It’s no secret that STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) has long been considered a male-dominated field, and that such assumptions have made it challenging for women to have gender equality in the field for decades. IPC Systems strives to break down those barriers twofold, with a focus on both hiring and investing in the development of women in the STEM field.
The company spoke to several of its female engineers about challenges in the heavily male-dominated technology industry, the importance of female mentors, and how the future is starting to look brighter for women in technology as more companies like IPC enable the infinite capabilities of women.
“Like most young people, if you asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, engineering was not even a thought. I knew I liked and was good at math and the sciences, but was not certain where my career interest laid,” says Carol Ketchian, Director, Corporate IT
After being assigned a high school physics assignment on computer memory, Ketchian had found her passion. “It energized me. Soon engineering was the only path I wanted to pursue,” she says.
However, Ketchian, like many other bright and talented young technology specialists, found that barriers seemed to exist everywhere preventing women from scaling the heights of the industry.
“Through anecdotes from female colleagues in my greater network and through my personal experiences, I know being a female-identifying person in STEM can be difficult for an array of reasons,” says GSOC Analyst Mackenzie Pech.
“One of the major roadblocks were my own thoughts about the field, which were influenced by seeing the men-women ratio out there. But I didn’t let my thoughts overcome my ambition towards the field,” says Aileen Jacob, Network Engineer.
“My struggle started as early as when I went for an interview in STEM,” says Nurul Jaizah, Technical Support Engineer. “Not only did I have to prove my knowledge, but I also had to prove that I could do the same as my male counterparts, or even better.”
Prior to her role at IPC Systems, Jaizah says, “I needed to spend the first year trying to prove myself and ensure that my work could be relied upon.”
“I think women can sometimes be their own worst enemy. We feel we have to hit 110% every time and have a tendency to pull ourselves apart if we think we haven’t hit that mark,” says Lori Symington, Director, GSOC.
We have identified there are gender barriers, and it persists. How does an industry move forward from decades of male-dominated thinking and missed opportunities?
“The very first step in accomplishing anything in life is recognizing the need for change,” Pech says. “The next step, with regards to more women in STEM, is to listen. Why aren’t there more women in STEM? Why do more than 40% of women with full-time jobs in STEM leave the field or move to part-time roles? Opening the dialogue is a major step towards equality and inclusivity. Using this newfound knowledge, we must be active in our community to lessen or eliminate these obstacles.”
“I can’t say enough of how important female mentorship is. I find it invaluable to be able to mentor and provide insight to others,” Ketchian says, even though she sadly mentions that she herself wasn’t lucky enough to have female mentors during her early career – due no doubt to the scarcity of women in the field. A lack of female mentorship leads to a lack of female leaders.
“I believe mentoring helps women visualize what they will become. It’s important to see, to learn, and then to be,” says Dawn Jennings, Senior Provisioning Manager.
“Seeing IS believing,” Symington agrees. “If a female is able to see and have access to another female as their mentor, then it’s more likely to instill confidence and belief that she can also achieve the career aspirations and goals she has set out for herself. A positive female mentor can offer their experience and coaching techniques from a female perspective, to enable another female to progress, achieve their ambition and shine.”
And a little can go a long way: “One positive comment among 10 negatives has the power to motivate someone else who’s trying to start their career,” says Jacob.
“There is no special recipe, but I would say that confidence, kindness, flexibility, hard work, and commitment go o long way,” Symington says, about overcoming limiting stereotypes for women in STEM.
In an industry so focused on innovation and the future, countless women have helped pave the way for women in STEM to at long last have a seat at the table and make their mark; and they’re not going anywhere.
“Our industry and many others are constantly evolving. STEM is no longer about just being good with numbers. It’s about having creative thinkers, problem solvers, and team players who can all align to a common goal,” says Jennings. “It’s important that we match this shift in skills by putting on emphasis on workforces with different skill sets, cultures, and equal genders.”
“Expose girls to the opportunities available within the STEM field,” says Order Administrator Traci Harrington. “Partnering with existing programs and bringing young ladies in to tour our facilities would be great. In junior high, I was part of a program offered by a large insurance firm. They taught us about the computer science field. Each week different employees would give us hands-on experience on what they did at the company.”
“My advice would be the same to any woman wanting to go into any field or profession. I know it may sound cliché, but follow your heart and do something you truly enjoy,” says Ketchian.
Choosing a company like IPC Systems, which recognizes that what women can offer any field – tech or not – is always absolutely essential.
“At IPC, I’m surrounded with positive people that never judge my work or ability based on gender. Here, I’m treated equitably. IPC always provides me with opportunities to improve my skill and knowledge,” Jaizah says.
“I’m grateful that during my career here it’s been very positive, inclusive, and gender-neutral in terms of how my work is received,” Ketchian says.
“Although IPC alone cannot eliminate the industry-wide issues facing women and marginalized groups in STEM, the company is doing its part to promote an inclusive environment with real, measurable goals,” Pech says.
With women like these bringing their brilliance to the table, the future of STEM looks very bright indeed.