Stemettes’ Post

CAN WE MAKE STEM SPACES BRAVER? STEM is challenging, no doubt. But what makes it harder for women and non-binary folks is how we’ve been taught to approach those challenges. Many of us grow up aiming for perfection. Mistakes? They’re seen as failures, not stepping stones. But STEM doesn’t work like that. It’s built on trial and error, learning from what didn’t work, and trying again. The problem is, when you’ve been raised to avoid failure at all costs, every stumble starts to feel like proof that you don’t belong. But here’s the truth: stumbling isn’t a sign you’re not good enough—it’s just part of the process. So how do we change this? By building communities that celebrate persistence over perfection. By creating spaces where it’s okay to fail, learn, and try again. And by encouraging everyone to stay in the game, even when it feels tough. Because STEM needs more women and NB folks—not fewer. And we need more of us who know it’s bravery that builds success, not flawless beginnings. #womeninstem #community #keepgoing

Absolutely delighted to be recognised by University of Nottingham for a recent talk on #menasallies in the field of #STEM but of course the praise and the plaudits go to the irrepressible force of nature that is Alexandra Knight CEng FIMechE FWES and her super STEMAZING team! You may know this is a subject dear to my heart. About 30% of the UK’s workforce are employed in #science and #engineering jobs which total well over 9million. Of that only 25% are women and that stat encapsulates why I and many others are focused on moving the dial through #inspiring, #mentoring and #sponsorship of #women and other #underrepresented groups. There is plenty of data to show that #diverse and #inclusive workforces are more #profitable, #innovative, #happier and #retain their staff. It's a win-win! If we only engaged 1% of #menasallies that would equate to over 60,000. That's a highly significant number considering estimates say around 40,000 women left the #STEMindustries in mid career last year. In my book we need to get leadership to have courage and stick their necks out, get their priorities right, believe in the cause and set the strategy to increase the numbers. If my CEO has bought in then there is a good chance my employees will. Let's get on with it and stop "pfaffing around"! Women's Engineering Society POWERful Women FLISS - Free Mentoring for Women in STEM WeAreTechWomen London Business School Imperial College Business School Cambridge Judge Business School Saïd Business School, University of Oxford The University of Chicago Booth School of Business Chris Dodds Becca Ferrari Sarah Bee Dr Vanessa Vallely OBE Chelsey Baker Kellie Kwarteng Hena Naranbhai Akua Opong CITP MBCS FRSA Ekua Cant Bamidele Farinre Lauren Neal Hira Ali Robert Baker Katie Kelly Kat Draper Kat Parsons Dr Caitlin A McCall CEng MIMechE Faith Ruto (Exec MBA, ICF, EMCC) Bertha Banda Charity Anietie-Akanam (MBA, PGCE-HE, BA, DipM, CMgr, MCMI) Dr Jummy Okoya PhD, FRSA, FCMI, SFHEA, MCIPD, ICF (PCC) Yasmin Ali European Women on Boards (EWOB) UN Women UK Donna Otchere Christina Tueje, CIPP/E Marybeth Olafioye Dorinda Nartey

It's Been 2 Weeks Into the New Year... ...and here at Geek Sisters (geek-ssters), we're already buzzing with excitement for all that 2025 has in store! 💡 As an online community of women in STEM, we’re ready to level up, break barriers, and continue inspiring and empowering each other to achieve greatness. Last year, we launched impactful programs, collaborated with incredible partners, and saw our community grow in ways we couldn’t have imagined. This year, we’re dreaming even bigger, and we want YOU to be part of this journey! Here’s what’s on the horizon: ✨ New cohorts for new programs ✨ Collaborations with more like-minded organizations ✨ Weekly content to motivate and educate ✨ Fun, interactive events to connect with fellow women in STEM Let’s make 2025 a year of growth, innovation, and sisterhood. Whether you’re a seasoned STEM professional or just starting your journey, Geek-ssters is here for YOU.🫵✨️ Here’s to building a future where women thrive in STEM, together. #Geek-ssters #WomenInSTEM #Empowerment #NewYearNewGoals

