I’m an electrical engineer who enjoys listening to and sharing stories of ordinarily extraordinary women that work in STEM fields. The women featured on these episodes work in different STEM fields, are at different phases in their careers, and bring their unique perspectives and stories. I am endlessly fascinated by what these women do, how they have navigated their careers, balanced families, and why they made the career choices they did. Most STEM fields are dominated by men which makes for unique circumstances for women to navigate. It’s a privilege to be able to share their stories through this podcast.
Fae Gaze is a mathematician, data scientist, and machine learning researcher with degrees in mathematics, molecular biology, computer science, and data science engineering. She shares her journey into the world of math, data science, and machine learning and discusses the joy she finds in problem-solving and working with data.The conversation also touches on mental health, the importance of breaking down complex challenges, and how algorithms can be applied in research and life. Fae's inspiring perspective highlights the beauty of math in everything from nature to decision-making and offers encouragement for those intimidated by the field.What do we talk about in this episode?Fae's STEM Journey: Fae's early love for math and puzzles led her into data science and machine learning. Her educational path includes degrees in math, molecular biology, and computer science.New Job & Kaggle Competitions: Fae discusses her current role as a machine learning researcher and her work in predictive analysis, time-series data, and her involvement in Kaggle AI/ML competitions.Breaking Down Complex Problems: Fae emphasizes the importance of breaking large, intimidating problems into smaller, manageable steps, which she applies both in her research and personal life.The Joy of Math: Fae shares how math brings her joy and explains how the logic behind math can simplify life's challenges.Mental Health & Math's Impact: Fae explores how math and its principles, like building backup plans and creating algorithms, can help manage anxiety and uncertainty.Music used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound StudioYou can support my podcast on Patreon here: https://patreon.com/user?u=72701887Resources:Kaggle CompetitionsThe National Museum of Mathematics (MoMath) in New York CityConnect with Fae Gaze Linkedin- Fae GazeHashMap YouTube Channel
Dr. Sandra Johnson, a groundbreaking electrical engineer and entrepreneur, is the first black woman to earn a Ph.D. in computer engineering. Her journey from a high school introduction to engineering to her current roles as a former IBM CTO and a board member for several companies is a testament to her resilience and determination in the face of unique challenges.The book Soft Power for the Journey: The Life of a STEM Trailblazer is a fascinating story of the remarkable life arc of a resilient person from an underprivileged background who persistently overcomes whatever odds. The discussion delves into her groundbreaking achievements, her passion for aiding technology entrepreneurs of African descent, and her new memoir detailing her inspiring career. Join us as we explore the intricacies of serving on corporate boards and the importance of mentorship and legacy in STEM.What do we talk about in this episode?Insights on Serving on BoardsFacing Adversity and Finding StrengthFamily Influence and Strong WomenWriting the Memoir: Soft Power for the JourneyThe Role of Mentoring and NetworkingMusic used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound StudioYou can support my podcast on Patreon here: https://patreon.com/user?u=72701887Resources:Soft Power for the Journey: The Life of a STEM TrailblazerNational Association of Corporate Directors: https://www.nacdonline.org/Grace Hopper Conference: https://ghc.anitab.org/Connect with Dr. Sandra JohnsonSandra K. Johnson, Ph.D.Linkedin- Sandra K Johnson, Ph.D.
Sheila Buswell is the founder and CEO of Buswell Biomedical. Sheila's story is fascinating as she transitions from roles in mechanical engineering and as an army technician to becoming an innovator in the biomedical field, inspired by her own injury experiences.We dive into imposter syndrome, women's unique challenges in STEM, and the balancing act required in entrepreneurship. Sheila also shares insights from her book, "Is This Seat for Me?" highlighting the importance of setting boundaries and seeking support in male-dominated fields. This episode is packed with valuable insights into career resilience and the systemic challenges women encounter in the tech industry.What do we talk about in this episode?How Upward Mobility Device Works. A device that uses a person's power combined with artificial intelligence to aid rehabilitation activities.Her journey from education to military service ultimately inspired her to start Buswell Biomedical.Her battle with imposter syndrome, which led her to write a book on the topic while starting her business.Her challenges in securing venture capital highlight the statistics that reflect the difficulties women face in this area.Exploring Layoffs and Diversity in the WorkplaceMusic used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound StudioYou can support my podcast on Patreon here: https://patreon.com/user?u=72701887Resources:Golden Triangle Angel Networks one of Canada's most active and longest-established angel investment clubs. Learn more about it here- Episode 112 – Sherry Shannon – VanstoneA lack of parental leave policies also disproportionately impacts women in STEM, with 43% of women in STEM careers leaving their full-time job within 4-7 years of having their first child, compared to only 23% of men. - The Business JournalConnect with Sheila Buswell Book: Is the Seat For Me?Buswell BiomedicalLinkedin- Sheila Buswell
Sarah Garcia is a Project Executive and Director of DEI at Novo Construction. She is a civil engineer who has worked in the construction industry for most of her career. She is passionate about getting women and other minorities into the construction industry and has seen firsthand the progress companies can make when they invest in DEI programs. Sarah has a Bachelor's of Science in Civil Engineering.What do we talk about in this episode?Civil engineering and how that fits into the construction industry.The lack of women in the construction industry and how that is changing, specifically at the company Sarah works for.Motherhood and the importance of being role models for girls going into STEM.Sarah's experience in the construction industry throughout her 30+ year career.Music used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound StudioYou can support my podcast on Patreon here: https://patreon.com/user?u=72701887ResourcesGirls Garage is a design and construction school for girls and gender-expansive youth ages 9-18. Founded in 2013, Girls Garage is the first-ever design and building workshop for female-identifying youth in the United States. (https://girlsgarage.org)35% of STEM professionals are women.17% of engineers are women.4% of trades professionals are women.
Kalpana Pot is an actor, writer, host, and space communicator. Renowned for her vibrant online presence, particularly in space science, Kalpana has cultivated a platform with over 200K followers on Instagram and 4.4 million likes on TikTok.Importantly, she challenges the prevailing narratives about women in STEM, a perspective not often encountered. Furthermore, it's uncommon to find a woman in STEM with a substantial following, but Kalpana leverages her platform to educate people about space. Ultimately, she aims to combat the recent surge in anti-science sentiments by blending storytelling with scientific exploration.What do we talk about in this episode?The challenges she faces in Hollywood as a woman in science.How she seamlessly combines her acting career with her passion for science content creation.The importance of representation and normalizing women in STEM through mass media.The significant role of science communicators in addressing misinformation and conspiracy theories.Insights into her recent book, "Spaced Out."Music used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound StudioYou can support my podcast on Patreon here: https://patreon.com/user?u=72701887ResourcesBook: Spaced Out: A Casual Approach to the CosmosConnect with Kalpana Pot on InstagramGeena Davis Institute: For 20 years, the Geena Davis Institute has been at the forefront of championing equitable representation in media. Our commitment to building a better world extends beyond gender, encompassing the interconnected identities often marginalized in the media. Through our ground-breaking research, we understand the life-changing impact of representation, and have devoted ourselves to pioneering new pathways within entertainment and media.(https://geenadavisinstitute.org)
Dr. Audra Morse, Dean of the College of Engineering at Michigan Tech, is a distinguished professional with a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering and degrees in Environmental Engineering. Her journey from student to dean highlights the importance of rigorous academic challenges and hands-on learning in shaping successful careers in STEM. Dr. Morse emphasizes the changing dynamics of engineering education, including the impact of COVID-19 on learning styles and the crucial role of resilience. The conversation underscores the need for a supportive environment from faculty and parents to help students navigate college life and excel in STEM fields. What do we talk about in this episode?The Role and Responsibilities of a Dean in EngineeringChallenging the Status Quo in Engineering PracticesWomen in Engineering: Progress and ChallengesAddressing the Engineering Shortage: Education and Retention StrategiesPreparing for Engineering: Advice for Students and ParentsMusic used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound StudioYou can support my podcast on Patreon here: https://patreon.com/user?u=72701887Michigan Tech- Dean, College of Engineering Michigan Tech As Dean of the College of Engineering, Audra Morse seeks to enhance the world-class research, scholarship, and innovation Michigan Tech provides.Connect with Dr. Audra Morse here on Linkedin
Dr. Syatta Wallace is an advocate for women in STEM and Founder of Janisaw Company. With over 15 years in developing gender-based programs, Dr. Wallace specializes in addressing the unique challenges women face in STEM careers. She shares her extensive experience in developing leadership and career development programs tailored for women in STEM. Her mission involves aiding companies in enhancing female leadership. As an award-winning scientist and professor, she draws from her own experiences as a woman of color in academia to empower the next generation. Dr. Wallace's initiatives include the wise-leadership series and the women of color STEM leadership lab, aiming to prepare diverse women for leadership roles. Recognized nationally, her work has been featured in Time, ABC News, CNN, and Essence. In this episode, she shares insights on advocating for women's success in STEM fields.What do we talk about in this episode?1. Unique challenges women face in STEM fields, highlighting issues such as isolation, stereotype threat, and the high attrition rate among women.2. The importance of career readiness, leadership skills, and the need for proactive efforts from institutions and companies to support and advance women in STEM. 3. Systemic challenges in academia and the workforce, the importance of self-care, personal development, and creating supportive communities.4. Citing the active voices of the next generation and ongoing initiatives aimed at systemic change within STEM fields5. Finding Joy and Strength in Supporting OthersMusic used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound StudioYou can support my podcast on Patreon here: https://patreon.com/user?u=72701887ResourcesYou can read Scyatta's book, Success in STEM Journal here! https://www.amazon.com/Success-STEM-Journal.../dp/B0CL4KK17KSTEMM Opportunity Alliance https://stemmopportunity.org/Reboot Representation: https://www.rebootrepresentation.org/You can read Scyatta's book, Success in STEM Journal here! https://www.amazon.com/Success-STEM-Journal.../dp/B0CL4KK17KSTEM Next Opportunity Fund is advancing the initial work of the Noyce Foundation, which invested $75 million over 25 years to launch out-of-school STEM learning and disrupt conventional thinking about how to get dramatic and sustainable results. (https://stemnext.org).American Advancement for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) The world's largest multidisciplinary scientific society and a leading publisher of cutting-edge research through its Science family of journals, AAAS has individual members in more than 91 countries around the globe. (https://www.aaas.org).Texas public universities and colleges are prohibited from having diversity, equity and inclusion offices and any units that perform DEI functions, with carve-outs only for registered student groups, data collection, academic instruction and research, guest speakers and student recruitment. (https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/state/2024/01/29/dei-ban-texas-sb17-law-meaning-guide-what-ut-public-universities-lost/72283717007/#:~:text=Texas%20public%20universities%20and%20colleges,guest%2
This episode of Ordinarily Extraordinary Conversations with Women in STEM' features Charli Matthews, a champion for empowering women in STEM fields and trades. Charli Matthews is a visionary leader with a mission to Connect, Inform, and Educate the Global Pump Industry. Charli's groundbreaking online information and connection hub has reshaped industry communication. As a well-recognized and respected figure in key industry events, Charli bridges the gap between traditional practices and cutting-edge digital strategies. Her passion for #EmpoweringConnections is driving change for the process industries equipment manufacturers, engineers, and safety/reliability experts.Charli's leadership extends beyond business; she's a fierce advocate for diversity and empowerment. As the Marketing Chair for the Fluid Sealing Association, she earned the prestigious Award of Merit for her dedication to industry growth. Additionally, Charli is deeply committed to empowering women in industry across the globe, championing their advancement and representation in traditionally male-dominated fields.What do we talk about in this episode?Charli's Journey from Marketing to Empowering the Pump IndustryThe Challenges and Triumphs of Starting Your Own BusinessNavigating the Complexities of Gender Perception in the WorkplaceThe Power of Being Yourself in Professional SpacesGlobal Outreach: Making a Difference in Uganda
Dr. Chanfeng Zhao is the VP of R&D Chemistry at TriLink BioTechnologies. She has over 25 years of experience in nucleotide and modified nucleotide chemistry for sequencing and genomics applications. She co-founded MyChem LLC, a company later acquired by TriLink, specializing in ultra-pure synthetic nucleotides. Chanfeng was the CSO and Co-founder of Sequlite Genomic (acquired by Fapon International), a company that was developing NGS instruments and reagents. Previously, Dr. Zhao was one of the first employees at Illumina, where she developed oligonucleotide attachment chemistry for BeadChip products. She holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from SUNY Buffalo and a B.Sc. in Petroleum Chemical Engineering. Dr. Zhao is an inventor on over 20 issued patents.What do we talk about in this episode?What are nucleotides & genomes?The difference between chemistry and chemical engineering.Chanfeng's career path from chemical engineering to chemistry. Working at startups, starting her own company, and selling that company.Her experience coming to the US and raising a son while going to grad school.How her curiosity fuels her passion for science.Music used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound StudioYou can support my podcast on Patreon here: https://patreon.com/user?u=72701887ResourcesGenomics is an interdisciplinary field of biology focusing on the structure, function, evolution, mapping, and editing of genomes. A genome is an organism's complete set of DNA, including all of its genes as well as its hierarchical, three-dimensional structural configuration. (Wikipedia)Nucleotides are organic molecules composed of a nitrogenous base, a pentose sugar and a phosphate. They serve as monomeric units of the nucleic acid polymers – deoxyribonucleic acid and ribonucleic acid, both of which are essential biomolecules within all life-forms on Earth. (Wikipedia)Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Perez.AGTC is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing genetic therapies for people with rare and debilitating ophthalmic, otologic and central nervous system (CNS) diseases. (https://agtc.gcs-web.com)
