In this episode Yael Jekogian explains why attracting women to STEM is less of a problem than retaining them, the business case for more female scientists and how her work as an advocate influences her choices as a mother.
Yael is President of WINGS WorldQuest, a nonprofit supporting female scientists and explorers by providing grants, outreach and community building. Yael is a civil engineer by training and lives in New York City with her husband and two daughters.
Episode Highlights
• 045 – Yael explains why attracting women to STEM is less of a problem than retaining them
• 4:05 -Yael graduates #1 in her class, starts her first job and realizes she is in sea of men
• 6:30 – Her Aha moment: Yael is asked to be a “team player” in a sexual harassment suit of a female coworker against her company
• 7:25 – Find out why Yael does the work of advancing, educating and funding female scientist and women explorers
• 14:30 – Yael shares how her work as an advocate for female scientists and explorers influences her choices as a mother to two young daughters
• 17:01 – Getting more girls into science fields may be as simple as letting them be a fly on the wall and including them in conversations until just becomes normal to them.
• 18:05 – The business case for more female scientists and women in leadership roles
• 20:25 – The amazing story of Yael’s 12 year old daughter’s quest to go to Stanford. (She wrote influential women in sciences and technology and landed a keynote!)
1. Favorite book for women?
• Knowing Your Value by Mika Brzezinski
• An Inconvenient Wife by Megan Chance
• One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus
2. Favorite self-care hack?
- Meditating daily for 20 minutes
3. Best piece of advice and who gave it to you?
- “You have to ask; don’t expect anything, unless you ask” (her mentor)
4. Female CEO or thought leader you’re into right now?
5. One piece of advice you’d give your 5 years younger self?
- “You are the only person who can ultimately influence how you feel”
Resources and People Mentioned
- Yael’s website
