Women in STEM are constantly facing new challenges every day. By sharing their stories and the ways in which they already have and continue to overcome these hurdles, they can help others find the strength to persevere and succeed in these fields. This mix of authors from varying backgrounds all share the same passion – to encourage more women into STEM – and they have placed their proverbial hearts on their sleeves and documented their journeys to inspire readers to either enter or stay within STEM fields.
Empowering Women in STEM: Personal Stories and Career Journeys from Around the World discusses the application process of root cause analysis and ways to introduce STEM to other generations. It offers an insider view of the armed forces and allows readers to gain more perspective on ways male advocates can help female colleagues in STEM fields. It includes a father’s perspective on change within the engineering industry, how he’s mentoring new female engineers, and ways to help them as they evolve. The book captures firsthand accounts of STEM professionals in various fields as they recount experiences that have helped them to navigate their own career paths. This book also demonstrates how life doesn’t have to follow the timelines proposed by society and how females can become CEOs and command other top-level positions in engineering companies.
In addition to having women from across the globe share their stories about various fields, readers will hear from both military and civilian male advocates who share ways to empower others within the industry. This book is written for professionals who may be considering a switch of career or deciding to leave STEM. It is also useful to university students who are trying to figure out their career choices and paths and gain more insight into possible career opportunities in STEM.
Author(s): Sanya Mathura
Publisher: CRC Press
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 219
City: Boca Raton
Cover
Half Title
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Table of Contents
Preface
Acknowledgements
Editor Biography
Contributors
Section I: Stem Beginnings
Chapter 1: The Application of an Effective Root Cause Analysis to Any STEM Discipline
1.1 My Personal Story about Growing Up in a Reliability Household
1.2 How This Experience Helped Me Raise My Daughter
1.3 A Fifth Grader’s RCA on Bullying
1.4 Getting into the Weeds about Defining ‘What Is a Root Cause Analysis?’
1.4.1 Introducing the Logic Tree
1.5 Fundamentals of a Logic Tree
1.6 Bringing PROACT RCA Thinking into a Manufacturing Plant
About the Author
Chapter 2: Navigating the Path Not Usually Followed
2.1 LEAPing Forward
2.2 Staying Ahead of the Curve
2.3 Following My Passion
About the Author
Section II: Navigating the World of STEM
Chapter 3: Power to Make a Difference
3.1 Being a Business Owner, Engineer, Mom, and Wife
3.2 The Importance of Mentorship
3.3 Power Engineering
3.4 #powertomakeadifference
3.5 Supporting Other Women in STEM
About the Author
Chapter 4: The Importance of Male Advocates for Women and Under-Represented Sects in STEM
4.1 Understanding Your Impact
4.2 Becoming an Advocate
4.3 Handling Imposter Syndrome
About the Author
Notes
Chapter 5: STEM and Cars: A Collision Course
5.1 Navigating the Course
5.2 Emerging as the Frontrunner
5.3 Departing the Safe Zones
5.4 Reaching the Podium
About the Author
Chapter 6: STEM, Creativity, and the Question of Gender
6.1 Why Should I Read This Male Perspective?
6.2 My Own Experiences of Gender and STEM as a Man in the Later Stages of His Career
6.3 As a Parent of a Young Girl Who HAS Yet to Make Life Choices
6.4 Innovation in Design Should Not Be Limited by Gender
6.5 Empowering Women in STEM Is Not about Fairness, It’s about Survival
6.6 Why We Must Embrace Genderless Demand in STEM and Embrace the Differences between the Sexes
About the Author
Chapter 7: Scientist, Engineer, Manager…Infertile: A Guide to Navigating Your STEM Career while Struggling with Infertility
7.1 Humble Beginnings
7.2 Ambition Calibration
7.3 Help Yourself
7.4 Help Your Colleague
About the Author
References
Chapter 8: STEM Women’s Career Challenges and Possible Solutions
8.1 Abstract
8.2 Introduction
8.3 Current Challenges and Possible Ways to Improve THEM
8.3.1 Early Career Challenges
8.3.1.1 Mentoring
8.3.1.2 Volunteering
8.3.1.3 Journal Clubs and Internships
8.3.1.4 Extracurricular Activities
8.3.1.5 Ask Yourself as Many Questions as Possible
8.3.1.6 Strength and Weakness Analysis of Oneself
8.3.1.7 Awareness about Scholarships and Initiatives
8.3.2 Challenges While Working in the Field
8.3.2.1 Know Your Rights and Be Safe
8.3.2.2 Work-Life Balance
8.3.3 Rejoining Post Any Career Gap
8.4 Ways to Improve Oneself and to Become Efficient
8.4.1 Parkinson’s Law
8.4.2 Pomodoro Technique
8.4.3 Pareto Principle (80/20 – Rule)
8.5 Always Be Ready to Face Failures
8.5.1 Recognize That You Are Not Unique
8.5.2 It’s Not Personal
8.5.3 There Will Be Other Opportunities
8.5.4 Mindset Matters
8.5.5 Learn from Your Successes
8.6 Conclusion and Future Perspective
About the Authors
List of Abbreviations
References
Chapter 9: Collaboration Is the Next Generation of Innovation: How Working Together Can Be the Gateway to Creating a More Inclusive, Innovative Tomorrow