Abigail Fritschel is about to graduate from Iowa State University with a degree in Aerospace Engineering. Abby was first on the podcast as Episode 13 when she had just graduated from high school in the summer of 2020. She's back to provide an update on college life, her college experience vs. her expectations, internships, Society of Women Engineers and what she'll be doing when she graduates this spring.What do we talk about in this episode?College expectations vs. reality.Why Abby almost quit engineering and what made her stick with it.How Abby found and got involved with Society of Women Engineers.Abby's internship experience.What Abby will be doing after college.Music used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound StudioYou can support my podcast on Patreon here: https://patreon.com/user?u=72701887ResourcesSociety of Women Engineers - For more than seven decades, SWE has given women engineers a unique place and voice within the engineering industry. Our organization is centered around a passion for our members' success and continues to evolve with the challenges and opportunities reflected in today's exciting engineering and technology specialties. (https://swe.org)
Asha Devasia is an executive with experience in strategy, products, innovation and operations in the Energy industry. She leveraged her Bachelor's Degree in Biology and Business and her MBA to transition to leadership early in her career. She has an entrepreneurial spirit and empathetic leadership style.What do we talk about in this episode?Asha's career journey and how she got into strategy and leadership.Deep dive into Asha's leadership style and roles within her career.The importance of prioritization and the importance of family and friends as she began her family.We discuss motherhood and women's decisions to continue working or stay at home. Asha's provides her advice on making decisions.The importance of having a support system and having key people in your life that provide honest feedback.Don't be afraid to make adjustments as you go through life.Music used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound StudioYou can support my podcast on Patreon here: https://patreon.com/user?u=72701887ResourcesDallas CASA – Every year, more than 20,000 Dallas County children are reported abused or neglected. Some of them must be removed from their homes because it isn't safe for them to remain. Many enter foster care and wait for the complex, often lengthy process in which a judge will determine where they may safely and permanently live. During this time they may move from one temporary home to another, never knowing what will happen next. This is where a CASA volunteer steps in. (https://www.dallascasa.org)
Sylleste Davis is a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from the 100th District. She is the Chair of the House Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee. Prior to representing the people of South Carolina, Sylleste worked at an electric company in various roles from Information Technology to Power Supply leadership positions. Sylleste has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics and a Master of Arts in Computer and Information Systems Management. What do we talk about in this episode?What does a Sylleste do as a State Representative?How did she get started in politics and why did she go into it?How does her experience in the utility industry and technology background fit into her work in politics.Why she majored in math and our joint love of mathematics (and architecture).Music used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound StudioYou can support my podcast on Patreon here: https://patreon.com/user?u=72701887ResourcesSylleste Davis Legislature Biography: https://www.scstatehouse.gov/member.php?code=0456249946
Kathy Ford is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Kura Oncology. She has over 30 years experience in biopharmaceuticals. She is equally passionate about the work she does bringing treatment to cancer patients and as a mom and grandmother. Kathy earned her R.N. from Massachusetts General Hospital School of Nursing and her B.S.N. from Fitchburg State College.What do we talk about in this episode?Kathy's journey from nursing, being a stay at home mom, and back into the job market and into executive management in biopharmaceuticals.The changes she has seen for women in medicine and STEM fields over the past several decades.The importance of family in her life. Grandmotherhood is her greatest joy!Her passion for working for a company working to treat and cure cancer.The importance of women, especially in higher positions, using their voice to support other women.What does a COO do?Music used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound StudioYou can support my podcast on Patreon here: https://patreon.com/user?u=72701887ResourcesHematologic cancers begin in blood-forming tissue, such as the bone marrow, or in the cells of the immune system. Examples of hematologic cancer include leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. It's also referred to as blood cancer. (https://www.summitcancercenters.com/cancers-we-treat/hematologic-cancer/#:~:text=Hematologic%20cancers%20begin%20in%20blood,referred%20to%20as%20blood%20cancer.)Some 37% of active physicians in the U.S. were women in 2021, up from about 36% in 2019, and about 47% of residents and fellows were women, according to the AAMC report.Large gender pay gaps still exist, however. A 2021 report from the Rand Corporation published in Health Affairs found female physicians earn $2 million less than men over the course of their career, with the largest gaps in male-dominated specialties. (https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/AAMC-us-physician-workforce-women-specialties/640621/#:~:text=Some%2037%25%20of%20active%20physicians,according%20to%20the%20AAMC%20report.)
Sheryl Recinos is a physician, author, speaker and advocate. She is a locums hospitalist. After spending her teen years homeless and living on the streets in Los Angeles, she got a Bachelor's Degree in Cellular and Microbiology and later went back to school for her MD. Her childhood trauma helps her identify trauma in patients she sees and she advocates and works with homeless in Los Angeles. She has written several books about homelessness including a memoir, Hindsight, which chronicles her childhood.What do we talk about in this episode?Sheryl's traumatic childhood and how she survived and became a physician.How the trauma she grew up with helps her in her job as a physician.How she strives to be the parent she always wanted to have.Her writing career. She has written a memoir about her childhood, a series of young adult books, and is about to publish a children's book.How the system not only failed her as a child, but actually worked against her.Her life now a physician, author, speaker, and mother.Music used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound StudioYou can support my podcast on Patreon here: https://patreon.com/user?u=72701887ResourcesYou can find lots of information and resources and work Sheryl is doing here: https://sherylrecinosmd.com"Hindsight: Coming of Age on the Streets of Hollywood": https://www.amazon.com/Hindsight-Coming-age-streets-Hollywood-ebook/dp/B07HYJTPKZ/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1583000285&refinements=p_27%3ASheryl+Recinos&s=digital-text&sr=1-1&text=Sheryl+RecinosMy Friend's Place - For 33 years and counting, My Friend's Place has beenassisting and inspiring youth experiencing homelessnessto build self-sufficient lives. (https://www.myfriendsplace.org)There's a lot of information and statistics on foster care system that can be found here: https://www.aecf.org/blog/child-welfare-and-foster-care-statisticsOne in every five foster youth is homeless when they age out of the system at 18. Ten percent of foster children are placed in institutions and group homes, many of whom are older teenagers. Four percent of foster cases have the goal of emancipation, but over 50 percent have the goal of reunification. (https://www.fosterva.org/blog/what-happens-to-foster-children-when-they-turn-18#:~:text=One%20in%20every%20five%20foster,have%20the%20goal%20of%20reunification.)
Karen Laos, Communication Expert and Confidence Cultivator, is on a mission to eradicate self-doubt in 10 million women by giving them simple strategies to ask for what they want in the boardroom and beyond. She guides corporations and individuals with a proven model and is known for her actionable tips and ability to build trust quickly. During her corporate career, she led a team of facilitators while traveling the globe consulting industry leaders on the seemingly soft skills that impact the bottom line. Karen is the author of Trust Your Own Voice: Growing Your Influence Through Confident Communication, as well as the host of her highly ranked podcast, Ignite Your Confidence.What do we talk about in this episode?How Karen got into confidence coaching.Karen's signature "Confidence Cocktail"TM.Karen provides advice and tips on how to improve your confidence.Her influences in childhood that helped her build her confidence.How to introduce yourself using the PPU method.Creating a Celebration Portfolio.Music used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound StudioYou can support my podcast on Patreon here: https://patreon.com/user?u=72701887ResourcesKaren Laos' website: https://karenlaos.com"Trust Your Own Voice: Growing Your Influence Through Confident Communication" book. (https://karenlaos.com/book/)"Ignite Your Confidence" Podcast (https://karenlaos.com/podcast/)Between the ages of 8 and 14, girls' confidence levels fall by 30 percent. At 14, when girls are hitting their low, boys' confidence is still 27 percent higher. (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/01/well/family/confidence-gap-teen-girls-tips-parents.html)"Pioneers in Skirts" An Emmy-nominated 60-minute documentary about the issues that affect a woman's pioneering ambition. Real-life stories and frank commentary leave viewers seeing their role in the solution, feeling hopeful, and motivated to act. (https://www.pioneersinskirts.com)The phrase “Women must be seen and not heard” originates from an old English proverb, “Children must be seen and not heard”. This proverb first appeared in a book by John Mirk published in the 15th century titled Mirks Festial. (https://doseofwonani.wordpress.com/2021/08/23/why-i-have-a-problem-with-women-must-be-seen-and-not-heard/#:~:text=The%20phrase%20“Women%20must%20be,15th%20century%20titled%20Mirks%20Festial.)
Liz Lee Heinecke is an author and media figure for science and STEM. She has loved science she was young which drew her to study molecular biology where she worked in research for ten years. As she transitioned to parenting, she began sharing her love of science through experiments with her kids which became the basis for her books and media appearances. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Art and a Master's Degree in Bacteriology.What do we talk about in this episode?How Liz got involved in writing and media appearances in STEM.How you can potentially get involved in presenting STEM on TV.Her philosophy about saying "yes" and trying anything which has led to great experiences.Teachers can put kids on a good or bad trajectory. They have a lot of influence - good or bad.Math is a language and should be taught as a language.Experiment Outside the Box.Music used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound StudioYou can support my podcast on Patreon here: https://patreon.com/user?u=72701887ResourcesLiz's website with her books and appearances: www.lizleeheincke.comConnect with Liz here: Email at lizleeheinecke@gmail.com or find her @lizheinecke on Instagram, @kitchpantrysci on Twitter and Liz Heinecke, The Kitchen Pantry Scientist on Facebook.Books:Biology for KidsKitchen Science Lab for Kids, Edible EditionOutdoor Science Lab for KidsChemistry for KidsSTEAM Lab for KidsKitchen Science Lab for KidsStar Wars The Padman CookbookEcology for KidsPhysics for KidsStar Wars Maker LabSheet Pan ScienceKitchen Science for KidsShe Can STEM: 50 Trailblazing Women in Science From Ancient History to NowSuper Fun Kitchen Science Experiments for Kids: 52 Family Friendly Experiments From Around the WorldRadiant: The Dancer, The Scientist, and a Friendship Forged in Light
Pamela Kellert is a strategic leadership coach focusing on women in STEM. She works with individuals and organizations to elevate their leadership skills, confidence and organizational impact. She is the Founder of Women Leading in STEM. Prior to starting her own business, she spent 16 years in the corporate world leading strategy within technical companies in the transportation sector.What do we talk about in this episode?Pamela's work as a career coach and strategist.The importance of mentors, networks, and community.We discuss how far women have come in leadership roles. Men have been leaders for thousands of years. It's been very recent that women have been in leadership. Sometimes we get discouraged thinking we're not making progress fast enough, but we are making progress! It's an important perspective.How can we make a better and more productive user experience for women in STEM at work.Do we need "job therapy"?We discuss the systems we work in and how they affect women's views of themselves.Music used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound StudioYou can support my podcast on Patreon here: https://patreon.com/user?u=72701887Resourceswww.womenleadinginstem.comhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/womenleadinginstemList of elected and appointed female heads of state and government: The first woman to be democratically elected as prime minister of a country was Sirimavo Bandaranaike of Ceylon (present-day Sri Lanka), when she led her party to victory in the July 1960 general election. (Wikipedia)Fewer than a third of UN member states have ever had a woman leader. Women currently serve as the head of government in just 13 of the 193 member states of the United Nations. And fewer than a third of UN countries have ever had a woman leader, according to a Pew Research Center analysis. (https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/03/28/women-leaders-around-the-world/)Research has shown that firms with more women in senior positions are more profitable, more socially responsible, and provide safer, higher-quality customer experiences — among many other benefits. (https://hbr.org/2021/04/research-adding-women-to-the-c-suite-changes-how-companies-think)Countries led by women had “systematically and significantly better” Covid-19 outcomes, research appears to show, locking down earlier and suffering half as many deaths on average as those led by men. (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/18/female-led-countries-handled-coronavirus-better-study-jacinda-ardern-angela-merkel)Between the ages of 8 and 14, girls' confidence levels fall by 30 percent. At 14, when girls are hitting their low, boys' confidence is still 27 percent higher. (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/01/well/family/confidence-gap-teen-girls-tips-parents.html#:~:text=and%20their%20parents.-,Between%20the%20ages%20of%208%20and%2014%2C%20girls%27%20confidence%20levels,is%20still%2027%20percent%20higher.)