This week, I had the privilege of contributing to a panel discussion on career guidance strategies aimed at increasing women’s participation in STEM. The event, hosted by Mindshift Skills Hub as part of the Future Women Erasmus+ Project, was expertly led by Célia Tavares and Nadine Teles. It was an inspiring conversation with Ana Paula Duarte, Heitor Gomes, Katiuska Cruz, Nádia Leitão, and Susana Brás. Together, we explored the persistent gender gap in STEM fields and highlighted the urgency of collective action at all levels—starting with early education and extending to the labor market and broader societal dynamics—to bridge this divide. I look forward to engaging with other initiatives that drive meaningful progress in bridging the gender gap in STEM careers and across the broader labor market.

Today we celebrate National STEM Day, a reminder of how Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math shape our world—and how important it is to ensure everyone has a seat at the STEM table. Did you know that only 27.2% of the STEM workforce is made up of women? That’s why communities like TechBesties exist—to bridge that gap and support women and allies in tech, one connection at a time. STEM isn’t just about coding or equations—it’s about creating a future where innovation thrives because everyone’s voice is included. ✨ Besties, let’s celebrate STEM today by uplifting each other and inspiring the next generation of innovators! ✨ Diamond Blake Darien Maples Lela Belayneh Tina Honore'-McGaskey Avery Fortenberry 👩🦰 Haley Holcomb Miyah M. Megan Eiszler Kellie Gregory, SHRM-CP, CSM, POPM, APM Bora Laci, MBA #NationalSTEMDay #TechBesties #STEMinclusion

📣 Calling all individuals working across Industry, Academia and Entrepreneurship in STEAM! 📣 Join TeamStemette to celebrate WeAreTechWomen's Women in Tech Week and Ada Lovelace Day 2024 with our lunch and learn event! 🎉 This Lunch and Learn event is exploring how organisations can support and nurture the future of young girls and non-binary individuals through highlighting and being impactful role models. Stemettes will be sharing advice and recommendations from their Equitable Curriculum Reform White Paper which was launched at UK Parliament at the start of the year. This event will be an excellent opportunity to network with like-minded industry professionals and inform your continued professional development. Outcomes from the session include: 💡Understanding how to best support and nurture role models in industry and how to step up as a role model within your organisation. 💡 New ideas on how to incorporate equitable practices in your day to day work life 💡 Build new connections with like minded professionals 💡 Working towards allowing for girls and non-binary individuals to be able to make informed decisions about careers in STEM, so that eventually they can be proportionally represented in the field. ls. This hybrid event is taking place on Tuesday October 8th, both in London and online; as with all Stemettes events, it will be free, fun and includes a complimentary lunch. We have limited capacity for people to attend this event physically; find out more about the event and express your interest here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/e8F2bjkX #WomeninSTEM #AdaLovelaceDay2024 #WomenInTechWeek2024 #Stemettes #learninganddevelopment

IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland Client Companies: Discover the Power of I Wish 2025. Are you looking for an impactful way to inspire young women, showcase your organisation’s leadership, and support Ireland’s future talent pipeline? The I Wish 2025 Showcase is your opportunity to do just that. What is I Wish? I Wish is a transformative initiative dedicated to empowering young women to explore careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Through hands-on experiences, inspiring speakers, and direct connections with industry leaders, I Wish creates opportunities for the next generation to see their potential and thrive. Why Should Your Company Get Involved? ✅ Elevate Your Brand: Align your company with a high-profile initiative that champions diversity and inclusion. ✅ Build a Future Talent Pipeline: Engage with students who represent Ireland’s next wave of STEM leaders. ✅ Make a Difference: Demonstrate your company’s commitment to social impact and the development of future innovators. 🔗 Get involved today—contact info@iwish.ie or connect with Sharon Lombard to learn more about how your company can become involved. It is a collective responsibility to inspire the next generation of trailblazers. #WomenInSTEM #FutureLeaders #Diversity #SocialImpact #Innovation Gillian Keating Caroline O'Driscoll Anne-marie Tierney-Le Roux Advancing Innovation in Manufacturing (AIM) Centre NIBRT National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training Digital Manufacturing Ireland Skillnet Ireland Research Ireland SOLAS Skills & Labour Market Research Unit Chambers Ireland BioPharmaChem Ireland Irish Medtech Skillnet itag & itag Skillnet Technology Ireland ICT Skillnet

