Make women in STEM your priority to excel in the transformative age

Ursula Franklin, Helen Sawyer Hogg, Elizabeth MacGill, Roberta Bondar, Veena Rawat, Milica Radisic and Julie Payette - some of these names may ring a bell; others may not.

These Canadian women have made outstanding accomplishments in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) careers. From discovering new ways to grow heart tissue and making strides on star cluster research, to developing archaeometry studies and having a leading voice in telecommunication regulation, many of these women represent firsts: first female astronaut, first female graduate of electrical engineering or first female board member.

If you’re unfamiliar with the names, it’s likely because the support and recognition of achievements of women in STEM has historically been non-existent when compared to their male counterparts. Sadly, this asymmetry continues to be a problem. 

Although many companies are making strides in promoting more inclusive workplaces, women remain underrepresented across many sectors. It’s perhaps most apparent in STEM fields, where women make up less than one quarter of the Canadian workforce. Here are some recent stats from the World Economic Forum: Canadian women represent only 12% of professionals in cloud computing, 15% in engineering and 26% in Data and AI. This all seems crazy when you consider that there are more female university graduates! 

Why is there an increasing urgency around addressing this startling disconnect? Because gender equality and diversity of thought are integral to solving our most pressing business issues. In the Transformative Age, where business decisions are increasingly influenced by immense amounts of data and advanced analytics, we need diverse teams that reflect the medley of our society, prepared to extract signals from the noise. If we reframe the problem statement, we quickly realize that gender equality is not a problem to solve, but rather the key to prosperity for our businesses.

International Women’s Day coming up on March 8 is a time to reflect on the importance of women in the workplace who bring diverse perspectives, insights and skills to the table. Here are some immediate actions businesses can take to help to move the dial for women and positively impact our overall economy. 

Empower women and girls to pursue post-secondary studies and careers in STEM fields. Employers must focus on new ways to retain female talent with science degrees and qualifications, as well as upskill all employees, including women, with the resources needed to thrive in the increasingly digital and data-driven workplace of the future. One of our alliance partners, Microsoft, has developed an action guide to help close the gender gap in STEM, which highlights key measures educational institutions, parents and business leaders can take to help. 

Develop mentorship and training programs to share knowledge and impart advice. Sponsor or create accessible programs that provide a supportive learning environment, hands-on experiences and role models that encourage women and girls to pursue careers in STEM. The not-for-profit program STEM Advantage, which was founded by my US colleague, Lee Ann Kline, helps to narrow the skills gap by supporting young women and underserved students with resources and opportunities to advance their skills through internships, mentorships and scholarships. Last year SAP, another key alliance partner of ours, announced its Kode with Klossy program that hosts educational camps and connects girls with scholarship opportunities.   

Foster an environment of support and belonging: Diversity and inclusion shouldn’t be an add-on to corporate culture, it should be embedded into the culture itself. Leaders have a responsibility to set the tone from the top and inspire everyone in the workforce to contribute to a culture of belonging. One initiative we’ve implemented at EY is our Women. Fast forward program to nurture our commitment to gender inclusiveness among our people, clients and communities. Through open dialogue, the program reinforces the critical need to eliminate gender discrimination and explore how we can embrace gender diversity now and in the future.

I’m proud to work for an organization that values gender equality and strives to provide unparalleled learning and mentorship opportunities for women to advance and grow their careers. To truly drive innovation and have a competitive edge in the workplace of tomorrow, one thing is certain: we must all play an integral role in supporting and empowering women in STEM and beyond. Solving the gender gap extends beyond women supporting women. To be successful, we need men involved too.  

These are small actions that can collectively translate into long-term value and innovation to survive and thrive in the transformative age. Let’s push to make women part of the solution to our most pressing business issues, by cultivating a sense of belonging and embracing gender parity in 2020 – and beyond. 

#WomenFastForward #SheBelongs #IWD20