Dr. Alison Banwell is a Glaciologist and Research Scientist in the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES), part of the University of Colorado Boulder. She studies glaciers in the Arctic and Antarctica and glacial lakes that form from glacial ice melt. She has led many field expeditions in Antarctica and has also conducted fieldwork on the Greenland Ice Sheet, Svalbard and the Himalaya. She has a PhD in Polar Studies from the University of Cambridge. What do we talk about in this episode?What is a glaciologist or glacier scientist and how she got interested in this field.How climate change is affecting glaciers throughout the world and how studying glaciers can help understand climate change.What her field work experiences in Antarctica and the Arctic.What it's like to be a glaciologist when you hate the cold!How does one get to Antarctica for work (it's a really long commute)?Penguins in Antarctica...they're so cool!Music used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound StudioYou can support my podcast on Patreon here: https://patreon.com/user?u=72701887ResourcesContact Dr. Banwell: email: alison.banwell@colorado.edu; Instagram & Twitter: @alibanwellInfo on Dr. Alison Banwell and links to her publications: https://cires.colorado.edu/researcher/alison-banwell3.2% of all climbers are women. Longyearbyen is the administrative centre of Svalbard, is a tiny Norwegian metropolis with 2,400 residents from almost 53 different countries. Longyearbyen is the gateway to the nature-based experiences and the starting point for most adventures in Svalbard. (https://en.visitsvalbard.com/visitor-information/destinations/longyearbyen)As powerful predators, polar bears pose a major risk to human life and property. Throughout the polar bear's range, attacks on humans and property continue to rise. In recent years, more than 20 direct attacks on humans have been reported within the polar bear's range. (WWF)Leopard seals are the only seals known to regularly hunt and kill warm-blooded prey, including other seals. Although rare, there are a few records of adult leopard seals attacking humans. (www.doc.govt.nz)A glacier is an accumulation of ice and snow that slowly flows over land. At higher elevations, more snow typically falls than melts, adding to its mass. (https://nsidc.org/learn/parts-cryosphere/glaciers)Mer de Glace, (French: “Sea of Ice”) one of the longest glaciers in the Alps, extending for 3.5 miles (5.6 km) on the northern side of Mont Blanc near Chamonix, France. (Britannica)McMurdo Station is located on volcanic rock marking the southernmost solid ground accessible by ship, it is the gateway of most all scientific, private, and touristic jaunts into the Antarctic. (https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/mcmurdo-station)The Drake Passage is the body of water between South America's Cape Horn, Chile, Argentina and the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica. It connects the southwestern part of the Atlantic Ocean (Scotia Sea) with the southeastern part of the Pacific Ocean and extends into the Southern Ocean. The passage is named after the 16th-century English explorer and privateer Sir Francis Drake. The Drake Passage is considered one of the most treacherous voyages for ships to make. Currents at its latitude meet no resistance from any landmass, and waves top 40 feet (12 m), hence its reputation as "the most powerful convergence of seas". (Wikipedia)
Nancy Joie Wilkie worked for over thirty years in both the biotechnology industry and as part of the Federal Government's biodefense effort. Nancy is now retired and explores many creative pursuits including writing, composing original music, playing a variety of instruments, and is recording many of her compositions. Nancy has a BA degree in Biology and a MS degree in Bio-Chemistry.What do we talk about in this episode?Nancy recently published a book "Faraway and Forever", a collection of 5 novelettes combining STEM, science fiction, and faith. Nancy shares how she brings together her STEM career, music, writing, and art into her life in retirement. She shares how she got into biochemistry in the late 1970s and her successes and challenges.How Nancy weaves art, music, and writing into her life now that she is retired.How her grandfather influenced her which led to her becoming a biochemist.Her experience working at NIH and developing the second known small pox vaccination.Faith and science. One does not preclude the other.Music used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound StudioYou can support my podcast on Patreon here: https://patreon.com/user?u=72701887Resourceshttp://www.mindsights.net - Nancy's website featuring her art, music, and writings."Faraway and Forever" by Nancy Joie Wilkie. A collection of 5 novellas.Radiocarbon dating, or carbon-14 dating, is a scientific method that can accurately determine the age of organic materials as old as approximately 60,000 years. First developed in the late 1940s at the University of Chicago by Willard Libby, the technique is based on the decay of the carbon-14 isotope. (news.uchicago.edu).
This is a recording from a keynote speech I gave at a women in energy forum in 2017. I talk about the importance of: Showing up - especially as your authentic selfSigning up, or just say "yes" if an opportunity comes upSpeaking up - use your voice, even when it shakesGiving a hand up - to women who come behind you - we need to support each other.
Sherry Shannon - Vanstone is a serial entrepreneur. She started her career as a cryptology mathematician in the US government, then went on to work at a start up in Silicon Valley. She then went on to co-found and found companies specializing in security and her latest company, Profound Impact, a female-founded, Canadian data analytics company that leverages AI and machine learning to provide solutions for the higher education and research sectors. She has a BS degree in Mathematics and an Honorary Doctorate of Laws.What do we talk about in this episode?Sherry shares her passion for promoting women in STEM and women in sports. Sherry began her career in cryptology as a code breaker over 40 years ago. She shares her experience as a woman working in this field so many years ago. She shares her experience in Silicon Valley and then working in security and encryption founding and co-foudning companies with her husband and later on on her own.How she brings her "why" into her work and other ventures.Being a code breaker for the government is indeed as cool as it sounds!How a university president changed her course of study and got her into mathematics - our supporters and champions are so important.How she met her husband - at a mathematics conference!! (There has to be an equation for that!)Her experience trying to get funding, her work on changing the VC world for female founders and opportunities we may all have to make change in this space.Music used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound StudioYou can support my podcast on Patreon here: https://patreon.com/user?u=72701887ResourcesPerimeter Institute of Theoretical Physics is an independent research centre in foundational theoretical physics located in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. (Wikipedia)The Emmy Noether Council works collectively with Perimeter to increase the number of women in physics and drive the philanthropic support that will advance women at critical stages of their education and careers at Perimeter and beyond. They are specifically focused on leading the growth of the Emmy Noether Emerging Talent Fund, an endowment devoted to providing support and programming for exceptional PhD students at Perimeter. (https://perimeterinstitute.ca/emmy-noether-council)Golden Triangle Angel Networks one of Canada's most active and longest-established angel investment clubs. (https://www.goldentriangleangelnet.ca)
Lydia Blume is the Morning Meteorologist at WDAY in Fargo, North Dakota. Lydia has a Bachelor of Science degree in Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology. She focuses on communications of scientific information to non-scientific people. What do we talk about in this episode?Lydia talks about her love for meteorology and weather from a young age. She grew up on a farm in rural South Dakota, fascinated by weather and never deviated in her goal of becoming a meteorologist. She shares the challenges of being a female meteorologist, including being pregnant, on live TV in the age of social media. "Nothing great comes from your comfort zone".Her insane schedule - she wakes up at 2 a.m. to get to work and prepare for live TV which starts at 5 a.m. All of this with a 16 month old baby.How she became interested in being a meteorologist at a young age and has been laster focused on achieving this goal ever since.How she handles the negative comments she gets from viewers (people are mean - be nice people!!)The importance of the spouse or life partner you choose. Her husband is her biggest champion and supporter.Being pregnant in front of hundreds of thousands of viewers on live TV.The science behind weather forecasting, weather balloons, and the importance of humans behind computer generated forecasts.Meteorologists are not weather girls!!!Music used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound StudioYou can support my podcast on Patreon here: https://patreon.com/user?u=72701887ResourcesLydia Blume: https://www.facebook.com/lydiablumewx/There are 122 National Weather Center Offices throughout the United States. They typically consist of 20 - 50 counties per office. (https://www.noaa.gov/jetstream/wfos)An agriculturist, agriculturalist, agrologist, or agronomist, is a professional in the science, practice, and management of agriculture and agribusiness. It is a regulated profession in Canada, India, the
Nicole Kelner is a science and climate artist. She is the founder of Arts and Climate Change. Prior to founding Arts and Climate Change, she was an Artist in Residence at MCJ Collective. Prior to these two positions she worked in operations areas at climate companies. Nicole has a Bachelor's Degree in Communications, Shreyer's Business College and Honors in Engineering Entrepreneurship from Penn State.What do we talk about in this episode?Nicole shares how she went from technical areas into art with a focus on science and climate. She talks about her journey figuring out her major in college, starting out work and how that lead her to where she is now. She shares what she does as a science and climate artist and some of her latest work.What is a science and climate artist and how did she get there?Her experience as an entrepreneur while she was still in college.Her college journey - from undecided to elementary education to advertising and communications. What seemed to be random prepared her for where she is now in her career and provides the perfect background for what she does now.Nicole's upcoming projects and where to find her work.Left brain vs. right brain - reality or myth?Music used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound StudioYou can support my podcast on Patreon here: https://patreon.com/user?u=72701887ResourcesYou can find Nicole's work here: https://nicolekelner.darkroom.comThe U.S. grid is divided into three major regions: The Eastern Interconnection, which operates in states east of the Rocky Mountains; the Western Interconnection, which covers the Pacific Ocean to the Rocky Mountain states; the Texas Interconnected system.(https://www.epa.gov/green-power-markets/us-grid-regions)A regional transmission organization (RTO) in the United States is an electric power transmission system operator (TSO) that coordinates, controls, and monitors a multi-state electric grid. The transfer of electricity between states is considered interstate commerce, and electric grids spanning multiple states are therefore regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The voluntary creation of RTOs was initiated by FERC Order No. 2000, issued on December 20, 1999. The purpose of the RTO is to promote economic efficiency, reliability, and non-discriminatory practices while reducing government oversight. An independent system operator (ISO) is similarly an organization formed at the recommendation of FERC. In the areas where an ISO is established, it coordinates, controls, and monitors the operation of the electrical power system, usually within a single US state, but sometimes encompassing multiple states. RTOs typically perform the same functions as ISOs but cover a larger geographic area. (Wikipedia)Left Brain vs. Right Brain: According to recent research, the idea of people being "left-brained" or "right-brained" may also be less fixed than we'd thought. (https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/right-brainleft-brain-right-2017082512222)"A Brighter Future: Illustrating Climate Change and Solutions" In this beautifully illustrated book, Nicole Kelner has created an educational and playful way to learn about climate change. (https://www.amazon.com/Brighter-Future-Illustrating-Climate-Solutions/dp/1667870807)
Dr. Sirisha Kuchimanchi is an entrepreneur, keynote speaker, podcast host, live radio and live radio show host. She's a former tech executive who left the corporate world to start her own business. She founded Sahita, a Global community for South Asian Women to achieve Career & Financial empowerment so you can "Live the life YOU Dream". She has a PhD and Master's Degree in Materials Science and a Master's Degree and Bachelor's Degree in Physics.What do we talk about in this episode?Sirisha shares her experience leaving corporate life and starting her own business. She has a passion for empowering women both in their careers and helping them achieve financial independence. We talk about raising children, teenage boys, confidence in both boys and girls, networking and the importance of community and bringing people together.The different thought processes between science and engineering.You're not expected to know everything when you are coming out of college.Getting her PhD while she was a stay at home mom.The different stages of raising children. We have less control over out kids personalities than we think we do when we go into parenting.Owning your career and owning your financial future.Meet up with people in your network face to face when you travel to different cities.Music used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound StudioYou can support my podcast on Patreon here: https://patreon.com/user?u=72701887ResourcesSahita - A global community for South Asian Women. (Sahita.live)LinkedIn Live Fireside Chat: https://www.linkedin.com/video/event/urn:li:ugcPost:7053836357298761728/
