Empowering Women in STEM: Personal Stories and Career Journeys from Around the World

by | Industry News, Workforce

SHARE

Women in STEM are constantly facing new challenges every day. By sharing their stories and ways in which they have overcome these hurdles, they can help others to find the strength to continue in their field. The mix of authors from varying backgrounds, all with the same passion; to encourage more women into STEM, have placed their proverbial hearts on their sleeves and documented their journeys to assist readers in entering or staying within STEM fields.

In today’s society, we have made significant changes toward accepting women in traditionally male-dominated roles, especially within the STEM fields. However, these changes are not as prevalent as one would expect, but there is an entire generation of women who have faced these challenges and triumphed. These women are paving the way forward for the new generation while inspiring those thinking about leaving these industries. This book recounts some of these women’s challenges and provides readers with some words of wisdom for approaching particular situations.

Women are not in this fight alone, our male allies have continuously supported us in bridging the gaps faced, and this book is no different. There are stories here that speak to overcoming imposter syndrome, ways to support your daughter/s or female co-workers, and understanding the power of collaboration. Our male authors have very diverse backgrounds, but one unifying factor is their support of women in these traditionally male-dominated fields.

In this book, the term STEM represents Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Recently, this acronym has evolved to STEAM, which now includes Arts. Although this “new letter” has been added to the STEM acronym, it has always existed but is now being recognized. Creativity is what defines humanity. Thus, without the arts, we are simply writing a program (as put by one of our contributors). Throughout this book, the terms STEM and STEAM may be used interchangeably.

This book is dedicated to uncovering some women’s personal stories and career journeys in STEM. It helps us understand that the pathway forward for most women in STEM may not always be filled with rainbows and butterflies. Thank you to all our authors who placed their proverbial hearts on their sleeves and shared their stories with us.

Here is a list of the chapters and their authors:


Chapter 1: The application of an Effective Root Cause Analysis to any STEM discipline

 

ROBERT J. (BOB) LATINO
Prelical Solutions, LLC
United States of America

 

Chapter 9: Collaboration is the Next Generation of Innovation:  How working together can be the gateway to creating a more inclusive, innovative tomorrow

SHADRACH STEPHENS
Re.engineer
United States of America

Chapter 2: Navigating the Path Not Usually Followed

EMMA HOLLOWAY
Colorado State University
United States of America

 

Chapter 10: Five Unconventional Life Lessons for anyone in Engineering

ERIN GUTSCHE
Words with Purpose Inc
Canada

 

Chapter 3:  Power to make a difference

HEATHER EASON
Select Power Systems LLC
United States of America

 

Chapter 11: STEMming across three continents

BRALADE KOROYE-EMENANJO
Fortune 100 Operations Leader
United States of America.

 

Chapter 4: The Importance of Male Advocates for Women and Under-Represented Sects in STEM

MATTHEW J. WALKER
Licensed Professional Engineer
United States of America

 

Chapter 12: The Chemistry behind applying STEM to Horses and Cage Fighting

JADE THOMPSON
British Engineering Service Asset Reliability
United Kingdom

 

Chapter 5: STEM & Cars – A collision course

BECKY MUELLER
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
United States of America

 

Chapter 13: Finding your way

LIANA ROOPNARINE
The National Gas Company of Trinidad & Tobago
Trinidad & Tobago

 

Chapter 6: STEM, creativity, and the question of gender

DANIEL SHORTEN
Optimain Limited
United Kingdom

 

Chapter 14: Branding and Rebranding Throughout Your STEM Career

ALICIA WASHINGTON
Petrochemical M&R Expert
United States of America

 

Chapter 7: Scientist, Engineer, Manager…..Infertile – A guide to navigating your STEM career while struggling with infertility

PRIYA SANTHANAM
Amazon
United States of America

Chapter 15: From Portugal to Qatar, exploring STEM careers in different Industries

VANDA FRANCO
Petroleum Technology Company W.L.L.
Qatar

 

Chapter 8: STEM women’s career challenges and possible solutions

 

SHALINI AGGARWAL
The Indian Institute of Technology
Bombay, India

 

BEAUTY KUMARI
Asian Development Research Institute
India

 

VRINDA NAIR
Concordia University
Montréal, Quebec, Canada

 

SUBATHRA RAJENDRAN
Rapid Serviz
India

 

HARIHAR JAISHREE SUBRAHMANIAM
Aarhus University
Denmark

 

ANAND SWAROOP
White Hat Jr
India

 

Chapter 16: The six stages of Bringing Up Women in Engineering

KATHY NELSON
West Monroe
United States of America

 

Chapter 17: A Chemical Philosopher – Exploring the “A” in STEAM

MICHAEL D. HOLLOWAY
5th Order Industry LLC
United States of America

 

Chapter 18: Surviving corporate takeovers while climbing the ladder of success

FRANCES CHRISTOPHER
SGS
United States of America

 

Chapter 19: Embracing the unknown, overcoming the past

KARI NATHAN
Technology Exploration Career Center, East Lewisville ISD
United States of America

 

Chapter 20: Five Amazing Women Making a Difference in STEM

MICHELLE SEGREST
Navigate Content, Inc
United States of America

 

Author

SHARE