Women aren’t as good at math as men.
WRONG!
There is no evidence to suggest that men are better at math and science than women. In fact, studies have shown that girls perform just as well as boys in math and science in early education.
Women aren’t as interested in STEMM subjects as men.
WRONG!
Many girls and women are as interested in STEMM fields as any of their male-counterparts, however they do face obstacles and discrimination when pursuing these careers.
Are you ready for some truth about women in STEMM?
Although STEMM fields have traditionally been male-dominated, there are many women breaking down barriers and excelling in these industries. In fact, we are thrilled to feature the stories of eight incredible women who are already thriving in STEMM careers.
They will share their experiences, debunk some common misconceptions, and explain why gender equity is crucial in these fields.
Hannah Cable (she/her), Vice President New Product Development at Abcam.
What’s one myth you think needs to be busted to get more women into STEMM?
The myth that they are on an equal footing with peers of male gender. They are not (yet). It is important to be aware there is still work to do.
What’s it really like being a woman in STEMM?
What do you love about working in STEMM?
I would say I’m not a scientist anymore in the traditional sense, I spend my time now leading teams of great scientists! What I love about science is the discipline it brings to enable us to understand our world. There is a quote I like by Susan Sontag, ‘All understanding begins with our not accepting the world as it appears’. Without the methodology that science brings we would not have that understanding, and the world would be a poorer place because of it.
Why do you think gender equity is important in this industry?
Firstly, is that it’s just the right thing to do. But of course, it’s more than that… it opens up awareness of inequity as a whole (across multiple characteristics), it brings diversity of approach which leads to better ideas, outcomes, results, and treatments.
What’s your best tip for other women to find success in STEMM?
Always remember you cannot succeed without failing.
And be kind to yourself!
Georgia Manthey (she/her), Integration Engineer at Ericsson.
What’s one myth you think needs to be busted to get more women into STEMM?
A common myth that still exists is, “the battle for gender equality in STEMM disciplines is over”.
Women are still underrepresented in the STEMM fields, largely in engineering and computer science – thus the battle is not over. The gender gap in STEMM persists due to false perceptions about women’s aptitude, their interests in STEMM, and the lack of support or confidence to pursue these fields.
To get more women into these industries, it is important to acknowledge these existing barriers to entry. Understanding these barriers will help organizations shape their strategic plans to increase diversity and develop positive role-models.
What’s it really like being a woman in STEMM?
What’s one myth you think needs to be busted to get more women in this industry?
That you need to be an aggressive communicator or ‘one of the guys’ to fit in or be successful.
This industry has so many different roles and so many amazing opportunities. There truly is a role for everyone and it’s just a matter of finding the right fit for you, and a supportive environment where you can grow and learn.
Why do you think gender equity is important in this industry?
I think gender equity is important in every industry. Industries that aren’t considering gender equity are missing out on all the proven benefits of a diverse workforce including better decision making and better productivity. And that is before you even get into missing out on engaging with the best staff for the role, who are easily overlooked due to gender.
In the time I’ve been in the construction industry I’ve started to see real cultural change come about purely as a result of a more diverse team. It leads to a greater range of ideas, better problem solving and in turn our project teams are producing better work and better outcomes for our clients.
What’s your best tips for other women to find success in construction?
Give everything a go and try not to limit yourself.
Sometimes the best journeys in life are the ones you don’t expect, and some of the most rewarding projects I’ve worked on have been challenges I never would have put myself forward for, or thought I was even capable of!
Also, find a mentor and role models to help keep you motivated and on the right path. It’s always good to bounce ideas off someone else and a supportive network makes all the difference.
Tracy Davenport (she/her), General Manager – Automation Hub, Operations at nbn
What’s one myth you think needs to be busted to get more women into STEMM?
When it comes to working in technology, many assume the ability to code is a requirement. What is in demand are portable skills and knowledge that are ultra-useful.
At the start of my career, I worked in a customer contact centre. I learnt a lot about the telco industry, business processes and customers. Things like the customer activation, assurance, and billing processes. I understood how technology interacts with those processes. I learnt how to really listen with empathy. I was successful in gaining my first role as a business analyst/product designer in IT. I knew about users’ needs, their goals and pain points. I provided invaluable insights to help improve the customer experience.
What’s it really like being a woman in STEMM?
What do you love about working in STEMM?
What I love is solving with the art of the possible front of mind. IT is a great career for problem solvers and dreamers alike, and when they team up, the magic happens!
Why do you think gender equity is important in this industry?
It is so important for people from diverse backgrounds to work in technology. Making sure all voices are heard is necessary if we are to provide a service/product that appeals to many. Everyone has experience in using a company’s product or technology and harnessing that experience is key to building the right solution.
What is your best tip for other women to find success in STEMM?
Don’t limit yourself. Confidence comes from knowing yourself and your strength. Rather than listing out the ten things you do not know, focus on the fifty you do.
And be a connector — strong relationships build strong teams.
Veronica Patterson (she/her), Technical Solution Specialist at Cisco
What’s one myth you think needs to be busted to get more women into STEMM?
That gender affects how much we can like a career in technology.
What’s it really like being a woman in STEMM?
What do you love about working in STEMM?
I enjoy the quick pace that technology moves at. It’s always evolving and it keeps things interesting.
Why do you think gender equity is important in this industry?
Because this will affect the experience we all have. There is no valid justification to behave differently.
What’s your best tip for other women to find success in STEMM?
Embrace the journey. Don’t overthink and hold back by creating limits to what you can do. Play by your strengths and more than anything, enjoy it!
Alexia Trolliet (she/her), Technical Project Manager at Exa Product Development
What’s one myth you think needs to be busted to get more women into STEMM?
