The world has changed dramatically. An increasing number of women are pursuing careers in technical work environments. As little as 50-60 years ago, it was challenging to find a respectable number of women in the technology field. Today, the tech sector includes an overall female representation of 25% of the workforce around the globe. As per the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, women make up nearly half of the workforce, but only 27% of them work in STEM. I am glad to be part of such a growing field.
|
|
My journey began in a male-dominated environment 30 years ago. All the men in the family were in various engineering fields; mechanical, chemical, electrical, social science, etc., while the women were teachers or homemakers. Women were not allowed to go out and work in those male-dominated fields. I was the first woman in our family to earn a state certificate in Electronic Engineering, a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting/Finance, a Master’s degree in Database Management, and then a Doctorate in Data Science. It’s an understatement to say that it was very challenging, but my unwavering tenacity kept me moving toward my goal. |
| The men in my family are all engineers, and they encouraged me to become an accountant. So how did I end up as an engineer with a doctorate? Working two jobs to support my education got me through my Bachelor’s in accounting. Attaining the accounting degree to satisfy my family was just the beginning. After working for a few years in accounting, I realized that it was not my calling and I was itching to get out. As I embarked on my journey to escape, I faced challenges on my own. Being young and without any financial backing made it difficult. Luckily, my first break into the tech world was when I attained a position as a quality assurance analyst for a company that developed accounting tax forms. This led to many opportunities in the technical environment. |
|
|
|
My next technical job, which lasted ten years, was in telecommunications. Again, I was surrounded by men. Fortunately, it was a friendly and fast-paced environment where I got the opportunity to work with a creative and intelligent group of people. I was able to gain experience on the job, solve complex problems, and implement ideas. The company upheld diversity and inclusion policies, provided mentorship programs and professional development opportunities, and offered flexible work arrangements to help retain female talent, especially for those balancing work and family responsibilities. It offered unbiased training and development opportunities, regular workshops, courses, and certifications accessible to all employees without any discrimination. |
| The flexible work environment gave me a boost to get my Master’s in Database Management, which opened doors to many different challenging types of work. As a STEM Engineer, I got to work with the Chief Information Officer (what an honor)! It was an exciting environment where I gained diverse types of work experience in various domains such as electronics, hardware and software development, telecom, cybersecurity, academia, and more. If it had not been for the numerous opportunities presented, I would not have identified these viable options for myself. |
|
|
|
After earning my Master’s, I reached another pivotal moment in my life when I was offered an incredible opportunity as an Engineer Liaison. This role became a gateway into the world of cybersecurity and beyond! After much hard work and perseverance, today I am a Foreign Engagement Technical Director in a cybersecurity division for one of the largest workforce providers in the Northeast. I am now one of the four women with a doctoral degree in my family. |
As of 2019, a government report found that women make up almost 30% of the STEM workers in the US government sector, bringing the nation’s most advanced technology to the forefront and narrowing the gender gap. The report was intended to assist federal agencies’ continuing efforts to make the federal government a model Equal Employment Opportunity employer. Women are taking up the challenge in fast-paced, well-paid jobs of the future, such as data science engineering, biomedical engineering, and more.
As a fun-loving engineer, I would say to the new generation of women in STEM fields, why not accept the challenge and become a STEM leader? It is rewarding and fun, and you will get the opportunity to create new things, develop a new product, implement innovative ideas, and be analytical in ways you might not have thought you could be. STEM women leaders are needed everywhere – in academia, in the corporate environment, at the state and federal levels. As a technical director in the government sector and a dissertation chair at two universities, I am satisfied, happy, and extremely optimistic about my career choice. Why not take on a STEM career path? What are you waiting for?
Apply online today!
Dr. Asmita Modi teaches courses in the Doctor of Science in Computer Science, the Master of Science in Technology and Innovation, and the Master of Science in Nursing with a specialization in Informatics programs at Aspen University.
Click here to read about why it is essential to have women working in STEM positions!