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.
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)
AiT SOLUTION: Build the pipeline of women leaders, starting in the classroom
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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 |