Colorado Women's Chamber of Commerce

As a mother to a young daughter, I make an effort to live the present and to not miss any milestones as she grows. Having already realized how time flies when I’m with her, I sometimes wonder what her future holds and what wise advice I can give to put in her toolbox so she can stand tall in front of different situations related to three complex categories: life, love and career.

I could write about the first two categories for days, but when it comes to career, my advice is rather simple:

Don’t count out STEM too soon. As a Reservoir Engineer for oil and natural gas, I’m aware of the low rates of girls choosing STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) career options. Should this career path interest my daughter, I want her to have the confidence to pursue it by sharing my own experience with her, the education to learn about what her options are in this dynamic field and making her aware that it is a fun path to go after.

Take advantage of internship opportunities. The knowledge gained in a classroom is not fully realized unless it is applied to real life situations. Internships are one of the best ways to test your skills and figure out what aspects of your career interest you the most. Take the opportunity seriously, soak up all the knowledge you can, get to know and learn from other interns and your superiors and ask for feedback on your performance; these are lessons you’ll have for years to come.

Not every job will be a dream job. It usually takes time to find that dream. Some jobs will offer more opportunities than others or some will be less challenging. Ultimately, these experiences will help you prepare and learn for the next amazing opportunity down the road. It is up to you to make these experiences a positive one.

Foster a positive working environment. Interaction with co-workers and managers can make a difference in our jobs. You can feel passionate about what you do but you will not fully experience your dream job until there is also a great working environment. Treating everybody with respect, understanding that there are different work styles and establishing a culture of open communication and honesty will help you master this.

Always practice your values. Always choose a job that goes in alignment with your personal values  that not only benefit you, but also gives back to your community in a greater way. I feel very fortunate to work for an employer and industry that cares about Colorado, and encourages employee giving and volunteering; it makes me extremely proud to do what I do.

Ultimately, I want what every parent wants: to see my child happy and to pick a career she enjoys and is passionate about. Whatever that is, it is up to her. I just hope to be there for her and proudly cheer her on from the sidelines.

Written by Patricia Cuba, Reservoir Engineer for Anadarko Petroleum Corporation.

As we celebrate National Engineers Week, it’s worth noting that engineers are the backbone of the undersized STEM workforce we hear so much about these days. So, when we talk about filling the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) talent pipeline, National Engineers Week is as good a time as any to address the need for a more diverse pipeline, particularly one that is inclusive of young women.

Young women are one of the most dynamic elements of any modern workforce. Fueled by energy and diverse perspectives, we bring a unique value to any team of problem solvers, which is what the engineering field is all about. That diversity of thought is really championed among my peers and it’s thrilling to be a part of an innovation process that is centered on such diversity. But, it hasn’t always been this exciting to be a woman in the field of engineering. Teams have not always been so welcoming historically and the numbers still paint an alarming picture nationally.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, although women make up 47 percent of the labor workforce, they are vastly under represented in science and engineering fields. Only 7 percent of mechanical engineers are women. Minorities are similarly under represented.

The good news is, the value of women in the STEM workforce has been proven and in recent years, engineering companies are actively fighting over us and welcoming our contributions. That’s not to say breaking into the field and cracking the proverbial glass ceiling is or has been easy. But, the struggle is finally paying dividends, and when we envision engineers today, a more diverse picture comes to mind that is more representative of our population.

More companies are moving to collaborative team environments to drive innovation forward, and it’s working. Further, this approach requires diversity. It’s no longer only about speeding to a solution; it’s about making the investment to find the right solution or even multi-solutions. In my six short years as a professional engineer, I can tell you that the progress that women are making in my field because of this change in business strategy is palpable.

While the way we approach engineering and the people we recruit has changed, there is still a shortage. Attracting a more equitable number of women and minorities to the engineering field will go a long way in addressing our STEM workforce shortage. But, how do we bring more diversity into the field?

It starts with inspiring the younger generation – and young women specifically – to become engineers and to embark on career paths that they themselves must own despite any unique challenges they may face along the way. This starts long before college careers end and job searches begin. My own interest began in high school, when Mr. Wally Davis of Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis introduced me to physics.

Today, STEM subjects are being introduced at a much younger age, and thanks to innovative programs like Engineering is Elementary, students as young as first grade can be introduced to real-world problem solving through science and math. There are also many other hands-on programs at the local level that need our support to inspire even more of our students and young women in particular to become engineers. Lego Mindstorm and FIRST Robotics, for example, offer exciting challenges that can lead young minds to excellent career decisions. We must ensure that we’re pushing minorities as well as young men and women alike toward such activities to fill our engineering pipeline with the diversity it needs to truly innovate for generations to come.