Being in tech is not only about having an unwavering passion for a specific discipline and sticking to it for your entire career. While that could be your path, there are also plenty of opportunities to explore related domains or roles if you have a general interest in technology.
For example, if you’re not ready to commit to a specific discipline, you could study or work in mechatronics (a mix of electronics, mechanical and software engineering), or biomedical engineering. These are great as they give you a solid technical background while keeping your options open, providing you with broad experience and time to explore what ‘floats your boat’.
There are also a lot of exciting tech careers that don’t involve staying in front of a computer designing products, like field application engineer or technical sales representative.
What’s it really like being a woman in STEMM?
What do you love about working in STEMM?
I love getting the opportunity to mix left and right-brain thinking every day.
As a Technical Project Manager, I need to be able to understand complex, multi-disciplinary problems, evaluate different solutions, and make decisions while seeking the best outcome for our client.
At the same time, I need to balance the needs of my team and the client, lead difficult conversations, and think creatively to come up with the best commercial approach.
I find the mix of challenges and skills used to overcome them stimulating and fulfilling.
Why do you think gender equity is important in this industry?
I have observed that in general, women have a holistic approach to product development. We naturally consider the project’s constraints and integration needs. Assuming that is true, having more women in the industry is complementary to creating seamless, high-end technological products that consider the needs of all users.
What’s your best tip for other women to find success in technology?
In engineering, women can be their own biggest obstacles. We should believe in ourselves and project confidence even when we’re learning – it’s okay to take up space! This is true for experienced engineers and women engineers who are at the start of their career journey.
Lia Donaldson (she/her), Senior Manager, Industry X at Accenture
What’s one myth you think needs to be busted to get more women into STEMM?
I feel that a lot of people believe that careers in STEMM revolve solely around the use of math and science and that you’ll limit the opportunity open to you by the degree that you’ve studied.
My experience in this field has been the opposite of this. I’ve found that pursuing a career in STEMM has pushed me to build a broad and flexible skill base that leverages and needs both analytical and creative thinking skills. Further to this, I’ve found that organizations (from engineering, finance, products, and many others) appreciate the out-of-the-box thinking that STEMM instils as they look for individuals to grow their teams and business capabilities.
What’s it really like being a woman in STEMM?
What do you love about working in STEMM?
Growing up I always had an insatiable curiosity to understand how things worked. Many of my earliest memories revolve around tackling a challenge and finding new ways to do things. It was this curiosity and love of problem solving that pushed me initially toward maths and science and ultimately led me to complete an engineering degree.
Following my degree, I have spent my career continually learning and growing while working with and advising clients across the engineering and resources domain. My work has spanned from feasibility studies and business strategies through to driving operational excellence with advanced analytics and AI.
Today, I work closely with organizations to help them navigate disruption and transform their businesses for tomorrow. I love that my career in STEMM allows me to pursue my passion of using problem solving and new innovations to tackle these challenges and deliver outcomes that drive value for people, businesses, and society.
Why do you think gender equity is important in these industries?
Gender equity is vital in STEMM industries if we are going to solve the wicked problems that plague society. The only way that we will solve these challenges is to draw on all available talent and maximise our diversity of thought in both exploring the challenges and finding new and innovative approaches to solving them.
What’s your best tip for other women to find success in STEMM?
My advice to women wanting to pursue a career in STEMM is to grab every opportunity with both hands, oftentimes you won’t know what you love until you try it. The second part of this advice is to build your network and explore your options by connecting with and talking to as many people as you can.
Noriko Wood (she/her), Senior Project Engineer at Fulton Hogan
What’s one myth you think needs to be busted to get more women into STEMM?
Before I worked in the industry, I thought it would be hard working in a male-dominated environment – but I have been surprised! My experience working as an engineer is that it is an industry filled with caring people who look after one another.
What’s it really like being a woman in STEMM?
What do you love about working in STEMM?
I love that every day is a new challenge. Working on major projects and learning how the world we live in is built is the best part of my job.
Why do you think gender equity is important in these industries?
We face many challenges related to building resilient infrastructure in a changing world, and gender diverse teams can offer us broader perspectives on how we can tackle them best. We need ALL kinds of people to bring their unique solutions so that we can continue to deliver high-quality infrastructure for the benefit of our communities.
What’s your best tip for other women to find success in STEMM?
Have confidence in your abilities. Women may underestimate their skills in STEMM areas when they are actually very capable. Back yourself and seek out new challenges and experiences!
Nivedita Kang (she/her), Head of Technology for Woolworths Group
What’s one myth you think needs to be busted to get more women into STEMM?
That you’ll always be able to plan your direction. When I think about my past self, it was so difficult to see the road ahead. Even though I set goals for my life and career during university, I’m lucky I had parents who guided me. They encouraged me to try new things and take a computer science course.
What’s it really like being a woman in STEMM?
What do you love about working in STEMM?
I was raised around crops and nature. It must have been a subconscious decision because I only made the connection after I joined! Coming from a farming background, I’m proud of where I am today, working in technology to make a positive impact in people’s lives.
Why do you think gender equity is important in this industry?
Nivedita has reaped the benefits of supportive leaders and strives to deliver the same benefits for others in turn. She does so by treating people with kindness, giving back to the community, and ensuring the people around her feel open, hopeful, and positive.
“I lead diversity, and inclusion in WooliesX Technology Practice. It’s an honor to be part of such a great organization that takes ownership of inspiring and helping build careers for women and next-generation talent.”
What’s your best tip for other women to find success in technology?
Stand up for yourself. Be courageous. Be a risk-taker. And, most importantly, believe in yourself to better yourself!
