A Call to Leadership - Transforming Your STEM Career Through Leadership and Innovation - page 2

midst of all we have going on today? It's actually a management action. In many
ways, you are a manager each day - managing tasks at hand, at home, or at the
workplace and managing people and relationships around you. But there is a dif-
ference between managing and leading . A manager is one who functions within
defined parameters and works toward a definite goal. A person's intelligence,
inherent skills, knowledge, creativity, and personality contribute toward this end
result. However, it is passion that makes a leader out of a manager. A manager
with a passion to make a difference, sculpt change, or create something new, goes
beyond managing to leading. In a company, the CEO who achieves targets is
likely a good manager, but the shift supervisor, who instills in people the desire to
be the best in the company, may actually be the true leader. So for our careers, we
must be managers as well as leaders. In other words, we must engage in the activi-
ties on a day to day basis (manager role) that will result in achieving the long-term
vision we have for our career and life impact (leadership role). Yes, it takes effort
to do this but it can be accomplished and the results are well worth the effort.
So, recognize the fact that you are a success as a professional, student, or aspir-
ing STEM educator, innovator, or leader. Truly take time to celebrate yourself and
where you are today. In my experience, this celebration and appreciation of our
achievements can be powerful in restoring and maintaining the confidence we need
to move forward. You made it! And let this moment be a celebration of your suc-
cess, vision, and ambition today as well as the launch-party for your plan to go to
the next level! It's time to transform your STEM career as a leader and an innovator.
YOU MATTER
You matter when it comes to making a difference in your community, country, and
the world. There is a broad consensus that the long-term key to continued U.S.
competitiveness in an increasingly global economic environment lies in the qual-
ity of our STEM workforce. According to a survey taken in 2004, by that time sci-
entific innovation had already produced roughly half of all U.S. economic growth
in the previous 50 years [1] . The STEM fields and those who work in them are
critical engines of innovation and growth. According to one recent estimate, about
6% of the U.S. workforce is employed in STEM fields [2] , while the STEM work-
force accounts for more than 50% of the nation's sustained economic growth.
While you were growing up there were undoubtedly people who mattered to
you. Perhaps you looked up to a grandparent who took care of you and your sib-
lings while your parents worked, or the professor who spent extra time helping
you with your thesis. As we get older we tend to forget just how much each of
us matters and the effect we have on individuals in our community. You matter.
You matter to someone and to a “cause” today. Someone is looking up to you -
whether it's a co-worker, a student, or the kid next door - it's important to recog-
nize that because you've made it, people admire and respect you, and as a socially
conscious individual you should take this as a leadership challenge. As we consid-
ered women in STEM this becomes even more important. It is critical that we, as