Dr. Rachel Cady is an Obstetrician/Gynecologist and a Certified Menopause Practitioner. She is an active member of both the North American Menopause Society and the International Menopause Society. Among the concerns and symptoms she treats are weight management, sexual problems, vaginal dryness, abnormal bleeding, pelvic floor rehab, incontinence, heart health, mood swings, hormone replacement, bone health, sleep issues, and hot flashes.What do we talk about in this episode?Dr. Cady shares a wealth of information about menopause: symptoms, treatment, hormone therapy, and so much more. We talk about hot flashes, night sweats, brain fog, mood swings, weight changes, estrogen receptors and so much more. Dr. Cady answers all my menopause questions and questions from listeners. What is menopause and perimenopause and how do I know when I'm in it?Hormone Replacement Therapy. What is it? Who needs it? How to figure out what to do.What is a menopause specialist and how do I find one? What do they do? There are 1,000 Certified Menopause Practitioners in the United States.Weight management and nutrition in menopause. Women need 400-500 less calories when we go into menopause.Music used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound StudioYou can support my podcast on Patreon here: https://patreon.com/user?u=72701887ResourcesInternational Menopause Society's mission of the International Menopause Society (IMS) is to work globally to promote and support access to best practice health care for women through their menopause transition and post-reproductive years, enabling them to achieve optimal health and well-being. (https://www.imsociety.org)The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) is North America's leading nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the health and quality of life of all women during midlife and beyond through an understanding of menopause and healthy aging. (https://www.menopause.org)To find a Certified Menopause Practitioner in the US: https://portal.menopause.org/NAMS/NAMS/Directory/Menopause-Practitioner.aspxThe
Dr. Ginger Campbell is a Palliative Medicine Physician. Prior to Palliative Care, Dr. Campbell was an Emergency Physician. She earned a BSE in Electrical Engineering and an MSE in Biomedical Engineering prior to her MD. Dr. Campbell launched her podcast Brain Science in 2006 and was inducted into the Podcast Hall of Fame in 2022.What do we talk about in this episode?Dr. Campbell shares her experiences in palliative and emergency room medicine. She is in the process of moving from doing palliative care in the US to doing palliative care in New Zealand. She also talks about her podcast and the difference between podcasting in the early years of podcasting and podcasting now.What is palliative care and a palliative care doctor?A day in the life of a palliative care doctor and a day in the life of an emergency room doctor (it is not so much like the TV series ER).The importance of being able to communicate with people in a way they can understand especially at critical times such as end of life.Dying is part of living. The importance and honor of escorting people out of this world and preparing their family for the transition.What working with people at end of life has taught her for her own life.Her favorite podcast topic and guest.Music used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound StudioYou can support my podcast on Patreon here: https://patreon.com/user?u=72701887ResourcesBrain Science Podcast has been exploring how recent discoveries in neuroscience are unraveling the mystery of how our brain makes us human. (https://brainsciencepodcast.com)Dr. Campbell's background is an important element in her success as a science communicator. Prior to medical school she studied electrical and biomedical engineering. In 2011 she was chosen one of 40 Engineers Making a Difference as a part of 40th Anniversary celebration of the School of Engineering at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), where she was an assistant professor from 1985-1989.(https://www.virginiacampbellmd.com)Māori originated with settlers from East Polynesia, who arrived in New Zealand in several waves of canoe voyages between roughly 1320 and 1350. (Wikipedia)Jacinda Kate Laurell Ardern (born 26 July 1980) is a New Zealand politician who served as the 40th prime minister of New Zealand and leader of the Labour Party from 2017 to 2023. A member of the Labour Party, she was a member of Parliament (MP) as a list MP from 2008 to 2017, and for Mount Albert from 2017 to 2023 (Wikipedia)Elizabeth Kubler-Ross - Her bestselling first book, On Death and Dying, 1969, made her an internationally-renowned author. Even today, her trail-blazing book is required reading in most major medical, nursing, and psychology programs. A 1969 Life Magazine article outlining her work gave further mainstream credibility and awareness to this new way of dealing with dying patients, although her conclusions were quite revolutionary at the time. (https://www.ekrfoundation.org/elisabeth-kubler-ross/biography/)Doc Hollywood is a 1991 American romantic comedy film directed by Michael Caton-Jones and written by Daniel Pyne along with Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman, based on Neil B. Shulman's book What? Dead...Again? The film stars Michael J. Fox, Julie Warner, Barnard Hughes, Woody Harrelson, David Ogden Stiers, Frances Sternhagen, and Bridget Fonda. (Wikipedia)
Anna Litvinova is a Flight Test Engineer. She graduated from college with a Bachelor's Degree in Aerospace Engineering about three years ago and spends her time writing test plans, executing test missions on planes per those test plans, and analyzing the data from the tests. Anna immigrated to the US after growing up in Russia and then Germany. She is currently working on a Master's Degree in Flight Test Engineering at the National Test Pilot School.What do we talk about in this episode?"If one never tries, one never knows" - Anna shares her experience growing up as the daughter of two physicists and being interested in airplanes and aerospace from a very young age. She also shares her experiences coming to the US at 16 years old, leaving her friends behind, the challenges that brought and how she overcame some of those challenges.What does a flight test engineer do? How does one become a flight test engineer?Challenges of "fitting in" in coming to a new high school from another country. Learning a new language while taking classes with the content in the new language.Anna's hobbies of travel and photography.Music used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound StudioYou can support my podcast on Patreon here: https://patreon.com/user?u=72701887&utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_linkResourcesThe Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the largest transportation agency of the U.S. government and regulates all aspects of civil aviation in the country as well as over surrounding international waters. (Wikipedia)The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (ASEA) is an agency of the European Union with responsibility for civil aviation safety. It carries out certification, regulation and standardisation and also performs investigation and monitoring. (Wikipedia)Aileron - a hinged flight control surface usually forming part of the trailing edge of each wing of a fixed-wing aircraft. Ailerons are used in pairs to control the aircraft in roll, which normally results in a change in flight path due to the tilting of the lift vector. (Wikipedia)Aerospace Engineering - the primary field of engineering concerned with the development of aircraft and spacecraft. It has two major and overlapping branches: aeronautical engineering and astronautical engineering. (Wikipedia)Rhythmic Gymnastics - a sport in which gymnasts perform on a floor with an apparatus: hoop, ball, clubs, ribbon. The sport combines elements of gymnastics, dance and calisthenics; gymnasts must be strong, flexible, agile, dexterous and coordinated. (Wikipedia)"Man's Search for Meaning" is a 1946 book by Viktor Frankl chronicling his experiences as a prisoner in Nazi concentration camps during World War II, and describing his psychotherapeutic method, which involved identifying a purpose in life to feel positive about, and then immersively imagining that outcome. (Wikipedia)National Test Pilot School (NTPS) - The mission of the National Test Pilot School is to educate and train military and civilian aviation personnel so that each graduate increases flight test competency, improves flight test and aviation safety, and enhances the aerospace profession worldwide. (https://www.ntps.edu)
Pat Muoio is a partner at Sinewave Ventures where she assess the technical value and viability of emerging technologies and make investment recommendations in the federal marketplace. Prior to joining Sinewave, she worked in cybersecurity and cryptography both in the private sector and at the Department of Defense. She has a PhD in Philosophy from Yale University. What do we talk about in this episode?Pat shares her journey from getting a PhD in Philosophy and a planned academic career, into cryptography at DOD, to cybersecurity and into her current career in Venture Capital (VC).The world of start up investments (VC 101). Seed, Series A and Series B funding, Angel investments and more.Advice for being successful at getting funding. The importance of the pitch and framing it to what's important to the group you are pitching it to.Women founders are more successful than male founders, but it's still much more difficult for women to get funded than men.Pat's experiences in VC and in the tech space.How VC firms are funded.Music used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound StudioResourcesSeed funding is the first official equity funding stage. It typically represents the first official money that a business venture or enterprise raises. Some companies never extend beyond seed funding into Series A rounds or beyond. You can think of the "seed" funding as part of an analogy for planting a tree. This early financial support is ideally the "seed" which will help to grow the business. (https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/102015/series-b-c-funding-what-it-all-means-and-how-it-works.asp)The first round after the seed stage is Series A funding. In this round, it's important to have a plan for developing a business model that will generate long-term profit. Typically, Series A rounds raise approximately $2 million to $15 million. In 2021, the median Series A funding was $10 million. (https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/102015/series-b-c-funding-what-it-all-means-and-how-it-works.asp)Series B rounds are all about taking businesses to the next level, past the development stage. Investors help startups get there by expanding market reach. Companies that have gone through seed and Series A funding rounds have already developed substantial user bases and have proven to investors that they are prepared for success on a larger scale. Series B funding is used to grow the company so that it can meet these levels of demand. (https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/102015/series-b-c-funding-what-it-all-means-and-how-it-works.asp)A business incubator is a workspace created to offer startups and new ventures access to the resources they need, all under one roof.In addition to a desk or office, incubators often provide resident companies with access to expert advisors, mentors, administrative support, office equipment, training, and/or potential investors. (https://www.shopify.com/blog/what-is-business-incubator)About 60% of companies that reach pre-series A funding fail to make it to Series A, so the success rate is only 30%-40%. About 65% of the Series A startups get series B, while 35% of the companies that get series A fail. (https://spdload.com/blog/startup-success-rate/#:~:text=About%2065%25%20of%20the%20Series,Noissue.)Cryptanalysis refers to the process of analyzing information systems in order to understand hidden aspects of the systems. Cryptanalysis is used to breach cryptographic security systems and gain access to the contents of encrypted messages, even if the cryptographic key is unknown. (Wikipedia)
Heather Jackson, co-founder of GenM, shares how GenM works with brands to provide awareness and branding of products that support women in menopause. GenM also provides research, awareness and resources for women going through menopause. Heather is the former CEO of An Inspirational Journey, the company behind several programmes, events and online activities including The Balanced Business Forum (formerly known as The Women's Business Forum and now recognised as the world's first gender balanced leadership conference). What do we talk about in this episode?Heather shares how she came to start GenM and the importance of normalizing the conversation around menopause and creating brand awareness, signage, etc. around products that support women during perimenopause and menopause.Menopause does not have to be something we suffer through. Women are typically at the best part of their life when they go through menopause. We should be swinging from the chandeliers during this time - not suffering through it.Menopause is the new vegan.We need to normalize conversations about menopause in society as well as in the workplace.Menopause affects everybody. Not just women. Almost everyone knows someone, works with someone, or lives with someone going through menopause. We are all affected.The highest suicide rate and divorce rate for women is during the age of menopause.Nutrition and exercise are critical in menopause care.There are ways to treat menopause symptoms with Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) or naturally.Music used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound StudioResourcesGenM's Mission - We exist to incite a first-of-its-kind movement to make the menopause a more positive experience for everyone, and introduce forward-thinking brands, organisations and employers to this new, commercially attractive market in a responsible, ethical way.Why? Because there are 15.5 million menopausal consumers in the UK alone. It's a market desperate for better understanding, support and representation. Now is the time to purposefully unite, so we can all cater for, better support and connect with this incredibly underserved audience.Working closely with progressive organisations, we can all use GenM's ongoing groundbreaking research, knowledge and experience to better understand the 48 symptoms, provide better support to all those in menopause and signpost them to products and services that already exist.The Invisibility Report - The findings of this report are the foundations for everything that GemM as the Menopause Partner of Brands stands for. We are here to collectively unite responsible brands, organisations and employers, to improve the menopause experience, normalise the conversation, and stop those in menopause being overlooked at home, at work and across society. (https://gen-m.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/106847-Gen-M-Invisibility-Report-082.pdf)Raising Awareness of the Menopause One Campaign At a Time Men: Misunderstanding Menopause is a national campaign helping to raise awareness of the menopause and its symptoms amongst men. (https://gen-m.com/shattered/)Maryon Stewart BEM, with more than 29 years of experience of study and expertise, is known as the pioneer of the natural menopause movement. She has written 28 self-help books and was awarded the British Empire Medal in 2018.(https://maryonstewart.com)Tera Greene - Kickstart Your Confidence (https://2kyw5krv.pages.infusionsoft.net/?affiliate=0)
