Leading Without Illusions

Athena founder Barbara Bry joins us in the B4S studio for this very special edition of B4S. 

As the STEM community prepares to gather for Athena's 25th Anniversary Gala and LWC Summit on October 26, we invite you to listen as Barbara shares the origins and genesis of Athena.

This B4S will reignite your determination and grit as we shift the question of diversity from WHY? to WHY NOT!? to rise above the headwinds and launch, unwavering, into the next 25 years!

Athena is honored to welcome Soo Nadarajah, Head of Global Data Sales and GTM @ AWS, to the Blueprint for Success studio. Soo is an authentic and engaging visionary who shares riveting anecdotes from a stellar career that includes "learning, adapting, and innovating" at some of the most pivotal times for BlackBerry and AWS.

Click to watch or listen, and be ready to take notes! Beyond her own Blueprint for Success moving from Engineer to Executive, you will be inspired by her surprising superpower, gain new perspectives into the powerful value of your STEM foundation, and learn that it's time to get comfortable with AI - no matter who you are or where you are on your career journey. 

Dr. Andrea Cubitt's path to success began with a childhood fascination with chemistry, which ultimately paved the way for remarkable academic and professional achievements. Armed with a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the prestigious University of Sheffield and a first-class honors degree (B.Sc) in medical biochemistry from the University of Birmingham, she further honed her expertise through postdoctoral training at Weill Cornell Medical College and the University of California San Diego. During this time, Andrea played a crucial role in the inception of the green fluorescent protein ("GFP") development, contributing significantly to the scientific community.

Despite facing shyness early on, Andrea realized the importance of networking and strategic thinking in propelling her career forward. Overcoming her initial reservations allowed her to build a strong professional network and make significant strides in her field.

Watch or listen as Dr. Andrea Cubitt shares valuable insights into crafting a successful personal brand, leveraging one's passions to fuel career growth, and conquering fear to uncover new opportunities for personal and professional development. She emphasizes that bravery does not imply the absence of fear but rather the courage to face and overcome it.

Summer is here, and it's sizzling in the Blueprint for Success studio as we welcome Cari Gallman, Chief Compliance & Ethics Officer @Bristol-Myers Squibb.

How does a Princeton political theory grad and Harvard-trained attorney achieve executive-level leadership at a STEM company? Learn and level up as you listen to Cari's Blueprint for Success, which includes dead goldfish that altered her career path, embracing uncomfortable moments, invaluable mentors that strengthen her leadership muscle, and riveting real-world stories that demonstrate the business case for diversity.

As we launch Phase II of #Athena25, this year-long digital media celebration is showcasing the undeniable impacts of Athena's Corporate Partner Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). What we learn from these insightful stories can inform your strategies to amplify the voice of women across these companies and sustain your strategic business goals. 

Our Blueprint for Success podcast shines a light on Fatima Oguz, Director of Engineering and Sri Cressy, Director of Engineering as leaders of QWomen, Qualcomm's ERG, and the vision and execution of these focused leaders. 

As QWomen's board chair and vice chair, Fatima and Sri are driving change and their journeys serve as a testament to the transformative power of perseverance and determination. Through their leadership, they pave the way for countless women and male allies to thrive in a diverse and inclusive work environment.

There is something for everyone in this edition, so WATCH or LISTEN to gain actionable insights from the mission, programs, and global impact of QWomen, which boasts over 25 chapters and 10,000 members worldwide.

Meet Chanda Owens, VP of Quality @ Cue Health for Athena's Blueprint for Success podcast. As a black woman and engineering student at UC Berkeley, it was clear her career path would be neither easy or comfortable. Intuitively, Chanda knew it was essential to find a support system early in her academic career and push through the struggle of feeling all alone and the shame of the struggle itself. She took her chemical engineering degree and her industry passion and refused to take no for an answer before landing an internship at Johnson & Johnson that would turn into an impressive 18-year stint.

In the face of micro-aggressions and a demoralizing culture, Chanda ultimately reached a turning point in her career. "I realized, I'm no longer going to dim my light in order to placate others who leave me feeling not good enough." Chanda continued by revealing how she nearly left engineering altogether .... and the moment that changed the direction of her career.

Listen or watch to learn how Chanda effectively managed these career twists and turns, combined with her love of the industry and her tenacity to push forward, that ultimately defines her illustrious journey as a highly respected STEM executive.

For Women's History Month grand finale, we welcome Amy Johnson, COO of RippleNami to Athena's Blueprint for Success studio. Amy's dynamic career journey spans both the life sciences and tech sectors, starting with a degree in health and behavioral science in Australia, to bringing Africa into the digital economy. Her career path takes fascinating twists and turns - both professionally and geographically. Amy's work at RippleNami includes bringing data transparency solutions to sub-Sahara Africa and empowering women and girls with careers in tech. Amy shares first hand stories and advice for all women and girls looking for inspiration and a chance to contribute to the world of STEM.

In kicking off Women's History Month, we're excited to present Dr. Kate Broderick, Chief Innovation Officer @ Maravai LifeSciences in our monthly Blueprint for Success podcast.

The by-product of parents with careers in physics and psychology, Kate developed a deep passion for exploring new medicines that directly impact patients. After completing her PhD in molecular genetics @ University of Glasgow, Kate came to the United States for a 3-year stint at UC San Diego....but never left.

Noting women in STEM as a rather rare breed, she quickly learned the value of the network could not be overstated. Valuing human relationships and the business opportunities that followed proved most invaluable for this Chief Innovation Officer. As she garnered greater visibility and trust in her field of RNA medicines, the doors continued to open in the wake of RNA vaccinations during COVID.

Listening to Kate's blueprint for success into the C-Suite is nothing short of inspiring and also provides powerful insights into the history and implications of RNA technology for new applications. See for yourself....

Athena is celebrating Black History Month by showcasing the inspiring and illustrious career impact of Tashonda Taylor, Vice President, Gas Operations @ SDGE. The leadership traits she exhibits and the path she created is a model worth emulating.

Listen to Tashonda's Blueprint for Success podcast as she takes us on a deep dive into her career journey and the critical support that helped her navigate the male-dominated world of electrical engineering. Learn about the challenges she is grateful for, the value of failing fast, her struggle with imposter syndrome, and the one thing she wishes she realized sooner: "When you bring something to the table.... that means you belong at that table. It doesn't matter who else is there...."

Athena's Blueprint for Success showcases the distinguished career journey of the award-winning, Dr. Christina Towers, Assistant Professor @ Salk Institute for Biological Studies. Her goal is to develop new targeted cancer therapies that block the cancer-cell recycling pathways that allow these cells to survive. Towers’ critical research aims to decrease cancer recurrence and improve cancer patient outcomes.

After falling in love with cancer research at the university, Dr. Towers found one of the bigger challenges in "...not seeing people who look like me in this profession and trying to navigate that dynamic." Learning the stories and strategies of other underrepresented minorities with similar challenges and drawing on key mentors served as the most instrumental resources in her career trajectory.

View and discover the most surprising element that Dr. Towers credits for her advancement and learn how the "infinite pursuit of knowledge" applies to the leadership development essential for any career journey.