, “STEM Demystified”.
More about Juliana
Originally from Salvador, a coastal city in the northeast of Brazil, currently living in Manchester (United Kingdom) and has a five-year-old son named Benjamin. Since 2007, she has worked with data across multiple industries, including ocean research, oil and gas, insurance, and infrastructure. Her journey began as an undergraduate student majoring in Physics within a BSc in Oceanography program, where she learned her first programming language, Fortran, and developed a passion for extracting insights from data using MATLAB. Over the years, her career in the Oil and Gas industry has exposed her to various technologies, such as electro-magnetic telemetry, dynamic positioning systems, relational GPS and acoustic systems, marine data acquisition methods, and asset management software like IFS. These experiences have enhanced her analytical and problem-solving skills, enabling her to develop a holistic approach to technology management.
For the past four years, her focus has been on digital accessibility and Business Intelligence tools, particularly designing and implementing reporting solutions using Power BI. In September 2023, she achieved a significant milestone by attaining IT Chartered Status from the British Computer Society. She currently works as a Senior Data and Analytics consultant. Her expertise in data visualization, programming, and business intelligence is not just technical but also deeply practical, enriched by real-world examples that make these topics accessible and engaging to various audiences. Her ability to demystify complex concepts has made her a sought-after speaker and educator in the field, exemplified by her recent confirmation as a speaker at Data Relay 2024, where she will present a session on implementing accessible colours in Power BI reports. Beyond my technical achievements, she is dedicated to fostering diversity and inclusion in STEM fields.
As a registered STEM Ambassador for STEM Learning UK and NorthWest Women in STEM, she has volunteered over 30 hours in primary and secondary schools and at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester. She also launched a weekly LinkedIn newsletter, STEM Demystified, to address the under-representation of women in STEM by showcasing diverse career paths and opportunities.
Chapter 12: Engineering Excited my Mind
Power System Principal Engineer & Supervisor, Equipment and Materials Engineering group at Austin Energy
Engineering excited her mind. For Martha Vela de Casillas growing up with the rich cultural influences of her grandparents and parents helped form the foundation for her love of engineering. Through a very supportive family and teachers at school, she decided to pursue electrical engineering for her bachelors. She recounts her experiences working for IBM, and how that changed after Siemens acquired their division.
Martha also discusses how she knew when it was time to take a sabbatical from her career. She talks about her experience with her sabbatical and how she navigated going back to work and learning a new industry. Her introduction to the Power industry and journey towards becoming a professional licensed engineer was not one free of challenges. She dives into how she navigated being the only female in the office to welcoming more women in the industry.
More about Martha
Martha is responsible for specifying and procuring the major Substation equipment and services, providing support to Substation/Relay construction and maintenance, and overseeing the T&S Asset Management program. Her previous experience was in Quality Engineering at IBM, Product Engineering in Manufacturing and Test Engineering in the Electromagnetic Compatibility lab at Siemens. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at El Paso and is a licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Texas.
Chapter 13: The Power of Growing Up Latina
Technology and Market Strategist, SemiTest, Teradyne
Certain life events have a way of changing us. Nitza Basoco unknowingly took her first steps to become an engineer one evening by helping her father solve his work problem! In her chapter, she recounts how her parents ensured that they created a secure and safe environment where she could thrive educationally and understand the value of hard work. As a first-generation college student, she talks about her time at MIT and how she was able to navigate the transition and find her people. As a Latina in the semiconductor industry, she has gotten used to being one of the only women in the room. She describes how she overcame her fear of public speaking, trained others to do the same and more importantly developed a leadership style that is inclusive, supportive and empowering.
More about Nitza
She is a creative, results-oriented executive with over 23 years of semiconductor experience, working at companies including Teradyne, Synaptics, MaxLinear, proteanTecs and Broadcom. She has built successful, diverse, resilient, inter-disciplinary and multi-location teams as well as developed ATE hardware and test programs.
She actively embraces new challenges, leveraging a broad background in management, test development, product engineering, supply chain and operations to think holistically and outside the box. Nitza earned her Master of Engineering and Bachelor of Science degree from MIT. She is an active volunteer with the GSA Women’s Leadership Initiative and on the NAF Advisory Board of the Compton Unified School District.
