(331e) Not Having It All Figured out: Reflections on a Career in Science

For women in engineering and electrochemistry—fields that are still largely male-dominated—there’s often a not so subtle pressure to lead like others do, to speak louder than feels natural, or to act like the room expects. Many of us have also felt like we needed to have everything figured out from the beginning, and have assumed that the women we see who are successful were that confident from day one. This talk reflects on a career shaped not by a master plan but by openness to new challenges, support from mentors, and a willingness to move forward without having all the answers. I will relate some of my personal experiences and observations over my career in industry, ranging from environments that were not optimal for women to thrive in, to being part of an inclusive environment with strong and supportive mentors, male and female. While blatant discrimination has become less common, subtle biases can still impede women’s progress, and impact their own sense of self-worth. Typical examples include women speaking up in meetings and not being acknowledged, then having a male peer say the same thing and be rewarded, or supervisors always looking to a male employee for answers, even when his female peer is an expert. It can be easy to doubt yourself when this happens over and over, and question whether changing jobs will make any difference. As a result, studies show that a much higher percentage of women than men leave STEM fields entirely. However, being willing to take the risk and try again can pay huge dividends.