NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / October 18, 2022 / IBM
Enabling women and girls to succeed in STEM studies and careers has long been one of my goals. I think it all started when I became an engineer, but I didn’t meet many women in the field. Over the years, we have become increasingly interested in creating opportunities through better and more equitable education. In my current role, I have the opportunity to take a stand on this issue and drive real progress. This is important because the lack of women in tech is a far-reaching problem that I have not personally experienced. Globally, women make up only 28% of her engineering graduates and 40% of her computer science graduates. This is an essential skill for high-paying jobs with a work-life balance.
That’s why it’s important to join today’s discussion at the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework in Los Angeles, where IBM has committed to training one million women and girls in the region over the next five years. This is another big moment in her IBM journey to bring skills to 30 million people worldwide by 2030, and another big moment for this personal goal as a woman in STEM. It’s a milestone. But for me, it’s also a time to reflect on the underlying challenges and stories of success that give me the strength to keep moving forward.
Let’s start with the challenge. “The underrepresentation of women in her STEM careers in the Asia-Pacific region has far-reaching consequences, and excluding women professionals means a loss of ideas, perspectives and talent,” UNESCO said. ” points out. I accept. But it’s not just about numbers. Her more diverse STEM workforce, with a higher proportion of women, is more creative, cohesive and profitable. And with more seasoned professionals to guide and set the right example, she can fill a persistent skills gap that many of her STEM jobs have left unfilled. How can we change the paradigm? I don’t think there is an easy answer, but my team and I believe that with the passion and right partnerships of IBMers, we can help change the lives of women and girls. believe.
What inspires me most are the stories of individuals who have faced challenges but have benefited from our work. For example, Navya, a young Indian student, thought he could not pursue STEM because he was shy and too lazy to do housework. Thanks to her inspiring math teacher and our STEM for Girls initiative, Navya is well on her way to becoming a math teacher herself!
Another good example is Tejashwini, a 10th grade student at Saroornagar Govt school in Kotaguda. She is a first generation female student in her family who is interested in science and wants to pursue a career in space. Her idol is Neil Armstrong, and she wants to be the first to set foot on Mars. The daughter of a farmer and housewife, her Tejashwini had no exposure to the kind of careers women like her can get through her STEM. Through her coding, attending hackathons, and talking about her career, she now has ambitious plans to make her own dreams come true.
Meanwhile, in Japan, a working mother named Chika invested in learning through IBM SkillsBuild during her third pregnancy and maternity leave. She returned to work after her vacation and was quickly promoted to a managerial position thanks to the workplace skills she gained, which boosted her self-confidence. I know it won’t be easy and I admire Chika’s passion and drive!
Stories like these inspire us to continue the work we do across Asia Pacific through partnerships and initiatives that are making a real difference in people’s lives. Through our scholarship program, we have already helped train more than 2,600 college students. In Taiwan, IBM is training her 20,000 young Taiwanese women who have spent her 22,000 hours using IBM SkillsBuild, connecting them with peers from around the world who share their passion for STEM. . Earlier this year, IBM announced her collaboration with UNCDF to bring digital and workforce skills to women in Africa, Asia and the Pacific.
Last but not least, this is only possible through the inspiring work of IBMers across the region. In India, for example, an IBMer has provided mentorship to 230,000 middle and high school girls in the last few years in her over 1,850 public schools in her 13 states in India.
This is a key moment to inspire women around the world and provide them with the resources they need to pursue STEM careers. STEM can offer unique opportunities for social and economic progress. Women and girls like Chika, Tejashwini and Navya remind us why our work matters. It also illustrates the impact that can be achieved by jointly investing in education. We hope more women and girls will soon befriend her fellow STEM enthusiasts and future space explorers!
See additional multimedia and other ESG storytelling from IBM at 3blmedia.com.
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