Chapter 14: 7 Lessons from my Journey in Renewable Energy
Project Engineer, Westwood Professional Services
Thinking that math is a skill that you are either born with or not is wrong. Yasaman Taheri learned this while in middle school and afterwards became an expert in math. She talks about the role of a mentor and how changes to your mindset can help you to achieve your goals. She also talks about being introverted while on her leadership journey and how she now manages to switch between introversion and extroversion due to her focusing on self-improvement.
Yasaman has her bachelor’s in aerospace engineering, but she shares how challenging it was for her to move to the US with her limited knowledge of English and study for this course. She advises that people get involved in community and extracurricular activities to help teach yourself soft skills which will be useful in life. She also shares how she shifted from aerospace to the renewable energy industry as her immigration status did not assist in her securing jobs in that sector.
More about Yasaman
Yasaman Taheri graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from Wichita State University, earning Cum Laude honors. She was awarded the Walter H. Beech scholarship in Aeronautical Engineering and made it to the College of Engineering Dean’s Honor Roll several times. As an undergraduate, she tutored students and later became the supervisor of student tutors in the College of Engineering.
Yasaman's career began at Bombardier in Wichita, KS, as an Avionic/Electrical Flight Test Engineering Intern, where she worked on flight systems development and testing. She then moved to Pike Engineering in Fort Mill, SC, working as a Project Manager and Project Engineer on projects involving battery storage, substation, and T-line engineering. At Westwood Professional Services in Charlotte, NC, she managed engineering projects valued at over $2 million and covered various engineering fields across multiple states. She also consulted for the startup MyMatR, providing strategic insights for the sustainable recycling industry.
Currently, she is pursuing a Masters of Engineering Management at Duke University's Pratt School of Engineering. Yasaman is fluent in English and Farsi, and is learning French, and has a broad range of technical skills. Her career showcases her dedication to innovation, leadership, and continuous growth in the engineering sector.
Chapter 15: Women in Cocoa Research – Empowering Women in the Cocoa Supply Chain Globally
Project Specialist, Cocoa Research Centre, The University of the West Indies
Chocolate is synonymous with happiness, indulgence and possibly even love. But there is a journey which the chocolate must undergo before it finds its way into that shiny wrapper. Dr Naailah Ali does a deep dive into the cocoa supply chain and ways in which we can inspire and empower women who work in this supply / production chain. As a female scientist, she highlights some of the challenges women face in the supply side of this industry, and how by simply being visible we can start changing mindsets and improving lives.
During the cocoa postharvest process, women play a significant role in ensuring the quality of the product, but are often thought of as invisible throughout the supply chain. Naailah outlines the issues attributing to the gender inequality in the cocoa industry and shares how advocacy by female scientists to take a proactive approach to uplifting women in the cocoa supply chain can be rewarding for everyone involved.
More about Naailah
Dr. Naailah Ali has been employed at Cocoa Research Centre (CRC), The University of the West Indies (The UWI) since 2006. Her research topics include (but are not limited to) cacao pulp characteristics, fermentation behaviour and quality, cocoa drying and product development.
Naailah’s duties at CRC, The UWI also constitute execution and logistics support for training courses on morphological characterisation, postharvest processing, quality assessment, food safety, introductory and advanced chocolate making training and sensory evaluation. She is also involved in certification of cocoa quality, geographical indications and flavour mapping to support cacao farmers, cocoa buyers and chocolate manufacturers.
Naailah has been a member of the Technical Committee for Cacao of Excellence since 2021. She holds a B.Sc. in Agriculture (First Class Honours); M.Sc. in Food Science and Technology (Distinction) and Ph.D. in Food Science and Technology. Naailah is a former commonwealth split-site scholar and is an advocate for women in STEM. She has as a keen interest in feminism, is an avid reader and nature lover.
Chapter 16: Defects are my jam – The Engineers’ Daughter
Founder & Principal Consultant, The Engineers’ Daughter LLC
Being the daughter of two engineers can provide some foundation for your career trajectory. Anne Meixner intentionally followed her parents into the engineering field. She surmises that her engineering ethos revolves around efficacy, efficiency and economy. In her chapter, she deep dives into her early days at IBM and the pivotal roles she has played in helping to evolve the semiconductor industry. She also shares some tips for working on projects and with varying teams.
Anne dives into how you can know if you’ve stumbled across the next big thing to really change the industry and some of the signs you can look out for including the filing of patents. She emphasizes the importance of networking and some challenges she faced in starting up her own business after a layoff. She talks about loving what you do for work as you are trading a day in your life for it.