Jill Anderson is the Executive Vice President of Operations at Southern California Edison. She has served in several leadership roles in several utilities in her career. At SCE in addition to her current position, she has also been the Senior Vice President of Customer Service and Senior Vice President of Strategic Planning & Power Supply. At New York Power Authority, she worked as the Chief Commercial Officer, Vice President of Public Affairs and Energy Policy and Chief of Staff to the CEO. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA from NYU.What do we talk about in this episode?Jill shares her career journey starting out in the utility industry, moving into leadership positions early in her career; she discusses her wide variety of experiences from leading people in the field to leading people in an office. We talk about some of the challenges faced in being a woman in the field of a utility and how to handle those challenges. Jill provides insight into leadership and her leadership experiences. She shares how she has developed her skill sets over her career to move into the executive leadership role she currently inhabits.The importance of meeting people where they are - one person at a time.Jill's experience in a variety of leadership experiences at different utilities. Technical leadership roles and leadership roles in non-technical areas of utilities.Why and how Jill uses social media and is purposefully visible so she can be a role model as a woman engineer and a woman executive.The importance of being in leadership and being in the field with her employees.How Jill strategically and intentionally uses her time in a week and how she intentionally invests in herself.Enjoying the people side is one of the most important parts of being in leadership vs. staying technicalAvoiding office manager type tasks - or sharing them equally with others on your team.Music used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound StudioResourcesA capacitor bank is a group of several capacitors connected in series or parallel combinations. Capacitors are electrical and electronic components that store electrical energy. Thus, capacitor banks (cap banks) store the reactive energy (leading) and compensate for inductive energy (lagging), thus improving the power factor. As a result, the grid gets more stable and higher transmission capacity and suffers fewer transmission losses. (https://www.electricalvolt.com/2022/08/what-is-a-capacitor-bank/)Reactive load refers to the electrical load that consumes apparent power in a circuit, such as an inductor or capacitor. This type of load consumes current that is out of phase with the voltage, and can cause power factor issues in a power system. Reactive load refers to the electrical load that consumes apparent power in a circuit, such as an inductor or capacitor. (https://www.quora.com)The Nobel Conference is an academic conference held annually at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota. Founded in 1963, the conference links a general audience with scientists in topics related to the natural and social sciences. (Wikipedia)California Announces Almost 18 Percent Of Cars Bought In 2022 Were Electric (https://insideevs.com/news/619370/california-18-percent-new-cars-electric/). In 2022, 5.8% of the new cars Americans bought were electric, up from 3.2% in 2021. Total EV sales topped 800,000 for the first time. (https://www.kbb.com/car-news/new-car-sales-fell-in-2022-but-new-electric-car-sales-rose-dramatically/)It has been estimated that nearly 40% of women who earn engineering degrees either never enter the profession or quit. (https://hbr.org/2016/08/why-do-so-many-women-who-study-engineering-leave-the-field)
Hayley Hoaglund and Madeleine Howard developed a tampon that uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to detect cervical cancer without a pap smear. They share their journey with the intersection of women's global health, business, and tech.Hayley has worked in health care and program management from rural settings to government level. From community level health efforts in the Peace Corps in Peru to working on program design and management within the Ministry of Health, she's designed and implemented projects from the ground, up. Madeleine also works in global health and reproductive health both within the government and global health organizations, including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and US Global Leadership Coalition.What do we talk about in this episode?We talk about so many things on this episode! In addition to talking about the AI tampon itself, we dive into global health, women's health and reproductive health, how to normalize talking about women's health issues, the intersection of business, health, and technology.What is a tampon with artificial intelligence? How did this come about? The goal of the AI tampon and how it can reduce cervical cancer and cervical cancer deaths globally.The importance normalizing conversations about women's healthcare and reproductive care.How to take an idea from concept to reality of a product on a shelf.They both share their journeys in global health and their experiences in health care working in other parts of the world.Global health spending and how the US spends 3X more on healthcare than any other developed country, without necessarily having better outcomes. But, we do have great medical care in the US.Music used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound StudioResourcesUSAID - Promotes and demonstrates democratic values abroad, and advance a free, peaceful, and prosperous world. In support of America's foreign policy, the U.S. Agency for International Development leads the U.S. Government's international development and disaster assistance through partnerships and investments that save lives, reduce poverty, strengthen democratic governance, and help people emerge from humanitarian crises. (https://www.usaid.gov)Gender Based Violence (GBV) - refers to harmful acts directed at an individual based on their gender. It is rooted in gender inequality and the abuse of power. (https://www.unhcr.org/en-us/gender-based-violence.html)John's Hopkins Carey Business School - the graduate business school of Johns Hopkins University, a private research university in Baltimore, Maryland. (Wikipedia)Women's health has been underfunded and understudied for decades. Even though women make up 51% of the United States population, women's health research accounted for only 10.7% of all basic research funding from the NIH in 2020. (https://medium.com/@karenrubin/why-womens-health-is-a-500m-problem-worth-solving-d0f3696e1c6a)The U.S. spends three to four times more on health care than South Korea, New Zealand, and Japan. (https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2023/jan/us-health-care-global-perspective-2022)Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) are third party companies that function as intermediaries between insurance providers and pharmaceutical manufacturers. PBMs create formularies, negotiate rebates (discounts paid by a drug manufacturer to a PBM) with manufacturers, process claims, create pharmacy networks, and review drug utilization. (https://content.naic.org/cipr-topics/pharmacy-benefit-managers)
Parmin Sedigh is a high school senior in Canada who enjoys researching and creating content about stem cells and developmental biology. She is also also the VP of Communications at Eye Hope Canada and a Sponsorships Associate at the Canadian Undergraduate Technology Conference.What do we talk about in this episode?Parmin developed a passion for stem cells and developmental biology. She talks about how she became interested in the subject through The Knowledge Society (TKS) and created blogs and a YouTube channel to explain stem cells to non scientific people.The importance of making scientific and medical information consumable to lay people.Stem cell research and how Parmin got interested in it in high school.Permian's high school experience and activities and how COVID affected her high school experience.How to get young people interested in STEM careers.Parmin helped organize a TedX conference at her high school.Permin's plans for university and how sure should someone be about what they want to study before going to university?The importance of people in the industry connecting with students and young people when they reach out. And definitely don't ghost them if they do reach out!Music used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound StudioResourcesParmin's Website: https://parminsedigh.medium.comParmin's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHCv6JNpw5oNrf6bAtdA05QGairdner Science Week - The Gairdner Foundation was established in 1957 with the main goal of recognizing and rewarding international excellence in fundamental research that impacts human health. Annually, seven awards are given: five Canada Gairdner International Awards for biomedical research, one John Dirks Canada Gairdner Global Health Award, specifically for impact on global health issues, and one Canada Gairdner Wightman Award, reserved for a Canadian. (https://gairdner.org/events/gairdner-science-week-2022/)In most provinces of Canada, the third Monday in February is observed as a regional statutory holiday, typically known in general as Family Day (French: Jour de la famille)—though some provinces use their own names, as they celebrate the day for different reasons. (Wikipedia)The Knowledge Society (TKS) helps ambitious young people change the world. TKS offers a 10-month educational accelerator for high school students wherein they'll learn about cutting-edge technologies, growth mindsets that are key to success, and how to use this knowledge to reach their full potential. TKS students also have the opportunity to work alongside and learn from industry-leading experts at companies and organizations like the United Nations, Google, Apple, and more. (https://www.tks.world)
Isabel Nelson is a senior majoring in computer science, minoring in business at Montana State University. She is in her last semester of college and is beginning to look for jobs.What do we talk about in this episode?Isabel talks about why she decided to go into computer science even though she had never taken a coding class before declaring her major.How Post Secondary Education Option (PSEO) and starting college during COVID affected her college experience.The difference between a BS and BA in computer science.How to deal with social anxiety when you're starting to job hunt and interview.Challenges of starting work life remotely. Her full remote internship was not a great entry into the work world.The importance of internships and leveraging connections and networks to find and change jobs. Don't be afraid or embarassed to find resources such as tutors to help you be successful in college.Girls should be able to be themselves - dress how they want to, wear makeup, do their nails, etc. and be in STEM fields.Normalizing girls and women in STEM in media, social media, etc. to make it more accessible to young girls/women.Music used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound StudioResources"Hello World!": A complete Python-based computer programming tutorial with fun illustrations, examples, and hand-on exercises. (https://www.amazon.com/Hello-World-Computer-Programming-Kids/dp/161729702X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2J3RCZ05QGXZU&keywords=hello+world+python&qid=1676681470&sprefix=hello+world+pyt%2Caps%2C190&sr=8-1)In software engineering, the terms frontend and backend (or sometimes referred to as back end or back-end) refer to the separation of concernsbetween the presentation layer (frontend), and the data access layer (backend) of a piece of software, or the physical infrastructure or hardware. In the client–server model, the client is usually considered the frontend and the server is usually considered the backend, even when some presentation work is actually done on the server itself. (wikipedia)Esteffanie - A YouTube content creator who likes to build things and share my projects, experiments, and failures on my YouTube and Instagram channels. (https://www.estefannie.com)Grace Hopper Celebration - Created in 1994 and inspired by the legacy of Admiral Grace Murray Hopper, the AnitaB.org flagship event Grace Hopper Celebration brings the research and career interests of women in computing to the forefront. (https://ghc.anitab.org)In computer graphics, turtle graphics are vector graphics using a relative cursor (the "turtle") upon a Cartesian plane (x and y axis). Girlboss, also known as girlboss-ism, is a neologism popularised by Sophia Amoruso in her 2014 book Girlboss, which denotes a woman "whose success is defined in opposition to the masculine business world in which she swims upstream". The concept's ethos has been described as "convenient incrementalism". (wikipedia)Junior Achievement's mission is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed. The inspiration piece comes from community volunteers who not only deliver our lessons, but share their experience. In the process, these volunteers serve as role models helping to positively impact young people's perceptions about the importance of education, as well as critical life skills. (https://jausa.ja.org/programs/index)
Eliza Kosoy is the Founder of Eliza Dolls, a doll which teaches young girls how to code and build hardware through custom, tech-enabled projects based on things girls love. Eliza is also a PhD Student at University of California, Berkeley working in child development and Artificial Intelligence.What do we talk about in this episode?Eliza shares how she came to start E-liza Dolls and what her goals and aspirations are for her company. She also shares how her work in her day job as PhD student studying children and AI and how E-liza Dolls has affected her research.Eliza shares how starting E-liza Dolls will hopefully change future generations and encourage more girls to go into STEM fields.Girls play and interact with coding differently than boys.How does an idea become a prototype and then become a product? How do you find investors, factories, and get a product to market?Normalizing girls being interested in STEM and women going into STEM fields - this needs to be part of our everyday, normal lives.What is an angel investor?Music used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound StudioResourcesE-liza Dolls - https://www.elizadolls.com.An angel investor (also known as a business angel, informal investor, angel funder, private investor, or seed investor) is an individual who provides capital for a business or businesses, including startups, usually in exchange for convertibledebt or ownership equity. (Wikipedia)Girlboss, neologism popularised by Sophia Amoruso in her 2014 book Girlboss, which denotes a woman "whose success is defined in opposition to the masculine business world in which she swims upstream". The term became popular in 2014 after Sophia Amoruso used it with a hashtag prefix in her bestselling autobiography, which was adapted into a TV show of the same name. Its early usage was defined by perceived empowerment. Its popularity led to it becoming a "a template for marketing and writing about powerful women in virtually every industry". (Wikipedia)Sophia Amoruso launches Trust Fund for founders - https://techcrunch.com/2023/01/19/sophia-amoruso-enters-venture-with-her-trust-fund-nasty-gal-girlboss/"How Things Work" Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-things-work/id1524856935
