A Call to Leadership - Transforming Your STEM Career Through Leadership and Innovation - page 3

women, inspire and encourage other women to maintain and develop their STEM
careers as this has a ripple effect when we don't; not only do we waste talent that
has taken years to grow and develop but we deter other women from pursuing
and staying in the profession. Your example impacts society and young women's
perceptions of their opportunities in STEM careers. In order to serve the world to
the best of our ability, we as STEM leaders must encourage other women from all
walks of life to join us in our mission. We are not monolithic - and that is great!
STEM careers demand diversity in problem solving among their team mem-
bers, and diversity among women not only allows us to work in various environ-
ments but also encourages diversity in thoughts and ideas. The result is a solution
resource that represents perspectives, experience and ultimately produces better
outcomes. Remember, the value you bring today and in the future - you matter.

WHERE WE ARE TODAY
There seems to be a universal sigh of reluctance among women when it comes
to taking on leadership roles in our careers. The National Science Foundation
estimates that between 4.8 and 6.4 million people work directly in science,
engineering, and technology - just over 4% of the U.S. workforce. However,
while women comprise about half of the global population, we made up about
27% of the STEM professionals in the latest 2008 survey. While sex disparities
vary among STEM occupations, the most extreme disparities are in engineer-
ing, where women make up a meager 13% of the workforce according to the
most recent estimates [3] . Unfortunately, our presence hasn't always translated
into leadership or innovation opportunities. And, in cases where it has, there is
often a feeling of dissatisfaction, isolation, and lack of acceptance. So why are
so many of us unhappy, leading and innovating in our careers? An American
Association of University Women (AAUW) study designated eight factors that
depress the numbers of women in STEM professions:

mistaken beliefs about our intelligence l

gender stereotypes l

self-assessment l

spatial skills

l

the college student experience l

university and college faculty l

implicit bias l

workplace bias l

The truth of the matter is one or two of these factors would be enough to discour-
age women from pursuing, maintaining, and excelling in a STEM related career,
much less the synergistic impact of multiple factors. However, despite these known
factors that inhibit our growth - we are succeeding. Certainly, not on the level we'd
desire but it's important to note that there are many who've managed to navigate
this environment and have satisfying and rewarding careers. The objective now is