More about Anne
This company provides consulting on semiconductor electronics testing and training focused on an engineer’s career development. She has published over 10 papers related to semiconductor testing and holds 3 US patents for design for test circuitry. Since 2020 she has worked part-time at Semiconductor Engineering (Semiengineering.com) as a technical editor. In this role she writes investigative length technical articles on test, analytics, manufacturing and packaging. Currently Anne participates in the IEEE P2427 Standard on analog test coverage metrics as editor.
In 1984 the University of Maryland granted Anne BS in electrical engineering at the University of Maryland. While working at IBM she earned an MS electrical engineering from New York University. In the mid 1980’s at IBM Anne became fascinated with defects in the semiconductor manufacturing process. This led to earning a PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University in 1993. For her thesis she injected shorts into Op-amps. She worked at Intel for 21 years contributing to the semiconductor test methodology for SRAMs and I/O circuitry. She and her Intel colleagues have been awarded 2 best paper awards at the International Test Conference.
Chapter 17: Becoming a Woman in STEM through Middle-grade Fiction
It is often difficult for us to identify where we fit in, especially when we may embody different sides of the spectrum. For Patricia Mechael, she often had this dilemma being an Egyptian immigrant to the US who loved both Math and Science but was also good at the creative arts. She was encouraged to pursue her creativity as a hobby and make a profession out of the harder science subjects, particularly the medical field. She also realized that she was not the only person fighting this battle of not fitting in.
She uses fiction writing to help others contextualize challenges she has faced, and it has helped her to overcome imposter syndrome. Her stories help others to understand what it may be like to have different abilities but also how we can all work together towards the greater good of the planet. Patty describes her journey in becoming a mobile health pioneer for using technology to improve access to health in places like Sudan during the dot.com boom and her residency with the Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center on Lake Como.
More about Patty
She is a global public health professional and an award-winning digital health expert with over 25 years of experience in over 40 countries. She is co-founder and CEO at health.enabled a non-profit focused on whole person health, technology in everyday life, and equity for those most at risk of being left behind.
She is a Senior Associate in the Department of International Health in the Center for Global Digital Health Innovation at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She is a Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Fellow, Johns Hopkins University Knowledge for the World Distinguished Alumnus Awardee (2011), and British Council UK Education Social Impact Award (2016) recipient. She is also a recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Award at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (2023). She is on the editorial board of the Oxford Open Digital Health Journal and Journal of Medical Internet Research.
She is the award-winning author of the best-selling middle-grade fiction novel, The Antidotes: Pollution Solution, which she wrote in collaboration with her son. Awards include: Purple Dragonfly Awards- First Place, Green Book/ Environmental; Second Place, Global and Social Issues; Honorary Mention, Middle-Grade Fiction & STEM; Bookfest Award, First Place, Juvenile Fiction/Social Issues & Juvenile Fiction/ Science and Nature; Literary Titan Five Star Gold Award; and Reading with Your Kids Certified Great Read. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Near Eastern Studies from Johns Hopkins University, a Master in Health Sciences from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, and a PhD in Public Health and Policy from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Chapter 18: They said it couldn’t be done
Engineer, Power Delivery team at Olsson
Sometimes the safest option isn’t always the best option for us. Anna Miller recalls that she chose mechanical engineering because it seemed like the safe option, but her heart really belonged to civil engineering where she could let her creativity loose. However, her first internship was in the power industry where she researched and implemented methods of designing power lines which was not an area that she thought would be available to her.
She talks about her transition from being trained to the person leading the training sessions as she progressed to a new role in the company and dealt with different leadership styles. She also provides some advice on managing client relationships and ways to transform jobs into partnerships while learning more about the industry along the way. Anna emphasizes the importance of having grace from supervisors, clients, and mentors.
More about Anna
In her role as project and client manager, she is responsible for quality control checks and client communication. Her background is in power distribution, and she has advanced her skills in PLS CADD software.
She is a licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Nebraska. Anna holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She has a passion for the creative side of engineering. Where most would see overhead lines as “just a bunch of wires,” she sees a power puzzle with all the pieces precisely assembled according to plan. When she isn’t working, you can find her taking walks, planning a hiking trip, or dabbling in various art projects. She enjoys drawing, painting, and wood burning. Walking by her desk at work, you’d find the normal cubicle transformed into a space that inspires creativity.