Lennis Perez is the founder and chief wellness engineer at Just Lennis, LLC, a wellness consulting company focusing on helping organizations and individuals implement stress management strategies to prevent burnout, improve efficiency, productivity, and overall well-being. She is a certified meditation teacher and coach and has a Masters in Chemical Engineering with over 16 years of experience in the chemical industry.What do we talk about in this episode?Lennis is passionate about wellness and helping other women in STEM to stop putting themselves and their wellness last or as an afterthought to ensure they are being their best selves in all aspects of life. She shares how she works with individuals and corporations and we walk through some challenges I'm having and how she would potentially work with me to help me achieve my wellness goals.The importance of wellbeing throughout our lives and how to incorporate wellbeing into our lives NOW...don't wait until the next thing to start...What we eat affects our gut and how that affects many, many aspects of our wellbeing. It impacts mood, hormones, cravings. How sleep is affected by what you eat. And the importance of sleep and rest.Making changes that impact your well-being by creating new patterns in your brain.Only make one small change at a time. Pick the low hanging fruit - how can I get the biggest benefit with the smallest effort. Taking on too much change is not sustainable.Change can be hard because we are letting go of a piece of ourselves we've had for 20, 30, 40+ years.The importance of meditation (mindfulness, breath work, whatever you want to call it).The four stages of meditation. Thoughts, repetition of the mantra, falling asleep, and stillness.Music used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound StudioResourcesLennis Perez is an international speaker and coach. Through her workshops, events, and individual mentoring, she teaches professionals in STEM how to manage stress in practical and sustainable ways to ultimately become the conscious leaders and role models of well-being in their workplace and beyond. With her engineering background, meditation and nutrition certifications, she brings a unique but relatable approach to holistic wellness in STEM. She calls it Engineering Wellness from Within(TM). You can book a complimentary 30-minute chat with Lennis here: https://calendly.com/lennisperez/call(https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennis-perez/)Primordial Sound Meditation, or PSM, is a healing practice that allows us to experience inner calm and deep relaxation. For thousands of years, people have used meditation to move beyond the mind's busy activity and emotional turbulence into profound peace and expanded awareness. (https://chopra.com/articles/what-is-primordial-sound-meditation)Ohm - the SI unit of electrical resistance, expressing the resistance in a circuit transmitting a current of one ampere when subjected to a potential difference of one volt. (wikipedia)Deepak Chopra - an Indian-American author and alternative medicine advocate. Chopra studied medicine in India before emigrating in 1970 to the United States, where he completed a residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in endocrinology. As a licensed physician, in 1980 he became chief of staff at the New England Memorial Hospital (NEMH). In 1985, he met Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and became involved in the Transcendental Meditation (TM) movement. Shortly thereafter, Chopra resigned his position at NEMH to establish the Maharishi Ayurveda Health Center. In 1993, Chop
Saba Khalid is a Manager in Technical and Business Consulting focusing on Energy & Utilities. She has Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Electrical Engineering.What do we talk about in this episode?Saba and I talk about some challenges many of us face as women in STEM in STEM (or women in any career for that matter).Perfectionism and being people pleasers. Why do we feel the need to be liked by everyone?Navigating careers. How do you determine what's next? When do you bring in outside help, such as career coaches?How a life changing event can impact where you want your career, and life, to go.The importance of innovation and being creative and where does creativity fit into engineering?Creating a career bucket list. Failing can actually be helpful. And when do you get out and try something else?Music used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound StudioOther Resources"Utilities' Need for Advanced Telecommunications". By Saba Khalid, Spencer Hotovec, & John Clancy. Climate and Energy. The Wiley Library. (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/gas.22323)The University Innovation Fellows (UIF) program empowers students around the world to become agents of change in higher education. Fellows create opportunities that help their peers unlock their creative potential and develop the design-centered mindset required to take on complex challenges in today's world. Students of all majors and academic levels – from first-years to PhDs – who want to shape the future of education are encouraged to apply. (https://dschool.stanford.edu/university-innovation/university-innovation-fellows)
Ashley McDonald is the Interim Vice President of Sustainability at National Pork Board. Ashley's passion for agriculture, farming, and STEM started at a very young age and she specializes in sustainability and policy.Ashley has a Bachelor's Degree in Agricultural Economics and a Doctor of Law (JD) from George Mason University.Episode NotesAshley shares the close relationship between agriculture and STEM fields. She specializes in sustainability in the pork industry and she talks about the many facets of sustainability - including...the importance of poop! Science, technology, and engineering all play critical roles in agriculture which Ashley explains. She also shares how she got interested in the industry and how she comes from a background of both agriculture and engineering influences in her life. And she debunks some common myths such as the reduction of family farming in the US and how gender diverse farming truly is.Music used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound StudioAcronyms, Definitions, and Fact CheckCapturing Cow Farts and Burps - Using silly science, Erin engages young children in science and energy. (https://www.amazon.com/Capturing-Farts-Burps-Erin-Twamley/dp/1647648572)Most farms are still family owned in the US. (https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2020/01/23/look-americas-family-farms)
Lois Melbourne is the co-author of the newly released science-fiction novel, "Moral Code", a book about ethical artificial intelligence. Lois has also written two children's books and is the former co-founder and CEO of Acquire, a global technology company which provides talent management solutions.Lois now calls herself the Chief Storytelling Officer - a great title! She has a Bachelor's Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.Episode NotesLois Melbourne's book, "Moral Code" is a book about the power of artificial intelligence and and an AI who's mission is to defend against child abuse and trafficking. The book features strong female STEM characters and is a wonderfully written, thought provoking science fiction novel. Lois shares how she got started writing fiction and her enjoyment that comes from this new career for her.Lois spent nearly 20 years as the CEO of Acquire, a company she co-founded with her husband. They also co-authored "Moral Code" and work well together! Lois shares her career journey and how she navigated the technology space as a young, female CEO a couple decades ago and the challenges and opportunities it brought her.Music used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound StudioAcronyms, Definitions, and Fact CheckMoral Code - Dr. Keira Stetson has two passions: ethical artificial intelligence—AI with a conscience—and creating technology that improves children's lives. Trapped in an earthquake-flattened building with a half-dozen panicked five-year-olds, she fears the worst. When billionaire Roy Brandt leverages his mysterious nanite technology to rescue them, she's both grateful and intrigued. Impressed by his prototype technology but alarmed at its potential for exploitation, Keira merges her company with Brandt's. The merger gives Keira access to much-needed funds for the development of her own tech, and access to Brandt's powerful minuscule robots. In turn, she and her AI assistant, Elly, embed Keira's trademark Moral Operating System in Brandt's nanite SmartDust to rein in its power. But Brandt's technology has been kept secret for a reason. Though he's adamant about using the Dust to improve life, not destroy it, corporate raiders and the military have other ideas. They want to weaponize Brandt's nanites. Suddenly, everything Keira has worked for is in jeopardy. Exposed to the worst humanity has to offer, she and Elly must fight to use this newfound tech for good and keep it out of the wrong hands…before it's too late. (https://www.amazon.com/Moral-Code-Lois-Melbourne-ebook/dp/B0B44H9FH7/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=moral+code&qid=1668562601&sr=8-1)Moral Code Available Nowhttps://www.amazon.com/product/dp/0997679204Proceeds of Moral Code go to the following organizations: www.preventchildabuse.org and www.thorn.org. The STEM Club Goes Exploring (My Future Story) https://www.amazon.com/STEM-Club-Exploring-Future-Story/dp/1626343039/ref=sr_1_2?crid=33SYV7698AOT0&keywords=lois+melbourne&qid=1668562707&sprefix=lois+melbourne%2Caps%2C137&sr=8-2)Kids Go To Work Day (My Future Story) (https://www.amazon.com/Kids-Work-Day-Future-Story/dp/1626343861/ref=sr_1_3?crid=33SYV7698AOT0&keywords=lois+melbourne&qid=1668562707&sprefix=lois+melbourne%2Caps%2C137&sr=8-3)A nanite is a microscopic robotic device, and a form of nanotechnology that was built by manipulating atoms. Nanites were small eno
Patty Mechael is a leader in digital transformation of global health in low-and middle-income countries. She is the Co-founder and Policy Lead of HealthEnabled. She has held numerous executive and leadership positions, traveled to over 40 countries, and spent more than 20 years improving public health throughout the world. She has served as Executive Director of the mHealth Alliance at the UN Foundation and Executive Vice President of the Personal Connected Health Alliance at HIMSS as well as Visiting Professor at Princeton University and Adjunct Professor at the Columbia School of International and Public Affairs and Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.Patty takes this deep knowledge of public health and combines it with a passion for writing fiction. She recently released a middle-school novel "The Antidotes: The Pollution Solution" a book she wrote with input from her middle-school aged son during the pandemic. Patty has a PhD in Public Health and Policy from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She has a Master of Health Science, International Public Health/International Health from Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health and a BA in Near Easter Studies from The Johns Hopkins University.Episode NotesPatty's newly released book “The Antidotes: The Pollution Solution” brings together two of her greatest passions – writing fiction and global health. Patty shares how she became interested in writing fiction, how she actually began the writing process, her inspirations, and provides some guidance that may be helpful for other scientists who are interested in writing. She shares her extensive experience in global health in over 40 countries and more than 25 years in the field. We talk a bit about the pandemic and she provides her viewpoints of what went well, what could be improved upon and our joint hope for our future in the youth of the world.To learn more about Patty and to join the The Antidotes Community visit: www.patriciamechael.com/antidotes Music used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound StudioAcronyms, Definitions, and Fact CheckBellagio Fellowship - The Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center Residency Program is a project-based residency that offers academics, artists, policymakers, and practitioners a serene setting for focused, goal-oriented work, and the unparalleled opportunity to establish new connections with residents from a wide array of backgrounds, disciplines, and geographies. (https://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/bellagio-center/residency-program/)Rūta Šepetys; born November 19, 1967) is a Lithuanian-American writer of historical fiction. As an author, she is a #1 New York Times and international bestseller and winner of the Carnegie Medal. She is a Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Fellow and the first American writer of young adult literature to speak at the European Parliament and NATO. (Wikipedia)The history of plastic pollution in the ocean is extensive because of plastic's long life. The material never truly goes away — it merely breaks apart into microplastics that marine animals ingest and absorb. Three species of fish in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean have been found to have polyethylene and polyester microplastics in their bodies. (https://www.4ocean.com/blogs/blog/a-brief-history-of-the-plastic-crisis)Dr. LaQuandra S. Nesbitt is a board-certified family physician with over a decade of experience leading population health initiatives in governmental public health agencies. Dr. Nesbitt currently serves as the Director of the District of Columbia Department of Health in Washington, DC, a position she has held since January 2015. (https://dchealth.dc.gov/b
Erin Twamley is an award-winning children's book author, educator and lifetime Girl Scout. Erin's current children's book series, Everyday Superheroes, provides female role models in different STEM, energy, and engineering careers. Erin's background in psychology, education, and energy provide the foundation from which Erin creates this book series featuring real women in real careers in a format designed for children and educators.Erin has a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and a Master's Degree in Education. Erin spent four years working as an education specialist at the Department of Energy and recently was named a Clean Energy Champion for her storytelling and literacy efforts.Episode NotesErin talks about her newly released book "Everyday Superheroes: Women in Energy Careers", a multicultural children's book featuring real women working in energy careers around the world. She shares how she got into writing children's books about women in STEM from her background in psychology and education. We talk about the importance of women and girls in STEM in media.Erin has a deep passion and knowledge of the energy industry and for story telling. Her books are geared towards educators and parents in addition to children. The illustrations are remarkable. She writes in bite size chunks to make it easy to read a new story and person & career daily. I'm excited to share these books with my nieces and nephews for Christmas this year!Erin also shares her experiences traveling to and living overseas since leaving her hometown of Brainerd, Minnesota - which happens to be where I live now. I even got to meet Erin (and her STEM mom) this summer. Music used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound StudioAcronyms, Definitions, and Fact CheckEveryday Superheroes: Women in STEM Careers This children's book features women STEM superheroes from a variety of careers from A to Z. It introduces six STEM super powers. (https://bookshop.org/books/everyday-superheroes-women-in-stem-careers/9781634891981)Everyday Superheroes: Women in Energy Careers This book features thirty-four real-life energy superheroes who install solar panels, dig wells miles into the ground, connect power lines, and drive us into the future with battery-powered cars. (https://bookshop.org/p/books/everyday-superheroes-women-in-energy-careers-erin-twamley/18361212?ean=9781634894340)Capturing Cow Farts and Burps - Using silly science, Erin engages young children in science and energy. (https://www.amazon.com/Capturing-Farts-Burps-Erin-Twamley/dp/1647648572)Climate Change: The Science Behind Melting Glaciers and Warming Oceans with Hands-On Science Activities(Nomad Press, 2020)Renewable Energy: Discover the Fuel of the Future (Nomad Press, 2016)
