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

Description

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. 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