Chapter 19: Tenacity and Triumph: Mastering your professional journey and navigating against all odds
Growing up in Romania, Juliette Weiszmann Samson was not aware of any gender-based preference for STEM related subjects and only experienced this when she moved to the US at age 12. While she recounts living in a communist country and the journey of immigrating to America, she touches on the adjustments she had to make during that time. Having spent 22 years at AT&T in various positions, she dives into some golden nuggets on how to set career goals and navigate new cultures.
Juliette gives us some insight into how she transitioned industries from telecom to IT mainly with her tenacity being the driving force which led her to work with Pfzier for some time. She talks about being the first to participate in many projects including the first undersea fiber cable communication between America and Europe. She advocates heavily for work life balance and some of the challenges that she faced during her lifetime. Finally, Juliette gives some advice to women of today on mentorship, management, courage, and perseverance.
More about Juliette
Previously she was CIO and Vice President of Supply Chain for World Finer Foods, a consumer-packaged goods (CPG) company, and before that served as Executive Director of IT Strategy, Operations & Portfolio Management for Pfizer, Inc., one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies.
Juliette has also worked at Merrill Lynch as Director of Global Network Services, was Executive Director of Customer Delivery Programs and Customer Operations at Lucent Technologies and spent many years at AT&T in various leadership capacities after starting her Engineering career as a Manager of R&D and Manufacturing for the Component Division of Western Electric Company. Juliette graduated from Cornell University with a BS in Electrical Engineering and holds an Executive MBA from Columbia University Graduate School of Business, as well as advanced certifications from Harvard University and Rutgers, among others. Juliette speaks four languages, enjoys a loving family, and is a Board Director on multiple business and philanthropic boards.
Chapter 20: Becoming a voice for Diversity and Equality in Healthcare / Bio-medical Science
Chartered Biomedical Scientist | FIBMS| Agile Practitioner
Becoming a pharmacist was always a childhood dream for Bamidele Farinre but her inspiration behind it has always been about helping people. While growing up, self-medication was prevalent in her community due to limited access to healthcare facilities and the high costs associated with medical services. She talks about the power to persevere despite failing exams or discouraging words from her teacher. She refused to let failure determine her path and pushed forward on her journey.
Her resilience led to her redemption and helped her to achieve her dream. She underscores the importance of mentorship, global experiences and community advocacy. She touches on the criticality of empathy in leadership and discusses some key lessons that she learnt along the way as well as the challenges she faced in her journey. Bamidele dives into ways to inspire the future generation and the importance of having a strong support system.
More about Bamidele
Bamidele Farinre is a multi-award-winning STEM leader, chartered biomedical scientist, university lecturer, mentor, STEM ambassador, and author whose journey epitomizes resilience, excellence, and a commitment to breaking barriers.
With an unwavering passion for advancing STEM and empowering the next generation, she has established herself as a thought leader, speaker, and advocate for diversity and inclusion in science and technology.
She is the acclaimed author of The Mentor's Journey: From Learning to Leading and Spark of Greatness: Discovering My Unique Gifts, books that reflect her dedication to mentorship, leadership, and inspiring others to reach their full potential. As the founder of BAMS Space No Ceiling, a widely read LinkedIn newsletter, she amplifies conversations on career growth, leadership, and overcoming obstacles in STEM fields.
Academically, Bamidele holds an MSc in Clinical Microbiology, alongside the IBMS Higher Specialist Diploma in Virology. She is also a Certified Scrum Master, seamlessly integrating agile methodologies into her leadership and project management roles. Her expertise and influence extend beyond her profession, as she serves as a Senior STEM Advisor for Gotara, mentoring STEM professionals globally. As a sought-after speaker, Bamidele has graced numerous conferences, podcasts, webinars, and workshops, sharing her insights on STEM leadership, career progression, mentorship, and diversity. Her impactful contributions have earned her multiple prestigious awards, solidifying her reputation as a trailblazer in biomedical science.
Through her advocacy, and dedication to mentoring, Bamidele continues to pave the way for aspiring scientists, particularly women and underrepresented groups in STEM. Her journey is a powerful testament to the limitless possibilities that come with perseverance, passion, and purpose.
Chapter 21: Embracing Growth through Failures
Founder, The Daily Goal Setter
It may seem that we only document our successes in life and use these as our milestones. However, our failures are also significant markers in our growth. Jesscia Kinman dives into some of the failures she has had during her lifetime and how they were able to define her character and help her to reach outside of her comfort zone. She talks about understanding your different learning styles and how she adapted to various environments based on her style of learning.