Dr. Emilia Molimpakis is the co-founder and CEO of thymia, a company that uses video games based on Neuropsychology along with analysis of speech and facial micro expressions to quickly, accurately, and objectively diagnosis mental health issues, including depression. In 2020/2021 she won the Young Innovators Award.Emilia has a PhD in Neuroscience and Linguistics, a Master's Degree in Language Sciences with specialisation in Linguistics with Neuroscience. Episode NotesEmilia shares how she came to start thymia and how her work in neuroscience and linguistics came together in a very personal way when a friend of hers attempted suicide. The gap in the ability for clinicians to objectively analyze depression and warning signs led Emilia to use her skillset and time spent consulting in a scientific area of gaming to start thymia.Emilia shares her experience taking her idea, finding a co-founder to work with, starting thymia, securing venture capital and the challenges, hurdles, and successes she faced along the way. We talk quite a bit about the world of venture capital (VC) and how toxic and challenging it is for female founders. Emilia talks about the Entrepreneur First and how she met her co-founder there and they're experience working together after they found their "match" - yep, it's a bit like blind dating.Music used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound StudioAcronyms, Definitions, and Fact Checkthymia - We use video games based on Neuropsychology together with analyses of facial microexpressions & speech patterns to make mental health assessments faster, more accurate and objective. (https://thymia.ai)Suicide Rates - United States - 16.1 per 100k; United Kingdom - 7.9 per 100k (https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/suicide-rate-by-countryEntrepreneur First - Entrepreneur First isn't an accelerator. We don't invest in pre-existing companies or teams. We select individuals we recognise to have huge founder potential, from all walks of life, and bring them together to find their co-founders. We allow them to find co-founders they wouldn't normally meet, but that make the best partner for them. Every one of our founders is hand-chosen for their skills, behaviour and potential, and committed to building company now. We create the ideal environment for you to trial partnerships, and test ideas at a rapid pace. We'll cover your living costs while you do it. We'll give you access to a global network of founders, advisors and investors. If we believe the company you build has the potential to succeed at scale, we'll invest. It's intense, it's challenging, it'll be the fastest you ever build in your life. But our most successful founders create $1M a week in value – so if you succeed, it's worth it. (https://www.joinef.com)Hicksposum ParticleA quantitative analyst or “quant” is a specialist who applies mathematical and statistical methods to financial and risk management problems. (https://www.topuniversities.com/student-info/careers-advice/4-reasons-why-you-should-become-quantitative-analyst)If you think that men make better leaders, not only do we disagree, but we have the data to back it up! The 32 companies that have women as CEOs have significantly outperformed the companies run by men. Over the past 10 years, the difference in returns is 384% from female-led companies vs. 261% from male-led companies. A few notable companies with women CEOs are GM, UPS, Citigroup, and CVS. (https://www.personalfinanceclub.com/are-female-ceos-better-than-male-ceos/)Venture Capital (VC) - a form of private equity financing that is provided by venture capital firms or funds to startups, early-stage, and emerging companies that have been deemed to have high growth potential or which have demonstrated high growth. (Wikipedia)
Kimberly Moore is the founder and CEO of KDM Engineering, a consulting firm specializing in utilities and telecommunications. She is the founder and president of Calculated Genius, an organization dedicated to helping underrepresented youth explore and connect to STEM in an effort to inspire and support a brighter future. Kimberly serves on several boards of directors and has won several awards including 2021 Society of Women Engineers Entrepreneur Award, 2018 Engineering News Record (ENR) 20 Under 40 National Award, 2019 Chicagoland ATHENA Emerging Leader Award, and many more.Kimberly has a Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, a Master's Degree in Engineering and recently started working on a PhD in Electrical Engineering.Episode NotesKimberly shares her experiences as an engineer and how she founded KDM Engineering, which she founded 14 years ago. She shares how she became interested in engineering as it wasn't a career she knew anything about when she was growing up. She shares how running KDM led her to start Calculated Genius. And she talks about her latest endeavor starting a restaurant - which is also related to KDM. She shares her goals and aspirations of where she wants to go personally and with KDM.Kimberly also talks about the challenge of being the "only" in her engineering classes and jobs and the importance of finding community. She also talks about the business of her life and how she manages the many aspects of her life (she has added hours to her day ;-)).Music used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound StudioKDM Engineering is a WBE/MBE professional engineering firm focusing on power distribution design, gas distribution and telecommunications design. Headquartered in Chicago, the firm also has branch offices on the east coast. (https://kdmengineering.com)Calculated Genius is dedicated to helping underrepresented youth explore and connect to STEM in order to inspire and support a brighter future. The organization was founded by Chicago engineer and entrepreneur, Kimberly Moore, to bridge the gap between education and application. (https://www.calculatedgenius.org)1308 Chicago - A SpeakEatery located in the new Salt District touting a dining experience with a fresh twist on new American cuisine. With an ownership team made up of local entrepreneurs from backgrounds of all types, 1308 is a melting pot of ideas and experiences. (https://www.1308chicago.com)Boards of Directors is the correct plural.A PhD in electrical engineering general takes 5 to 7 years to complete. (https://www.allengineeringschools.com/engineering-careers/article/phd-engineering/)Located on the campus of UNC Charlotte, the Energy Production and Infrastructure Center (EPIC) was formed through private and public funding in response to the need to supply well-educated and highly trained engineers qualified to meet the demands of the energy industry, and to provide sustainable support for applied research. (https://epic.charlotte.edu)For more than seven decades, Society of Women Engineers (SWE) has given women engineers a unique place and voice within the engineering industry. Our organization is centered around a passion for our members' success and continues to evolve with the challenges and opportunities reflected in today's exciting engineering and technology specialties. (www.swe.org)A growing number of men are undergoing a radical and expensive surgery to grow anywhere from three to six inches. The catch: It requires having both your femurs broken. GQ goes inside the booming world of leg lengthening. (https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/lifestyle/article/leg-lengthening-surgery-men)
Adriana Talianová is a 16 year old student in Slovakia. She recently completed an internship at NASA and is also working as a research assistant at Northwestern University.Episode NotesAdriana talks about her experience working at NASA SEES (Stem Enhancement in Earth Sciences) and as a Research Assistant at Northwestern University at such a young age. She talks about the importance of just going for it - applying for jobs, etc. even if you don't think you will be hired or accepted.She shares her experience taking hard math and science classes and being the only girl in some of those classes. She talks about her interest in space and what got her interested in space. She shares how biographies of women in STEM peaked her interest and let to her taking more math and science classes and being interested in STEM.Music used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound StudioAcronyms, Definitions, and Fact CheckNASA Earth Science NASA's Earth Science Division uses unique global observations from space, air, sea and on land. This data enables informed decision-making for agriculture, water and food security, urban planning, disaster preparedness and response, transportation, climate and weather, and myriad other things that benefit life on Earth. (https://science.nasa.gov/earth-science)23% of engineers in US are women. 27% of people working in STEM fields in US are women. (https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2021/01/women-making-gains-in-stem-occupations-but-still-underrepresented.html)Approximately 19% of STEM University graduates in Slovakia are women (https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Share-of-university-graduates-in-STEM-related-subjects_fig1_280298391)In the US, Physics classes are generally taught/taken in 11th grade (https://www.time4learning.com/homeschool-curriculum/high-school-physics.html)
Madison Sidebottom is a Civil Engineer currently working towards her Professional Surveyor License. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering from Western Kentucky University.Episode NotesMadison shares her experiences as a new civil engineer - her challenges starting out as one of the only women in her department in her company. How an internship helped her not only figure out what she wanted to do as a civil engineer, but also was such a positive job experience, that it helped when she encountered a more challenging job situation after graduation.Madison shares how she got interested in civil engineering (cows - who knew cows had anything to do with civil engineering??) and what her future career plans are (running the world - I have no doubt that she can!). Madison is from central Kentucky and grew up in an area with few engineering or STEM influences. We also talk about the importance of women in STEM in media.Music used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound StudioAcronyms, Definitions, and Fact CheckA Professional Surveyor is an accredited professional who conducts land surveys to measure and define real property and its boundaries. The professional may denote their certification as Professional Surveyor (P.S.), Licensed Surveyor (L.S.), Professional Land Surveyor (P.L.S.), Registered Land Surveyor (R.L.S.), Registered Professional Land Surveyor (R.P.L.S.), or Professional Surveyor and Mapper (P.S.M.). In the U.S., the most common designation is P.S., while in Canada they are referred to as Canada Land Surveyor (C.L.S.). Licensed Surveyors may work as a sole proprietor or contract surveyor, or may be employed by a Land survey company. Land surveying companies often take the form of a survey coordination firm, where a large network of professional surveyors are contracted by a smaller group of staff professional surveyors. The staff surveyors serve as the single point of contact with the client, coordinate with the contract surveyor to conduct the land survey, and then review the land survey or “plat” for the client's specifications and quality assurance/quality control. Licensed Surveyors are considered distinct from professional engineers; however, the fields are often closely related, particularly in civil engineering. (https://www.partneresi.com/resources/glossary/professional-land-surveyor)New dinosaur tracks have been uncovered in Texas due to a severe drought that dried up a river. The new tracks, found at Dinosaur Valley State Park, had been buried under layers of sediment. The park is located southwest of Dallas. Many parts of Texas have experienced severe drought this summer. The park, where visitors can observe dinosaur tracks and other wildlife and camp has been under a "burn ban effect" – meaning no fires allowed, due to the drought. The tracks at the park date back 113 million years and the majority of them belong to two species: A theropod called Acrocanthosaurus and a sauropod called Sauroposeidon, Garcia said. An Acrocanthosaurus would stand about 15 feet tall as an adult and weight close to seven tons. Sauroposeidon would be about 60 feet tall and weigh about 44 tons as an adult. (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-dinosaur-tracks-uncovered-drought-dried-up-river-texas-dinosaur-valley-state-park/)
Dr. Monique Chism is the Undersecretary for Education at the Smithsonian Institution. Dr. Chism is repsonsible for coordinating educational programming throughout all of the Smithsonian facilities. She has spent her life working in education including the Department of Education. She is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all facets of work and life. Dr. Chism has a PhD in American Studies.Episode NotesDr. Monique Chism shares the fascinating history of the Smithsonian Institute and why she considers it to be one of the most accessible and relevant museums in the country. She talks about her role as the Undersecretary of Education at the Museum - what she does, the programming she is involved in, some of the fascinating people she gets to meet (she had just Mae Jemison the night before our interview). We talk about the intersection of art an science (which is at the core of the Smithsonian's history) and the importance of both.The Smithsonian Institution is made up of 60 museums - not all of them are located in the Washington DC area. It is the largest museum complex in the world. Dr. Chism explains about the educational programming the Smithsonian has (and there is a lot - almost all free!!) and their goal of bringing the Smithsonian to every American. There's so much great work and programming going on at the Smithsonian, both on site and virtually! (So, here's a side note...I love the Smithsonian - I try to visit at least one museum everytime I'm in DC. I thought I knew a lot about it, but I have apparently just scratched the surface. I learned so much about the museum and the institute both by meeting Dr. Chism in person at the Smithsonian Castle where she works - I rarely have gotten to meet my guests in person and through our conversation)Music used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound StudioAcronyms, Definitions, and Fact CheckSmithsonian Museums, Galleries, and ZooSmithsonian Institution Research CentersIF/Then CollectionMae Carol Jemison is an American engineer, physician, and former NASA astronaut. She became the first black woman to travel into space when she served as a mission specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour. (Wikipedia)The space shuttle Discovery is the centerpiece of the James S. McDonnell Space Hangar at the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Va.“The Smithsonian Institution”―When most people hear the name, museums, scientific research, even Dorothy's ruby slippers and the Wright brothers' plane come to mind. But many don't know how, or for that matter, who created the Smithsonian. The Institution is now 169 years old, but its true beginning happened 250 years ago with the birth of a seemingly ill-fated boy named James Smithson. Smithson (c. 1765–1829), the founding donor of the Smithsonian, was an English chemist and mineralogist. He was the illegitimate son of Hugh Smithson, the first Duke of Northumberland, and the wealthy widow Elizabeth Hungerford Keate Macie. His exact birthday remains a mystery because he was born secretly in Paris, where his mother had gone to hide her pregnancy. He was born James Lewis Macie, but in 1801, after his parents died, he took his father's last name of Smithson. Toward the end of his life, under a clause in his will, he left his fortune to the United States. It was to be used to found “an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge…” in Washington, D.C. and it was to be named the Smithsonian Institution.
