A day in the lives of women in science and technology careers
Women hold less than 30% of jobs in science and technology fields. So what's it like for women who are in these roles today? Women leaders at Verily share their experiences and what they want others to know about pursuing science careers.
What inspired you to pursue a STEM career?
"Curiosity was my biggest inspiration, but key mentors I met throughout my journey are the biggest reason I got involved in STEM as a career."
- Angela DiCiccio, Product Engineer
"Curiosity to solve the unsolved."
- Dr. Meghna Beotra, Finance BI Analyst
"I love learning how things work! Biology gives me a deeper appreciation of my own precarious existence and leaves me in continuous awe of the complexity and balance of the natural world."
- Zoey Ferguson, Research Associate
"I had so many small nudges in that direction - a math award in second grade, a visit to my grandparents in sixth grade during which my grandfather pulled out a binary logic workbook to entertain me, a dad who was hopeless with anything mechanical and left me to install new light fixtures, replace car radios, and repair broken door knobs. I also had fabulous math teachers in middle and high school. Most importantly was probably all the history books my parents bought for me and the weeks I spent at law camp. I was definitely not going to follow in my parents' footsteps and become an attorney."
- Caitlin Donhowe, Software Engineer, Surgical Analytics
"My mom and my dad, who are both graduates in mathematics and successful in banking. I was very lucky to have been born in an educational culture where I could not perceive any difference between genders or being pushed to gender-based careers until I reached undergrad engineering school. My parents treated my elder brother and I the exact same way in inspiring us both to study and take on STEM careers."
- Nivi Arumugam, Head of Sensors Engineering
"I followed my insatiable curiosity down a STEM path so I could discover how things work and have fun coming up with clever solutions to complicated problems."
- Nursen Ogutveren-Armea, Software Engineer
"In high school I wanted to either become a doctor or journalist because I wanted to understand health and share that information with the masses. I found public health in undergrad while volunteering as a sex educator in Chicago Public Schools while witnessing stark health disparities; I knew I wanted to do something about it. I worked in a variety of research roles both in academia and evaluating community health programs with the goal of improving public health."
- Jaclyn Shea, MPH User Experience Researcher
What do you want women and girls to know about STEM careers?
"It's okay to not have a plan and follow your passion - that's how you'll change the world the most. Highest of all though, don't doubt your passion, continually work on communication, and have fun!"
- Angela DiCiccio, Product Engineer
"There is no such thing as a silly question. Ask to quench your thirst for knowledge."
- Dr. Meghna Beotra, Finance BI Analyst
"It turns out that you don't have to choose between practicing science and creativity! Many of the best scientific ideas and insights come from people who practice creativity in their personal and professional life."
- Zoey Ferguson, Research Associate
They are so varied - I started in mechanical engineering because it seemed the most approachable for someone who didn't have access to coding or robotics or AP physics classes in high school, and to be honest, it wasn't a great fit. It's been a gradual migration ever since, figuring out which bits of each class/job I like best and trying to get more of those bits in my next class/job. Nearly two decades later I'm deep in algorithms and big data and there is no technical drawing in my life. I'm much happier for it!"
- Caitlin Donhowe - Software Engineer, Surgical Analytics
"STEM careers are very gratifying and shape the present and future of the world. Every day at work is fun, provides ample opportunities for encountering new experiences and enjoying the best of life. There is never a dull moment."
- Nivi Arumugam, Head of Sensors Engineering
"STEM isn't for one particular 'type' of girl. STEM is for everyone, so don't rule it out too quickly! Whether you think you're 'good at math' or you think you're 'more of an artsy type' there's a fulfilling career for you in a STEM field, because there are as many different ways to be creative and solve problems as there are problems to solve!"
- Nursen Ogutveren-Armea, Software Engineer
"STEM is diverse! I've conducted qualitative and quantitative research in public health and tech. There is no single path, but rather many ways to one's passion related to STEM to making the world a better place. I went from conducting research on taboo topics (sex, HIV, transgender healthcare) to researching how to design and improve healthcare products like patient apps and medical devices."
- Jaclyn Shea, MPH User Experience Researcher
Why is it important for women to be represented in STEM?
"STEM fields are magical forums for learning, collaboration, and exploration but will only thrive with diversity!"
- Angela DiCiccio, Product Engineer
"Every mind counts when the world is working to answer questions. Women can contribute immensely by bringing in their perspective and contributing to a pool of ideas."
- Dr. Meghna Beotra, Finance BI Analyst
"Having badass STEM women around me reminds me that women can do incredible things because of their gender, not despite it. Any level of added diversity richens the wealth of perspectives, and the historical lack of a female presence in STEM makes it all the more meaningful."
- Zoey Ferguson, Research Associate
"Because they have so much to add! We can develop better products if we have diverse teams to develop them. And the flip side of that, because there are women who are happiest in STEM jobs! My grandmother bemoaned the fact that my husband doesn't earn enough for me to stay home with our kids. I would be desperately unhappy at home with our kids!"
- Caitlin Donhowe - Software Engineer, Surgical Analytics
"Women make up more than half of the world and the world is shaped by STEM industries. It is imperative for women's decisions, actions and perspectives to equally change how the world is and will be. The world will be a better place with equal representation of all of its inhabitants in areas of influence and power."
- Nivi Arumugam, Head of Sensors Engineering
"People who work in STEM define the choices for everyone. What products are available at Target? What medicine is available at the pharmacy? What apps are available on your phone? People in STEM create these options. Women need to be in STEM roles to make sure there are options that work for us, and so that there are solutions to problems women are uniquely positioned to see and understand."
- Nursen Ogutveren-Armea, Software Engineer
"We all see the world through our own experiences. When only men are in STEM they research and design with themselves in mind as the default. The incredible book Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed For Men thoroughly details how our world is biased against women because men have traditionally created products and services. The more diverse perspectives we have in STEM, the more research and products will be inclusive to women and other oppressed communities."
- Jaclyn Shea, MPH User Experience Researcher