She also gives some examples of recognizing the power of adaptability when she tried to enlist in the United States Airforce Reserves and was thrown a curveball. Jessica gives us some details on managing parenthood as a single mom while still pursuing her MBA and engineering degree. Another failure she talks about is assuming that we have to handle everything on our own when we can get access to mentors and should also focus on building our community.
More about Jessica
She has two decades of experience in the Manufacturing industry. Throughout her career, she has played pivotal roles in shaping the landscape of cloud technology, engineering, manufacturing processes, and software solutions across various industries. Her professional journey includes serving as a Senior Manager for Digital Manufacturing at PWC, Global Director of Industry Solutions at Boomi, a Solution Leader at Amazon AWS, and a Global Aerospace Director at Dassault Systèmes. Prior to her tenure at Dassault, Jessica made significant contributions at Boeing, where she spearheaded the transformation of the 2nd Century Enterprise System, providing crucial support to a staggering 100,000 manufacturing users.
She also gained valuable experience working on the manufacturing floor, fulfilling roles ranging from an electrician to team leader and Manufacturing Manager, where she supported a multitude of developmental programs and electrical certification projects and testing. In addition to her corporate achievements, Jessica is a Civil Engineering officer in the US military, serving with the 194th Civil Engineering Flight in the Washington Air National Guard. She actively contributes her expertise as a board and advisory member to organizations such as the National Women in Manufacturing organization, the WIM WA Chapter, the Center of Excellence for Advanced Manufacturing, and the Creative Destruction Lab for Manufacturing Startups. Jessica's educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Oregon Institute of Technology, a Bachelors in Business Management and Operations, and an MBA from Washington State University.
Chapter 22: Having fun advancing Technically Routed Energy Transition work, near and far!
Managing Director at EconergyPM – Clean Energy Expertise, International Clean Energy Tech Expert & Women in STEM Mentor
Can you combine a traditional, highly analytical engineering perspective with a people-based and culture-sensitive, 21st century engineering education and problem-based learning perspective? Peggy Mischke is doing exactly that as she breaks the barriers for traditional engineering and has developed her own boutique energy transition advisory company where she gets to wear several professional hats ranging from traditional power and environmental engineering roles to stakeholder moderation roles and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) research and teaching roles.
Peggy uses her Eastern European turned global citizen engineering life skills to open doors for her and help her to navigate complex situations. She makes the case for new and diverse collaborations to advance complex energy transition debates and provides some advice on how one can approach this process. Her advice on seeking out mentors and taking charge of your working life to veer away from the traditional pathway is golden as she exemplifies these traits.
More about Peggy
She has about 18 years of experience in supporting the planning, the financing, the supervision and the evaluation of renewable energy, energy efficiency and green technology projects, programs and investment fund portfolios, with technical site visits conducted in more than 30 countries.
Peggy is a multi-lingual (Eastern-) German power and environmental engineer experienced working for and collaborating with a wide range of international finance institutions; European and bilateral development organizations; engineering (consulting) companies; power utilities; energy regulators; climate foundations; energy policy think tanks; academic research groups specializing in energy system modelling; non-governmental organizations and clean-tech start-ups.
She received three environmental and power engineering degrees from technical universities in Germany and Denmark (with a specialization in renewable energy and energy systems analysis) and is a member of the German Association for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies. Her technical work received various scholarships, fellowships and professional awards, including for example a World Bank team leadership award for structuring one of the first multi-donor renewable energy scale-up investment programmes under the Climate Investment Funds.
With her Copenhagen-based company “EconergyPM - Clean Energy Expertise” Peggy currently provides lean and flexible third-party advisory services to promising clean energy transition initiatives worldwide. She occasionally serves as an independent technical evaluator for green infrastructure funding proposals and teaches engineering management and business model courses at technical universities. Furthermore, she mentors junior female energy sector professionals and female founders of clean-tech start-ups. In her free time, she enjoys European culture in all its diverse forms, exploring local food trends and Nordic outdoor sports, such as cycling and ocean rowing.
Chapter 23: Increasing Female Hispanic Representation in Electrical Engineering
Cynthia Salas
Power System Principal Engineer, Austin Energy
“An electrical engineer? What’s that?” was one of the turning point questions that Cynthia Salas had when she was 11 years old. Coming from an immigrant family to the United States, her first language was Spanish but because of influential mentors in her life, she found her pathway into engineering becoming a System Protection Engineer and working in one of the most technical areas in the power industry. She explains that failure doesn’t mean the end of your journey, it can be redirected into finding a few other ways that something doesn’t work.