Engineering can be an intimidating discipline to enter, and it wasn’t long ago, I was one of a few female students in my computer engineering class wondering if I was in the right field and if I would find a fulfilling career after graduation. A similar feeling followed me into Introductory Thermodynamics. Luckily, my stubborn nature kept me in the game long enough to develop a passion for engineering and mutual respect for my fellow classmates. Gender was – generally speaking – left at the door in my academic experience.

Beyond college, I was fortunate to find that none of the gender isolation from my college days followed me into my career. On the contrary, I was welcomed into my internships with open arms and ultimately found a rewarding position with my current employer with a chance to participate and lead programs supporting the recruitment and development of young professionals and new hires by providing opportunities for networking with peers and upper management, social activities, community outreach, and seminars for personal and professional growth.

Not just gender but diversity of ethnicities and backgrounds, as well as age, is needed for diverse innovation. Youth brings energy, enthusiasm and a determination to contribute, which can sometimes be perceived as impatience. Meanwhile, the experience and wisdom of our more seasoned colleagues can smooth our rough edges, while ensuring our teams avoid rookie mistakes, which can occasionally be mistaken for stubbornness or arrogance. Breaking through such misunderstandings can be critical to team success. It’s when all generations recognize their mutual contributions to the team that we find the best solutions for our customers.

We engineers tend to be a logical bunch focused on dedicating our lives to the fulfilling work of finding solutions for others. This week, let’s renew our commitment to innovation by renewing our commitment to diversity and fulfillment. The quickest and most direct path to creating or improving any solution is through diverse innovation, which starts with a more diverse workforce.

Krista Gumiela is a Senior Systems Engineer at Raytheon Intelligence and Information Systems in Aurora, Colorado. She is also president of YESNET, Raytheon’s Young Employee Success Network, where she fosters and supports Raytheon’s young workforce.

By Jenn DeWall, Owner of Jenn DeWall Life & Career Coaching and CWCC Member

When I graduated in 2005 I was a bright-eyed, ambitious, overachiever.  I was smart and driven, the two things that I thought mattered most for success in any career.  If I knew then what I know now I could have done things differently and not made some of the mistakes that led me being “stuck” in a job that I hated or feeling like I was incompetent.  It’s also my belief that if I had a mentor early on these mistakes could have easily been avoided or minimized.

1. Perception Matters. As said above, I initially believed that drive and intelligence were the ingredients for career success.  I was wrong.  These components were only a fraction of what gets you promoted.  The remainder is based on perception.  Think, how you dress, walk, talk, and even who you associate with.  The majority of perception is non-verbal.  Initially, I would laugh a lot at work.  I thought that it was a great stress reliever and that it helped our team bond.  WRONG! Though the team that I worked with knew I was great, upper level management couldn’t take me seriously because they thought I was always goofing off.  If a mentor would have told me this early on, I would have likely made different choices in multiple areas.

2. Seeing the Big Picture. Being the overachiever that I am, I was very anxious in my career to climb the corporate ladder.  I was so self-absorbed in climbing the corporate staircase that I didn’t even revel in the learnings at each step or position.  My boss grew frustrated and kept asking me to be patient.    Fast forward in time and now I finally understand that a career path is closer to a marathon than a sprint.  The time invested in each position provides value and experience that can help you throughout your career.  See the big picture, know where you want to go and ask yourself “How best can I prepare myself for that time?” versus “how fast can I get there?” Ask yourself, would you rather be more prepared and arrive at a later date? Or arrive earlier and not have the resources that you need?  That question, is another great way that a mentor can help support your career.  A mentor is on the journey with you, helping you enjoy and process the experiences along the way.

Though I only listed a few of my personal experiences of why I wish I had a mentor there are so many other areas that mentors can help you.  Think communication, defining a career path, goal setting, leadership, and executive presence to name a few.  Mentors are not only for those early on in their career, they’re for everyone.  What type of mentor can help support your growth?

“It’s what we think we know that stops us from learning.”

Jenn DeWall, Career & Life Coach for Young Professional Women

Interested in learning more about mentorship? The G.L.O.W. mentorship program kicks off on September 15th 2015. Click here, for more information!