9.1 Better Resource Management and Enhanced Technology Makes Collaboration Easier
9.2 Improving Collaboration Culture through Diversity of Thought
9.3 B.R.I.D.G.E. the Gaps
About the Author
Chapter 10: Five Unconventional Life Lessons for Anyone in Engineering
10.1 A Bit about Me
10.2 My Background
10.3 Engineers Do What?
10.4 Lesson 1: Be Yourself, Unapologetically
10.5 Lesson 2: Ask for Help
10.6 Lesson 3: Forget the Word “Should”
10.7 Lesson 4: Be Open to Possibilities
10.8 Lesson 5: Practicing Self-Care Is Not Selfish
10.9 Summary
About the Author
Chapter 11: STEMming across Three Continents
11.1 My “Righteous Indignation”: Standing Up for Math and Girls
11.2 Culture Shock: Of Titles and Nations
11.3 Culture Shock: A Different Way of Learning
11.4 Career Learnings: The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same
About the Author
Chapter 12: The Chemistry behind Applying STEM to Horses and Cage Fighting
12.1 Introduction
12.2 STEAM-ducation!
12.3 Saddling up with STEAM at Uni!
12.4 STEAMing up at Work
12.5 Fighting with STEAM
12.6 Saddling up with STEAM at Work!
About the Author
Chapter 13: Finding Your Way
13.1 Let Your Voice Be Heard
13.2 You Don’t Ever Need To Fit In
13.3 Be Your Authentic Self, the Stars Lead the Way
13.4 You Will Never Know Unless You Ask, SPEAK Up
13.5 Make Yourself Visible
13.6 Introspection
13.7 You Deserve It, Smooth Sailing
About the Author
Section III: Stem Reflections
Chapter 14: Branding and Rebranding throughout Your STEM Career
14.1 Branding: The Dangers of Being Put in a Box
14.2 Branding: Does Your Brand Represent Your Purpose and What Makes You Happy?
14.3 Branding: Life Changes Trigger Different Career Interests
14.4 Rebranding: Packaging Your Skillset for a Different Purpose
14.5 Rebranding: Personal Growth Awakens a Need for New Problem-Solving
14.6 Rebranding: Preparing for Life After Corporate America
About the Author
References
Chapter 15: From Portugal to Qatar, Exploring STEM Careers in Different Industries
15.1 Developing the Base of Communication
15.1.1 Communication and Respect Is the Base of Each Relationship, Personal and Professional!
15.2 Navigating New Paths
15.3 Starting from Experience Not from Scratch
15.4 Becoming a Leader
15.5 Moving to Qatar
15.6 Nursing Machines instead of Humans
15.7 Pregnant in a Foreign Country and during COVID-19
15.8 Understanding the Journey
About the Author
Chapter 16: The Six Stages of Bringing Up Women in Engineering
16.1 Growing Up
16.2 Show Up
16.3 Sign Up
16.4 Speak Up
16.5 Listen Up
16.6 Give a Hand Up
16.7 Sunset
About the Author
Notes
Chapter 17: A Chemical Philosopher: Exploring the “A” in STEAM
17.1 Defining STEM
17.2 The Pillars of Performance
17.3 To Pursue or Not to Pursue?
About the Author
Chapter 18: Surviving Corporate Takeovers While Climbing the Ladder of Success
18.1 From Photocopying to Upper Management
18.2 Getting Thick Skin
18.3 Achieving Longevity
About the Author
Chapter 19: Embracing the Unknown, Overcoming the Past
19.1 Changing My Trajectory
19.2 Getting Logic On My Side
19.3 I Did Not Know What I Did Not Know
19.4 Being Open to Mistakes
19.5 Getting into Agriculture
19.6 Beneath the Surface
19.7 The Unknown of Teaching Middle School Students
About the Author
Chapter 20: Five Amazing Women Making a Difference in STEM
20.1 Introduce a Girl to Engineering
20.2 Women Solve Water Industry Challenges
20.3 Ignoring the Glass Ceiling
20.4 Engineering Effective Reliability Strategies
20.5 Understanding the Mechanics of Machines
About the Author
Index
