Equivalent Too

To celebrate three quarters of a year of Scilence, I've mashed up the best sound-bites of some 13 past-episodes.  Each day for the next six days, you'll hear a compilation of some of the best sound bites from Episodes 13-26.  

Its approximately 30 minutes of wisdom from a variety of #womeninstem!

Enjoy!

To celebrate another quarter year, I've mashed up some 13 episodes of Scilence..Each day for the next six days, you can hear a compilation of some of the best sound bites from Episodes 13-26.  

Its approximately 30 minutes of wisdom from a variety of #womeninstem!

Enjoy!

On this week's episode of Scilence:  My guest's views on opportunities for women in this male-dominate field are refreshingly unusual and alternative.  Her opinions on gender discrimination, societal labels, expectations and people-pleasing are confidently delivered and liberating for anyone caught up in caring too much about what others think!    

Our conversation gets blunt, honest and will turn your own thinking upside down.  She follows her passion, interests and curiosity and believes that we should all be driven by authenticity.  

As a result, my guest is doing exactly what she wants with her life and is now at her happiest - but she has certainly had her own journey to get to this point.  She takes us through its twists and turns.  Having dealt with her anger in grad school and demolishes through a few out-dated beliefs and stereotypes, to now feel comfortable in her own skin.  

My guest acknowledges that you can't please everyone, only yourself.  But, you can get to know who you are; choosing not to self-discriminate or judge others.  Everyone has a fair chance of being disadvantaged and a victim - it depends on what perspective you choose.  

Engineers are problems solvers and on this episode, we look at a few problems that society creates for itself and how to adjust your own attitudes, so as not to fall prisoner  to them.  

This episode of Scilence contains some graphic language from a Surgical Oncologist, who is passionate about speaking her truth; having been on the receiving end of institutionalised sexual harassment in her dissection class.  

Despite her frankness on the show, she regrets not being more outspoken with her colleagues.  What kept her mute was self-doubt and Imposter Syndrome.  She kept her opinions to herself, for fear of affecting her grades and being mom-shamed.  

Shifting out of academic medial practice, allowed her to find her voice.  And with hindsight, she sees that the world is not set up for mothers in STEM.  But, she also acknowledges that what she has been through has made her the woman she is today. 

The mission of my guest is to boldly challenge the stereotypes of a woman's role, by being an example.  Having had no role models herself, she wants to shift outdated generational beliefs.  She urges women in STEM to find a strong support team of men and women who are up-lifting and supportive.  

Growth happens where we feel uncomfortable and this episode will certainly help you evolve.  She recommends a book called The Elephant in the Lab by Emily Monosson, because she firmly believes that the world is not set up to support women in work, especially in STEM.  

This week, my guest describes her long career as a chemical engineer, during which time, she also had five children!  Complete with grandchildren now, she decided to embark on a second career, which would have never been possible without her stay-at-home supportive husband.  In order to have it all, she believes she has compromised and wonders whether her kids feel short-changed, having had a go-getting mum.

We discuss how Alpha-females and confidence can come across as intimidating, which results in us working harder to prove people wrong.  The truth is, it's not easier because you’re female, although male insecurity may state otherwise.  Starting over takes a lot of courage and self-belief. 

Self-learning is so much easier today, thanks to digital technology, which allows you to explore yourself and your interests.  However, struggling with self-esteem because you’re not like everyone else can still be an issue.  Self-esteem correlates to how much we feel we fit in, but the antidote is to follow your dreams and surround yourself with good people and put those relationships first.  With my guest measuring up to less than 5’3 and weighing in 106 lbs, I'd say she knows a thing or two about holding her own.    

THIS WEEK ON SCILENCE:  My self-confident, self-assured Biochemist, talks about the gap-year, she spent making some big decisions.  She decided against studying medicine, admitting that her skills in managing her emotions were a significant factor.  The highlight of this episode is the courage she has shown in taking care of herself from an early age, including the terms of her parents divorce. 

We discuss feeling intimidated by other women and how that correlates to our own levels of self-belief, i.e. the habit of comparing yourself to a role-model and feeling less than.  We figure out how to own your own achievements and feel the rewards of that - something that driven capable women don't often do. 

In short:  This episode gives you a chance to hear what what self-love sounds like.

On Scilence this week, my guest a DevOps Engineer appears to have accumulated all the pieces of the jigsaw, and is currently figuring out how to put them together.  She hasn't lived her life in a perfect straight line, and constantly finds herself in 'Yes, No, Maybe' cycles, continuously reflecting on her goals and priorities.  

Its all about being adaptable to change, especially when in an industry where technology updates so fast.  Continuous reflection and an openness to self-learning is key.  Her consistent aim is to bring her life into alignment with her work; where she can feels that she is making a larger meaningful impact on the space in which she lives.  

As ever, the diversity message rings true again:  Diversity is crucial for strong teams.  Her take home message is to follow your passions and interests, even if unconventional and to constantly ask 'what's next', when it comes to career.  

On Scilence this week:  Four high-schoolers keen on pursuing STEM, share their perspectives on the importance of being individual.  We discuss what circumstances girls need to thrive at school.  The girls unanimously agree that being seen and heard certainly helps them with their assertiveness and confidence, whilst encouragement will always be essential - teachers, parents, caregivers, friends take note!  

Join me in this very honest and open conversation that will transport you right back to their age or will help you understand the STEM dilemmas of young girls, who have the whole world at their feet - only if they can maintain their self-belief!