Cynthia recounts what it was like to be the only female in her class and how one can overcome the intimidation of certain challenges to eventually emerge victorious. She also gives her experiences of being the only female engineer in the room and her colleagues being unfamiliar with ways to treat that situation. She has seen the industry evolve a bit and become more diverse and she’s glad that she lit the path forward for other female power engineers to enter this field.
More about Cynthia
She graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering. She then continued to earn her MBA from Texas A&M University at San Antonio. She is a registered professional engineer in the state of Texas. Cynthia loves to travel, learn about other cultures, and try different international cuisines with her husband.
Chapter 24: Taking a Bite out of Speech Pathology
Speech Pathologist and Head and Neck Cancer Researcher, Chris Obrien Lifehouse
“I’m not good at Math, so I can’t be a woman in STEM” is a myth that Dr Emma Charters has dispelled (time and time again!). She provides us with her background of not being friends with math, being shy to the point of almost getting fired and then becoming a speech pathologist who now holds a patent for a revolutionary technology in this sector. She talks about her journey to a PhD and how it was filled with new challenges that she had to overcome (a math course being one of them!) as well as starting the journey of motherhood while all still working at the clinic.
Emma’s outlook on reframing problems to gifts has helped her in finding solutions to limitations which her patients were facing. This led to her working with an incredible team of diverse scientists to develop a treatment for trismus aimed at helping patients with restricted mouth openings after head and neck cancer treatment called Restorabite™. She also learnt the importance of having a multidisciplinary team and the profound effect of bringing up others with you along the way.
More about Emma
She is the team leader of speech pathology and head and neck researcher at Chris Obrien Lifehouse in Sydney, Australia. She is also Speech Pathology Lead within the Integrated Prosthetics and Reconstruction (IPR) multidisciplinary team, where she is actively involved in the (1) clinical, (2) translational research, and (3) point of care manufacturing. She has developed the service with an integrated research agenda focusing on communication and swallowing rehabilitation after head and neck cancer.
Her clinical and research interests include improving the functional and quality of life outcomes after jaw reconstruction for oral cancer, restoration of oral competence following facial nerve injury and optimising swallowing outcomes after head and neck cancer treatment.
Dr Charters completed her PhD in 2021, her thesis examined the impact that advances in head and neck cancer treatment have on swallowing and communication outcomes. She is the co-developer of a novel, 3D printed device purpose built for trismus rehabilitation and holds a joint clinical and research position at Chris Obrien Lifehouse. She lives in Sydney, Australia with her husband Rafe (an engineering and STEM enthusiast), dog and 3 children, Ellie (7), William(5) and Sullivan (3), loves camping, swimming, reading and is a terrible cook.
Chapter 25: Embracing the Rhythm of Career Aspiration
Senior Technical Engineer II, Ecolab
From the coalfields of eastern India to the gleaming offices of multinational corporations, Preeti Prasad's career journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, adaptability, and an unquenchable thirst for growth. This autobiography charts the course of a chemical engineer who refused to be defined by societal expectations or corporate limitations. Her story navigates the balance between ambition and family, tradition and modernity, setbacks and comebacks. It's not just about climbing the corporate ladder but creating a unique path in a world that often confines women to predetermined roles.
As you turn these pages, you'll nod in recognition at the universal challenges of workplace politics, gender biases, and the struggle to prove one's worth. You'll be inspired by Preeti's resilience in the face of adversity and her ability to reinvent herself time and again. It reminds us that careers, like lives, are not linear but woven from choices, chances, and determination.
Join Preeti as she takes you behind the scenes of India's industrial landscape, from oil refineries to digital solutions, and shares the hard-won wisdom gleaned from her experiences. Whether you're just starting your career or looking to rekindle your professional passion, her stories offer insights, inspiration, and the affirmation that with grit and grace, it's possible to embrace the rhythm of career aspiration and dance to your beat."
More about Preeti
Preeti Prasad’s journey from a small town to the corporate offices of multinational giants is a testament to her resilience and adaptability. Being the first female engineer in her family, she navigated many life’s challenges. From her initial role in a refinery to becoming a leader in industrial digitalization, her career has been marked by continuous learning and growth. Her story is one of perseverance, balancing personal and professional life, and staying true to oneself, ultimately achieving success through hard work and unwavering commitment.
