The Power and Potential of STEM

While Super Bowl Sunday got most of the attention this weekend, as a tech-driven and data science-based company, we would be remiss if we didn't mention that Saturday was International Day of Women and Girls in Science. It's an annual observance adopted by the United Nations General Assembly to promote the full and equal access and participation of women and girls in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics fields. We asked a few of our Knowners how STEM has positively impacted their lives and why it’s important to instill STEM in girls at a young age.

In their own words, here’s what they had to say. 

Natasha Potashnik | SVP, Partner

Honestly, studying and practicing STEM has been one of the greatest joys of my life. It’s not just practical, but also fun, gratifying, and beautiful. I think it is tragic and unfair when young girls come to believe ‘they’re just not good at math’, often due to social and cultural influence. I have seen firsthand how wrong those perceptions can be. When I was at Columbia, I taught so many women who were surprised to discover much later in life that they actually had a strong intuition and ability for mathematics, despite having convinced themselves as kids that they did not. 

Breanne Loso | Associate Director, Media Strategy

STEM programs empower future generations to be successful in every aspect of their personal and professional lives, and it’s exciting to see it start at very young ages. It is no longer just about math and science, but instead teaching through hands-on learning instills valuable lessons and develops skill sets. STEM provides young girls with tools to conquer anything that comes their way, allowing them to broaden their horizons and opening the door to rewarding paths throughout their lives.

Valerie Gono | Data Science Manager

Growing up, I was heavily involved in STEM and it made me feel like I had superpowers. I got to learn about how the world works––from buildings and bridges, to cars and robots, and rainforests and orangutans. I was lucky enough to have a mentor in middle school who was always encouraging and supportive, that I never felt out of place being a girl in STEM. It wasn't until my first Calculus class in college that it truly hit me that I am a minority in STEM. That said, we have come a long way since the early days of STEM programs. I see more and more girls being involved in STEM at an early age, and I couldn’t be more excited! I want every girl to have the superpower I had growing up and know that they can achieve anything that they set their minds to.