ChickTech just announced they are closing. They now join Girls in Tech, Inc., Women Who Code, and many smaller groups that have announced they are closing. What a devastating blow to the work of building diverse, inclusive, and equitable Tech workplaces. It baffles the mind that support and funding for organizations has dried up so rapidly in just a matter of months. In light of the recent EEOC data that representation of women in tech has only grown 0.6 basis points over 19 years from 22% in 2005 to 22.6%, you'd think that organizations would be investing more to find new solutions to increase hiring, retention, and promotion of women and gender diverse individuals. Especially now, as we find our selves in an arms race for AI-industrial dominance, ensuring the teams building AI reflect society is more critical than ever. https://lnkd.in/gRCTD7fW

Did you know that women make up only 29% of the STEM workforce, and girls often lose interest in science and math as early as middle school? These disparities in STEM education contribute to the ongoing wage gap and limit opportunities for women and girls. In celebration of STEM/STEAM Day, let’s work to change these stats: 1️⃣ Encourage girls' curiosity in science and math from a young age. 2️⃣ Provide opportunities for hands-on STEM/STEAM learning at school and home. 3️⃣ Celebrate female role models in STEM/STEAM to show what’s possible. Let's inspire the next generation of female innovators! #STEMDay #STEAMDay #WomenInSTEM #ClosingTheGap

DO YOU HAVE FOMO? 🤔 DO YOU EVER HAVE 'A FEAR OF MISSING OUT'??? HAVE YOU HEARD PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THE NEW PLACE TO HANGOUT???   HAVE YOU SEEN ALEX'S RECENT LINKEDIN POST??? The one all about our all new singing and dancing online space for everyone to be part of the STEM inspiration and inclusion revolution a.k.a.   💚 THE STEMAZING COMMUNITY 💚   You can READ IT HERE if you like - https://lnkd.in/eahBz5Rs   HAVE YOU SEEN THIS LOGO BEFORE??? DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT MEANS???   LET ME EXPLAIN...   Firstly, apologies for SHOUTING but we are just so EXCITED ABOUT THIS!!!   ❇️ THE STEMAZING COMMUNITY is a brand new online platform. ❇️ It is for EVERYONE. Everyone being, those on a mission to create greater diversity and inclusion in STEM. We are talking all genders, women in STEM, allies, educators, families, anyone!!! ❇️ We want YOU all to officially be part of STEMAZING and join our new COMMUNITY. ❇️ We need this COMMUNITY because in order to create a STEM revolution, we all have to come together and work as advocates for diversity and inclusion. ❇️ We want to support, empower and champion all of YOU to be catalysts for positive progress and change. ❇️ The STEMAZING COMMUNITY is crammed full of amazing, valuable resources that everyone can get access to.   This is the space for ALL!!! 🧡 In our usual bold STEMAZING style - full of empowerment, inspiration and collaboration - you can level-up as a visible role model and active ally to be a part of the mission to inspire a more diverse and inclusive STEM future. We can’t wait for you to join STEMAZING and help us increase our reach and impact on this mission together as a COMMUNITY.   We can't do what we do without YOU! Together we can do even more! Let's take this to the next level! DON'T MISS OUT! Never have FOMO again!!! JOIN THE STEMAZING COMMUNITY NOW:   💚 https://lnkd.in/e_cZmVUj 💚 Individually we can make waves and start a ripple effect but collectively we can turn the tide. 🔥 AND FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY 🔥 We have an amazing LAUNCH OFFER so don’t miss out!!! 🔥 65% DISCOUNT   🔥 See our website for details https://lnkd.in/e_cZmVUj LET’S DO THIS!!!   Let's drive this STEM revolution, together. Love TeamSTEMAZING 🧡 Are you still here??? GO GO GO!!! ❇️ https://lnkd.in/e_cZmVUj