Preeti, a chemical engineer with over a decade of diverse industrial experience, holds prestigious International Certifications of MLA1 (Machinery Lubricant Analyst, Level I) and MLT1 (Machinery Lubrication Technician, Level I) from ICML (International Council for Machinery Lubrication), signifying her expertise in machinery lubrication and tribology. Also, she has pursued a Post Graduate Diploma in Industrial Safety and Executive Development Program in Advance Project Management from an IIM (Indian Institute of Management). She holds prestigious global accreditation for Project Management Professionals (PMP®) from the Project Management Institute (PMI).
Her commitment to knowledge dissemination extends beyond certifications, with six published technical articles in industry magazines and presentations of seven technical papers at international reliability conferences. She has also made significant contributions by assessing projects aimed at enhancing maintenance reliability within industries. She was recognized as an Industrial Person of the Week by Empowering Pumps and Equipment.
Driven by a strong work ethic instilled during her upbringing in an industrial community, Preeti is passionate about STEM fields. Currently residing in Pune, India, with her family, she balances her professional pursuits with a vibrant personal life filled with versatile hobbies of singing, dancing, writing, and exploring new destinations.
Chapter 26: Why women interview better than male counterparts
Partner & Practice Lead, Thinking Ahead Executive Search
People often ask why women interview better than male counterparts. Christopher Gray, a partner at a HR firm gives his view about this especially as it relates to female engineers. He talks about what he has witnessed over the years of male versus female counterparts. He emphasized that female counterparts are always more receptive to feedback and would actually work on the issues highlighted. His chapter gives some advice on why women interview better as well as some tips for men who are interviewing for positions.
More about Christopher
He is a Partner and the Practice Lead with the Energy & Renewables Practice in the Nashville, TN headquarters of ThinkingAhead Executive Search. He works with his clients on an exclusive contingency or engaged basis and focuses on recruiting PE Licensed engineers in Renewables and Power Delivery.
Chapter 27: CEST, Stereotype Threat and Polarizing Factor: Three concepts for Women in STEM
Arielle Friedman applies three concepts from cognitive psychology to the experience of being a woman in STEM. She discusses the personality model of the Cognitive Experiential Self which analyzes people on two axes: need for cognition and faith in intuition. She discusses stereotype threat, and proposes an alternative construct of stereotype defiance. Finally, she likens the impact of being a woman in a male dominated field to that of a polarizing factor, or ‘wild card.’
More about Arielle
She is an award-winning screenwriter based out of New York and Toronto with a degree in Cognitive Systems and Artificial Intelligence from UBC and has three peer reviewed papers published in her field. She’s currently carrying out AI consulting for a Hollywood film, and has recently signed a book deal with Dundurn Press on AI and consciousness. More of her writing can be found here: ariellefriedman.com
Chapter 28: The Gender Disparity in Engineering: Moving from What to Why in Addressing Pathways to Equitable Representation
Senior Engineer, WD Bearings America
As a male in engineering, Gakuo Ndonga noticed the lack of female representation in his field and has been on a journey to find out what is responsible for these low numbers. From many interviews with female colleagues one of the consistent responses he received was, “I love my field but not my environment”. He explores how a simple conversation about common interests can be taken for granted at the workplace and the importance of building relationships outside of the workplace to help break down some of the barriers. Gakuo is requesting others to begin asking the question why rather than what to help develop more meaningful steps to help address the disparities which currently exist for females in engineering.
More about Gakuo
He supports numerous industry applications incorporating bearing technology. Gakuo previously excelled in his role as an Applications Engineer Expert at SKF Group where he gained expertise in rolling element bearing applications in the fluid machinery industry. As a Senior Engineer he now reviews industrial machinery designs for clients; provides recommendations and reviews for bearing designs and arrangements; travels on-site for bearing application support and training; conducts analysis for damaged or failed bearings from the field; and provides technical support for sales teams.
Gakuo is also a published author and industry presenter at platforms such as Lubrication & Reliability Summit, Pumps & Systems, Pump Engineer, and Empowering Pumps.
Gakuo has been a long advocate for driving diversity, equity and inclusion at his organizations as well as the industry. His dedication for driving innovation and equality in his field led him to be inducted into the Marquis Who’s Who publication of accomplished individuals and innovators. Outside of engineering Gakuo is a passionate soccer fan, values supporting local charities, and visiting parts of the world that are foreign to his own experience.”