Jodi Boone is a Product Manager 2 for Microsoft's Azure platform, a cloud computing platform for application management via Microsoft-managed data centers. Jodi graduated graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science in 2020. Erin Chapple is a product and technology executive who delivers multibillion-dollar revenues through innovation, product leadership and technology acumen. She leads Microsoft Azure Core product and design. Erin has a Bachelor of Applied Science in Electrical Engineering with a minor in Environmental Engineering and a Master's Degree in Applied Behavioral Science - Coaching and Consulting in Organizations.Episode NotesJodi and Erin share their experience as a mentor and mentee. They talk about their experience from their different perspectives. Erin as an experienced executive who has been in the industry for many years and Jodi as an entry level computer science graduate. Jodi and Erin connected at a SheHacks hackathon which was the beginning of a series of conversations and eventually developed into a mentoring relationships.We talk about the benefits of mentoring, not just for the mentee but also for the mentor and how a mentorship resembles dating...a thread that weaves itself throughout our conversation. Erin and Jodi's mentoring relationship was built over time and has been instrumental in guiding Jodi as she started her career and pivoted to a new focus shortly after entering the job market.We also talk about the importance of networking and the difference between sponsorships and mentorships.Music used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound StudioAcronyms, Definitions, and Fact CheckSheHacks+ is Canada's biggest all-female and non-binary 36 hour hackathon, which aims to help individuals who are subject to gender discrimination realize they belong in tech. (https://shehacks.ca)SCRUM - a framework for project management, with an initial emphasis on software development, although it has been used in other fields including research, sales, marketing and advanced technologies. It is designed for teams of ten or fewer members, who break their work into goals that can be completed within time-boxed iterations, called sprints, no longer than one month and most commonly two weeks. (wikipedia)Microsoft Azure - The Azure cloud platform is more than 200 products and cloud services designed to help you bring new solutions to life—to solve today's challenges and create the future. Build, run, and manage applications across multiple clouds, on-premises, and at the edge, with the tools and frameworks of your choice. (https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/resources/cloud-computing-dictionary/what-is-azure/)
Cindy Lawrence is the Executive Director and CEO of the Museum of Mathematics. The Museum of Mathematics began in 2008 with the mission of enhancing public understanding and perception of mathematics. Its dynamic exhibits and programs stimulate inquiry, spark curiosity, and reveal the wonders of mathematics.Episode NotesCindy shares her joy of mathematics and the Museum of Mathematics (MoMath) and the importance of making mathematics accessible, joyful, and beautiful for all that visit MoMath. She shares how her perspective as a non-mathematician was very important during the museum's creation as exhibits were being developed to ensure the museum was a place where all people would feel welcomed and that all people could understand the exhibits. She shares how the museum came together (initially it was a traveling exhibit), how she got involved, and the process of fundraising to bring the museum to fruition.MoMath is an amazing place that is immersive, interactive, and beautiful. It is well worth the visit when you're in NYC!Music used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound StudioAcronyms, Definitions, and Fact CheckMoMath is located at 11 East 26th Street in Manhattan and is open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, seven days a week, 364 days a year (MoMath is closed on Thanksgiving Day and after 2:30 pm on one Wednesday every month for Math Encounters*). Information can be found at https://momath.org.Stan Wagon invented the square wheel tricycle and is from Minnesota. He is a Canadian-American mathematician, a professor of mathematics at Macalester College in Minnesota. He is the author of multiple books on number theory, geometry, and computational mathematics, and is also known for his snow sculpture. (wikipedia)Erik D. Demaine (born 28 February 1981) is a professor of Computer Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a former child prodigy. (wikipedia)Jennifer Chase (data scientist) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennchase/A study of 104 children from ages 3 to 10 found similar patterns of brain activity in boys and girls as they engaged in basic math tasks, researchers reported Friday in the journal Science of Learning."They are indistinguishable," says Jessica Cantlon, an author of the study and professor of developmental neuroscience at Carnegie Mellon University. (https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/11/08/777187543/math-looks-the-same-in-the-brains-of-boys-and-girls-study-finds)Eileen Marie Collins (born November 19, 1956) is a retired NASA astronaut and United States Air Force (USAF) colonel. A former flight instructor and test pilot, Collins was the first woman to pilot the Space Shuttle and the first to command a Space Shuttle mission. (wikipedia)
Lisa Bowers is a mission-driven, visionary, senior executive in the biopharmaceutical industry. She has extensive experience leading strategic, operational, field, program and product initiatives in healthcare. She is passionate about improving access to healthcare and healthcare products for underserved populations in businesses and nonprofits. Lisa has an Master of Health Services Administration and a bachelor's degree in English.Episode NotesWith the overturning of Roe v. Wade on June 24, 2022 women's rights were grievously attacked. Lisa brings a long history of working in biotech and reproductive health. Lisa shares her perspectives on what the overturning of Roe means to women and their reproductive health. She brings an optimistic viewpoint to the discussion and shares how this may be a catalyst for much needed change to contraception and women's health care.While a lot of the discussion focuses on reproductive health, we also talk about the work she currently does at Day One Biopharmaceuticals where she focuses on bringing cancer treatments to children with brain cancer. Typically, most biotech companies study their medicines in adults first and then move to children later, but Day One begins their drug development programs in children first. We also talk about the important role of humanities and communications in STEM. Music used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound StudioAcronyms, Definitions, and Fact CheckDay One BioPharmaceuticals - https://www.dayonebio.comPediatric low-grade gliomas are a heterogeneous set of tumors. They encompass tumors of astrocytic, oligodendroglial, and mixed glial-neuronal histology. Although their clinical behavior can vary, the majority of low-grade gliomas are indolent and do not undergo malignant transformation. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2917804/)Shelley Alpern, Director of Corporate Engagement at Rhia Ventures1 in 8 pregnancies end in miscarriage. 1 in 5 pregnancies end in abortion."Reproductive Justice" by Loretta Ross - https://www.amazon.com/Reproductive-Justice-Introduction-Vision-Century/dp/0520288203Rhia Ventures - https://rhiaventures.orgSisterSong - SisterSong is a Southern based, national membership organization; our purpose is to build an effective network of individuals and organizations to improve institutional policies and systems that impact the reproductive lives of marginalized communities. (https://www.sistersong.net)Planned Parenthood Mar Monte - Planned Parenthood Mar Monte (PPMM) is the largest Planned Parenthood affiliate in the U.S., providing medical and education services to more than 220,000 people annually at over 30 health center locations in mid-California and northern Nevada. (https://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-mar-monte)National Network of Abortion Funds - The National Network of Abortion Funds builds power with members to remove financial and logistical barriers to abortion access by centering people who have abortions and organizing at the intersections of racial, economic, and reproductive justice. (https://abortionfunds.org)Additional podcast notes can be found at https://ordinarily-extraordinary.com/episode-86-lisa-bowers/
Cynthia Changyit Levin is the author of the newly released book "From Changing Diapers to Changing the World: Why Mom's Make Great Advocates and How to Get Started". Cynthia has been active in the advocacy world since her children were very small. She advocates on a number of bi-partisan issues, but her main focus is global health. Cynthia has bachelor's and master's degrees in Mechanical Engineering and shares how her STEM background helped her as she moved into her advocacy career.Episode NotesCynthia shares her journey into mechanical engineering and how she went from mechanical engineering into advocacy. She shares how when her children were born, she made the decision to leave the engineering world to care for them, intending to go back. However, as we all know, life sometimes sends us on a different path - Cynthia's path was into global health advocacy - sometimes with her young children in tow. Cynthia's recently published book shares some of the stories of meeting with legislators with her children and some of the hilarity and humanity that ensued and provided for some great connections.Cynthia and I went to school together, from grammar school to high school. We share many of the same math teacher influences that helped get us into engineering. We talk about a lot on this podcast...global health, politics, the importance of using our voices, electricity, and so much more - not to mention her book - from what's in it to different ways books can get published.Music used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound StudioAcronyms, Definitions, and Fact CheckCynthia's website: https://www.changyit.comCynthia's book "From Changing Diapers to Changing the World": https://www.changyit.com/booksSpectrum (Radio Frequency (RF Spectrum)) - Electromagnetic waves in this frequency range, called radio waves, are widely used in modern technology, particularly in telecommunication. (wikipedia)Turberculosis - an infectious disease usually caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body. Most infections show no symptoms, in which case it is known as latent tuberculosis. Around 10% of latent infections progress to active disease which, if left untreated, kill about half of those affected. Typical symptoms of active TB are chronic cough with blood-containing mucus, fever, night sweats, and weight loss. It was historically referred to as consumption due to the weight loss associated with the disease. Infection of other organs can cause a wide range of symptoms. (Wikipedia)
Danica Bunnett is the Chief Operating Officer of Bluon, a mobile app and technology platform that supports the HVAC technician community. Danica shares her passion for supporting a community that hasn't traditionally received a lot of support and for making their lives easier and better. She has a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Product Design (Mechanical Engineering) from Stanford University where she was the president of Stanford Women in Design. She is an outdoor enthusiast and gets her energy from the outdoors and the sun (she says she's “solar powered”!)Episode NotesDanica's love for taking things apart, understanding how they work and spending time learning about the world through opportunities provided by her parents when she was growing up formed her love for design and engineering. She shares about the fun opportunities she had in her family as a child (she may not have necessarily thought of them as fun at the time), what got her interested in Product Design in Mechanical Engineering and how that differs from “strict” Mechanical Engineering and how she came to Bluon and then into leadership within Bluon. She talks about the importance of being able to have honest, authentic communications with the CEO she works with and how that sets the stage for them to have true trust within the organization.Music used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound StudioAcronyms, Definitions, and Fact CheckHVAC (Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) is the use of various technologies to control the temperature, humidity, and purity of the air in an enclosed space. Its goal is to provide thermal comfort and acceptable indoor air quality. (Wikipedia)Bluon is a mobile app and support platform utilized by 100k HVAC-R technicians or one third of the U.S. market.Bluon is set to revolutionize the way in which technicians connect to their local distributors, resulting inempowered technicians, informed distributors and a more productive HVAC industry. (LinkedIn)Stanford Women in Design (SWID) was formed due to a gap in current mentorship opportunities at Stanford, and to address the challenges facing womxn in design. We aim to empower womxn through inspiring and catalyzing skill-development, career-mapping, and learning through the self-pursuit of innovative new projects, beyond the classroom experience. (https://stanfordwomenindesign.com)
Dr. Prineha Narang is an Assistant Professor at the John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Harvard University. She leads an interdisciplinary group at Harvard SEAS at the intersection of computational science, phenomena away from equilibrium, and quantum dynamics in matter. She has won numerous awards, fellowships, and grants including Forbes "30 Under 30". She has a PhD and Master's Degree in Applied Physics from California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and did her post-doctoral work at MIT. Episode NotesDr. Pri Narang shares her experiences as an Assistant Professor at Harvard University, a researcher, and a CTO in the field of Quantum Physics and Quantum Theory. She also shares what that is...and how she got interested in it and her journey from having an interest in Physics - she says she's always been a physicist, even at a young age - to how she started the Narang Lab. She shares what a day in her life is like, how she manages to juggle the many demands of her professional career and run marathons and Ironman Triathlons - she's an absolute rockstar. She also talks about having imposter syndrome and how finding a place that was welcoming led her down her career path.Dr. Narang will join UCLA's faculty in the College of Physical Sciences as the Howard Reiss Chair on July 1st. This information came out after our podcast recording. Information on her transition can be found here. https://www.chemistry.ucla.edu/news/faculty-news-4Music used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound StudioAcronyms, Definitions, and Fact CheckQuantum theory describes the behavior of things — particles or energy — on the smallest scale. In addition to wavicles, it predicts that a particle may be found in many places at the same time. (https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/quantum-world-mind-bogglingly-weird)Quantum mechanics is a fundamental theory in physics that provides a description of the physical properties of nature at the scale of atoms and subatomic particles. It is the foundation of all quantum physics including quantum chemistry, quantum field theory, quantum technology, and quantum information science. Classical physics, the collection of theories that existed before the advent of quantum mechanics, describes many aspects of nature at an ordinary (macroscopic) scale, but is not sufficient for describing them at small (atomic and subatomic) scales. (Wikipedia)Quantum entanglement is the physical phenomenon that occurs when a group of particles are generated, interact, or share spatial proximity in a way such that the quantum state of each particle of the group cannot be described independently of the state of the others, including when the particles are separated by a large distance. The topic of quantum entanglement is at the heart of the disparity between classical and quantum physics: entanglement is a primary feature of quantum mechanics lacking in classical mechanics. (Wikipedia)A dilution refrigerator is a cryogenic device first proposed by Heinz London. Its refrigeration process uses amixture of two isotopes of helium: helium-3 and helium-4. When cooled below approximately 870 millikelvin, themixture undergoes spontaneous phase separation to form a 3He-rich phase and a 3He-poor phase. As with evaporative cooling, energy is required to transport 3He atoms from the 3He-rich phase into the 3He-poorphase. If the atoms can be made to continuously cross this boundary, they effectively cool the mixture. Becausethe 3He-poor phase cannot have less than 6% helium-3 at equilibrium, even at absolute zero, dilution refrigerationcan be effective at very low temperatures. The volume in which this takes place is known as the mixing chamber. (https://en-academic.com/dic.nsf/enwiki/249751)
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