Table Of ContentEmpowering Women in STEM
Women in STEM are constantly facing new challenges every day. By sharing their
stories and ways in which they 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 assist 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 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 career paths. This book also demon-
strates 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 vari-
ous fields, you 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 use-
ful to university students who are trying to figure out their career choices and paths
and gain more insight into possible career opportunities in STEM.
Empowering Women
in STEM
Personal Stories and Career Journeys
from Around the World
Edited by
Sanya Mathura
First edition published 2023
by CRC Press
6000 Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487-2742
and by CRC Press
4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN
CRC Press is an imprint of Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
© 2023 selection and editorial matter, Sanya Mathura; individual chapters, the contributors
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Library of Congress Cataloging‑in‑Publication Data
Names: Mathura, Sanya, editor.
Title: Empowering women in STEM : personal stories and career journeys from around the world /
edited by Sanya Mathura.
Other titles: Empowering women in science, techlology, engineering, and mathematics
Description: First edition. | Boca Raton : CRC Press, 2023. | Includes
bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2022034130 (print) | LCCN 2022034131 (ebook) | ISBN
9781032372648 (pbk) | ISBN 9781032373317 (hbk) | ISBN 9781003336495 (ebk)
Subjects: LCSH: Women in engineering. | Women in science. | Women in mathematics. |
Women--Professional relationships. |
Engineering--Vocational guidance. | Science--Vocational guidance. |
Mathematics--Vocational guidance.
Classification: LCC TA157.5 .E46 2023 (print) | LCC TA157.5 (ebook) | DDC 620.0082--
dc23/eng/20221006
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022034130
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022034131
ISBN: 978-1-032-37331-7 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-032-37264-8 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-003-33649-5 (ebk)
DOI: 10.1201/9781003336495
Typeset in Times
by SPi Technologies India Pvt Ltd (Straive)
Dedication
One of the best allies any female in STEM can have is her father. Fathers influence
and guide their unique creations from conception. They do so through unconditional
love and can provide guidance for any pathway their daughter may choose. Fathers
nurture their daughters’ inquisitive natures and create an environment where they can
freely explore their talents without fear of failure or judgement. Most fathers help lay
the foundation for women who change the world.
I dedicate this book to my father, Ambrose Mathura. May you rest in peace and
may the angels welcome you with the same open arms and loving heart as your own.
Thank you for believing in me, supporting me, and nurturing me to become the per-
son I am today. You were a teacher, an active community member and a doting father
able to understand your assignment in life early. You understood that the formative
years of childhood and adolescence are critical to the direction of not only your stu-
dents, but your own children’s life paths.
Thank you for respecting and making space for me to grow and develop, for
allowing me to pursue my dreams to be an engineer, and most importantly for refus-
ing to give up on me. I am forever grateful for the pillars of humility, unconditional
love, and faith that you instilled in me.
You have empowered me to break the proverbial glass ceilings in my career and
pave the way for the future generation of women in STEM. I will continue to encour-
age these women to be fearless in the pursuit of their dreams, to be themselves
unapologetically, and to never forget to pay it forward. Sleep with the angels until
we meet again.
Contents
Preface .......................................................................................................................xi
Acknowledgements .................................................................................................xiii
Editor Biography ......................................................................................................xv
Contributors ...........................................................................................................xvii
SECTION I STEM Beginnings
Chapter 1 The Application of an Effective Root Cause Analysis to Any
STEM Discipline ..................................................................................3
Robert J. Latino
Chapter 2 Navigating the Path Not Usually Followed ........................................29
Emma Holloway
SECTION II Navigating the World of STEM
Chapter 3 Power to Make a Difference ...............................................................35
Heather Eason
Chapter 4 The Importance of Male Advocates for Women and Under-
Represented Sects in STEM ...............................................................43
Matthew J. Walker
Chapter 5 STEM and Cars: A Collision Course .................................................49
Becky Mueller
Chapter 6 STEM, Creativity, and the Question of Gender .................................53
Daniel Shorten
Chapter 7 Scientist, Engineer, Manager…Infertile: A Guide to Navigating
Your STEM Career while Struggling with Infertility .........................61
Priya Santhanam
vii
viii Contents
Chapter 8 STEM Women’s Career Challenges and Possible Solutions ............71
Shalini Aggarwal, Beauty Kumari,
Harihar Jaishree Subrahmaniam, Subathra Rajendran,
Anand Swaroop, and Vrinda Nair
Chapter 9 Collaboration is the Next Generation of Innovation: How
Working Together Can Be the Gateway to Creating a More
Inclusive, Innovative Tomorrow .......................................................89
Shadrach Stephens
Chapter 10 Five Unconventional Life Lessons for Anyone in Engineering ........95
Erin Gutsche
Chapter 11 STEMming across Three Continents ..............................................107
Bralade Koroye‑Emenanjo
Chapter 12 The Chemistry behind Applying STEM to Horses and Cage
Fighting ...........................................................................................113
Jade Thompson
Chapter 13 Finding Your Way ...........................................................................117
Liana Roopnarine
SECTION III STEM Reflections
Chapter 14 Branding and Rebranding throughout Your STEM Career .............127
Alicia Washington
Chapter 15 From Portugal to Qatar, Exploring STEM Careers in Different
Industries .........................................................................................135
Vanda Franco
Chapter 16 The Six Stages of Bringing Up Women in Engineering .................153
Kathy Nelson
Chapter 17 A Chemical Philosopher: Exploring the “A” in STEAM ...............163
Michael D. Holloway
Contents ix
Chapter 18 Surviving Corporate Takeovers While Climbing the Ladder of
Success ............................................................................................167
Frances Christopher
Chapter 19 Embracing the Unknown, Overcoming the Past .............................169
Kari Nathan
Chapter 20 Five Amazing Women Making a Difference in STEM ...................185
Michelle Segrest
Index ......................................................................................................................199
