Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) has long been a bastion of innovation and progress. Yet, despite the leaps and bounds made in advancing gender diversity – where women have now been elevated to the helm of key areas – it still remains disproportionately dominated by men.
Thankfully, women are proving every single day that that is all about to change.
STEM Her-story
Once, STEM education was boxed in traditional classrooms and physical laboratories, often leaving those in rural areas or marginalized backgrounds with limited resources and collaboration opportunities. Decorated STEM trailblazers like Ada Lovelace (credited with writing the first computer algorithm) and Katherine Johnson (whose calculations powered NASA’s space missions) proved that women are just as capable as men.
Still, many women experienced microaggressions, stereotypes, and outright dismissal.
For instance, in 2012, Silicon Valley was exposed for its persistent discrimination against women with the high-profile case of an ex-junior investing partner (who would later become the former CEO of Reddit), Ellen Pao, who filed a lawsuit alleging gender discrimination against her employer, Kleiner Perkins. Although she lost her case in 2015, it led to a critical assessment of gender diversity and inclusivity in the tech industry.
Years after, Google found itself under fire when the U.S. Department of Labor incited the company’s substation gender pay gap between women and their male counterparts, violating federal law. Then months later, it was yet again thrust into the spotlight after the “Ideological Echo Chamber” memo, written by then-Google software engineer James Damore, rapidly gained traction for perpetuating outdated stereotypes, even going as far as to reason that biological differences account for the lack of women in tech, alongside claims of inherent neurotic nature and less capability in handling stress compared to men.
Today, women are in key positions: Nasdaq’s Adena T. Friedman, Oracle CEO Safra A. Catz, and X CEO Linda Yaccarino. In the Philippines, there is For The Woman (FTW) co-founder and executive director Cara Wilson, and Angkas co-founder Angeline Tham, just to name a few.
Such representation matters, not only in demonstrating what is possible but also in providing opportunities and resources that inspire a more inclusive next generation and ecosystem.
Just take a look at our inspiration:
- Angeline Tham – Perhaps you have found yourself zipping through the busy streets of Manila on an Angkas for its capability to provide a safe and affordable means of daily travel. Well, if that is the case, then you have CEO and Founder, Angeline Tham, to thank!
Why she is inspiring: Although she is now recognized for her unrelenting dedication to solving real-world issues and bettering the lives of millions, her journey was not always smooth sailing. In fact, in order for Angkas to happen, she had to take a bold plunge and leave her banking job, which was then initially met with a cold shoulder from her father for six solid months! But did that stop her? Definitely not! If anything, she is living proof that if you believe in something, you have got to bet on yourself and go after it!
- Melanie Perkins – Ever used Canva for your marketing needs and thought, how easy it was? Well, that would be CEO Melanie’s genius at work: to make creating accessible, so anyone can dive right in and whip up designs, regardless of experience!
Why she is inspiring: After hitting her initial goals, she is now busy paying it forward by committing a chunk of their equity to support global crisis relief initiatives, like COVID support and the Australian bushfires. On top of that, they have set up a system to plant a tree for every Canva order. Today, they have successfully planted 7.3 million trees, with no plans of stopping! All in all, she shows us that with the right mindset, we can move forward with purpose and create a real positive change!
- Kc Ico – Filipino Influencer and Unilab Intern KC is known for her invaluable school tips and advice, with her most popular being to date being “Paano mag-review ng isang gabi lang?” (in English: “How to study in one night?”) that makes academic advice feel both accessible and relatable.
Why she is inspiring: She addresses common concerns that many students might shy away from while demystifying the learning process. And not just that! Her candid answers to user-sent questions like “being a slow learner” and so on help carve a supportive space for those experiencing challenges.
Why this matters to the NGP team
FROM THE NGP TEAM:
If you’ve worked with us, you’ll know that our core is an all-woman team. Our founder is a woman we look up to. Many people – our clients, the media, our consultants, and others along the way – who have made an impact on our organization are often women. So we don’t just think that women can make an impact. We know it. We live it.
We look up to these innovative women – these Filipinas – who have raised the banner in STEM, in Marketing and Advertising, and in many different industries that keep this country running.
We love your brand messages. We love the way you Connect Your Story. We’re captivated by your intelligence and strength in running your business and contributing to STEM and beyond.
All this to say, NGP-IMC is your ally in spreading the message of empowerment, whatever industry you’re from. Let’s use the power of good PR to make your message known.
Gayle is a copy editor and contributing writer for NGP-IMC, covering all the latest buzz around PR and digital marketing. Previously, she’s penned personality-packed ad copies, headlines, print journals, and articles for industry-leading brands and publishers such as foodpanda, Under Armour, Klook, and more! Additionally, she’s profiled Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz, developed scripts for South Korea’s SK-Zic and interviewed female riders to shed light on their experiences at the forefront of dismantling gendered expectations within the male-dominated delivery space.