My STEM Experience
Like many people I suspect, my career path has turned out to be quite different than I imagined it would when I graduated from college and joined the workforce. However, I feel incredibly privileged to have had the opportunity to work with a tremendous group of colleagues during my 14-year career with Kelly. Our company takes seriously its responsibility to create a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace in which everybody has an equal opportunity to succeed, which is evident in the number of women in senior leadership roles at the company. I’ve been fortunate to experience first-hand the benefits of direct and intentional mentorship from many leaders across Kelly who I know are invested in my continued growth. I also am proud to call several female STEM professionals my colleagues and team members. And for my part, I am committed to their development and success as well.
A degree in STEM will open many doors for you, even if your career path takes you in a direction that is different from the traditional path in the field you chose. If you find yourself questioning your decision to pursue a degree and career in STEM, know that many women before you have confronted the same question, and trust that the possibilities ahead of you will make it all worthwhile. The rigor of an education in STEM, and the determination required to complete it, will instill in you the ability to analyze and conquer complex challenges—an invaluable skill, no matter your career path. You will encounter many obstacles throughout your career, and with the right mindset, you will overcome them and find fulfillment and success.
Women in STEM 5 Years down the Road
If academia, companies, and other key stakeholders work together and take a deliberate approach to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable culture across STEM fields, we can dramatically improve representation of not only women in STEM, but other underrepresented groups as well. Doing so will bring diversity of thought, approach, and experience to STEM fields—all critical components of innovation.
With many complex challenges facing society over the next five years and beyond—climate change, equitable access to clean water, and a global pandemic, among others—we need to bring everybody to the table and ensure everyone is heard in order to develop comprehensive solutions.
