Science and Technology Runs the world. But who runs science and technology? Not enough Women.

This is an Opportunity.

What are the Challenges Facing Women Trying to Enter The Science, Engineering, and Math Fields?

Top Barriers Faced by Women in Tech (From ISACA):

  • Lack of Mentors
  • Gender Bias in the workplace
  • Changing Stereotypes that women dont excel in tech
  • Lack of female role models in the field
  • Lack of females in leadership, hiring, and management roles.
  • Advocating for equal pay for the same skills

Lenovo Athena

Despite extensive research proving that women in leadership roles makes considerable contributions to their organizations, including greater profitability, Men outnumber women at every level in the technology sector.

With the number of women leaders actually declining, the technology field is losing ground. That is why ATHENA of the Triangle presents our newest program…

OUR PROGRAMS

ATHENA in STEM Mentoring Circles

The ATHENA in STEM program offers a dynamic learning opportunity for students to explore the campus of Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM) oriented companies. This experience allows them to visualize themselves in future high-tech roles. During the visit, students will engage with women in various positions. This interaction begins with a career journey panel centered on the ATHENA Leadership Model principle, followed by an interactive lunch featuring group discussions known as mentoring circles.

ATHENA Listens

The ATHENA Listens program offers a dynamic speed mentoring experience with a 1:5 mentor-to-participant ratio. Over 50-minute sessions, mentors rotate among groups to facilitate conversations on defined topics such as leadership development, time management, communication, and presentation skills, resembling a mini Toastmasters setup.

ATHENA Speaks

The ATHENA Speaks program is a focused discussion with students by an established woman leader in the STEM community. The speaker shares insights from her own professional journey, emphasizing one of the 8 ATHENA Leadership principles as a guiding force. A substantial amount of dialogue is a fundamental aspect of this engaging interaction.

ATHENA in STEM SPONSORS and FUNDERS

ATHENA in STEM is made possible with grant funding.

AiS Program Vision: Create a balance in technology roles to drive the global economy.

AiS Program Mission: A strategic initiative created to help solve the lack of women in tech fields. In delivering technology-specific leadership curriculums for all ages and increasing awareness and advocacy for women in tech, our goal is to increase women representation, leadership and sustainable success at all levels,

AiS Program Objective: To apply the proven lessons of the ATHENA Leadership Model® to equip, empower, and encourage women. Women can be a leading voice in the technology sector.

By increasing the number of women in technology fields, we reduce the gap of women technology leaders. In creating a pipeline of women with technology business acumen as an influential voice in shaping the trajectory of the fourth industrial revolution, we change the current shortage of capable tech workers.ii

AiS Program Background: Formed in 2018, an Advisory Panel, comprised of leaders from technology, leadership development, education, entrepreneur, and research industries, serve as role models who exemplify the ATHENA Leadership Model®. Fostering collaboration, this Advisory Panel fosters identifies and transforms the network of women into technology fields where the greatest opportunity exists for economic empowerment in the future.

Top Barriers Faced by Women in Tech (From ISACA):

“Our goals are lofty, but the tools we are developing are concrete and substantive.”

CHALLENGE: Entering and navigating a career in technology is a difficult experience for many women. (Women Tech Facts – 2016 Update)

Student Testimonies

“Thank you so much for coming to talk to us today and helping me realize that I need to be authentic!” Continue to be your own authentic self! Thank you again!”

– 10th Grader

Student Testimonies

“Thank you so much for this! I love how silly you are, yet how you are serious in inspiring us to live authentically and love ourselves.”

– 8th Grader

AiT SOLUTION: Build the pipeline of women leaders, starting in the classroom

    • Infuse technology-contextual versions of the ATHENA Leadership Model into middle schoo/high school curriculums.
    • Develop a virtual curriculum for the “Become ATHENA” program, focused on women in technology, that can be applied locally and beyond.

CHALLENGE: Although the number of women and minorities enrolled in tech programs is beginning to increase and many IT organizations have stepped up diversity hiring, there is sill much work to do. (US Census Bureau 2017)

Pendo Mentoring Circles

First Flight Ventures Mentoring Circles

Ais SOLUTION: Advocate and raise awareness

    • Host “ATHENA Speaks,” an advocacy speaker series that shares first- hand experiences from local technology leaders.
    • Support emerging leaders in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel-Hill area through carreer assistance and networking

 

CHALLENGE: The wage gap between women and men in the U.S. averages $0.82 to $1 (Breaking Gender Barriers – Institute for Women’s Policy Research )

AiS Partners with like-minded groups

    • Engage with a myriad of local organizations, from collaborative public-school systems to innovative technology companies, to address the gaps in leadership development throughout a woman’s professional journey

InfoSys Mentoring Circles

Companies AIS Works With

AiS Committee Members

Andrea Conner Committee Member
Dana Hariton Mentoring Circles, Co-Chair
Kelsey Woodburn Mentoring Circles, Co-Chair
Donna Rhode Committee Member
Kathy Weaver Mentoring Circles
Priscila Neves Committee Member
Michelle Proctor Committee Member
Ming Gao Athena Speaks Chair
Kate Farmer Committee Member
Kecia Burney Committee Member
Briana Biddie Committee Member
Alexandra Bryant-Boose  Athena Listens, Co-Chair
Angelita Horton Athena Listens, Co-Chair
Daneen West Committee Member
Heidi Taylor Committee Member