Propelling the Careers of Women in STEM: How 1 Company Is Making This a Priority

Today, February 11^th, is The International Day of Women and Girls in Science, which recognizes that inclusion, equality and a diversity of thought are imperative for achieving advancements in science and technology. In fact, a few of the recorded benefits of having gender diverse teams are that:

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Organizations with women holding at least 30% of leadership roles are 1.4 times more likely to have sustained, profitable growth (Forbes).

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85% of women millennials value gender diversity when searching for a new job (PwC).

However, despite advancements in including women and girls in STEM-related fields, women and girls continue to be “excluded from participating fully in science,” says the United Nations. For instance, in Canada, women hold less than one in six board of directors seats, and only 5% of Canadian tech companies have a female CEO.

To address this worldwide gap, in 2013, the United Nations reports that “the General Assembly adopted a resolution on science, technology and innovation for development, in which it recognized that full and equal access to and participation in science, technology and innovation for women and girls of all ages is imperative for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.” And thus, The International Day of Women and Girls in Science came into being.

Across the world, individuals, companies and governmental organizations will be celebrating today with initiatives that help women pursue careers in STEM. One such company is Publicis Sapient, a digital consulting company that offers a wide range of activities that support women — today and throughout the year.

We’ll take a look at their efforts and how they are doing their part to help girls in STEM in this article.

Helping to propel the careers of women in STEM.

How can we increase the number of women in STEM? One way is to provide opportunities where women can discuss their experiences in this field and help one another succeed. 

With this in mind, Publicis Sapient hosts a “Women in Digital” event series, where industry professionals in the digital space and STEM students from local universities could share their career journeys. The event is led by Taylor Frey, Manager, Data Strategy, along with Publicis Sapient’s WLN (Women’s Leadership Network) BRG (business resource group.)

While the event focuses on women, Publicis Sapient encouraged anyone who was interested to attend. Attendees are able to:

• Hear from industry experts at Publicis Sapient as they discuss their experience in the digital industry, as well as the work the company does.

• Attend a career panel where industry professionals share their career journeys and answer attendee questions.

• Network with each other and Publicis Sapient employees to gain connections within the industry.

Having events where young girls are exposed to careers in STEM is imperative to fostering an interest in the industry. As Taylor explains, “there's this time, when children are young, when girls and boys are pushed in different directions; however, by showcasing strong women in different industries, girls can decide which direction they want to go in. As young women head to university and begin their careers, giving them exposure to senior women can help inspire the next generation to see themselves in those senior positions.”

This event is far from the only way Publicis Sapient supports women and girls in STEM! A few of the other events Taylor and the WLN team have organized or participated in are:

• Speaking in a panel during an International Women’s Day at the University of Waterloo.

• Hosting a STEM camp for children aged 7-12.

• Giving high school students an inside look into the digital industry.

• Volunteering for Technovation, a global tech education nonprofit that inspires girls to be leaders and problem solvers in their lives and their community.

On an international scale, Publicis Sapient’s Corporate Social Responsibility Team also provides global virtual volunteer opportunities for their team members. These include:

• A virtual volunteering opportunity for team members to record career stories in order to support young girls in pursuing STEM careers (in partnership with My Sister’s Keeper Success Institute).

• Providing a variety of educational opportunities for children, in partnership with organizations like RHMC, Oaktree, Show and Heal, My Sister’s Keeper Success Institute, 2020 Change, Boundless Brilliance and Lesson Check-In. A few examples of these are:

  • Sharing Martin Luther King Jr.'s contributions and vision through flashcards.

  • Recording audio books and stories for children, featuring black heroes, characters and authors.

  • Sharing career stories to inspire young people to become future leaders.

  • Designing activity books to raise awareness of racial equity among children.

  • Recording audio guidebooks to teach financial literacy to youth of color.

• Further, Publicis Sapient gives all employees one volunteer day per calendar year, which is paid time to volunteer with a nonprofit organization during normal work hours.

Are you celebrating The International Day of Women and Girls in Science? If so, tell us how in the comments below! And, if you’re interested in pursuing a STEM career at Publicis Sapient, check out the link below.

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