Women who own businesses are becoming increasingly successful. They are redefining traditional measurements of success and finding more opportunities to “lean in.” Yet not all industries are trending at the same pace. Women in science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, professions, not to mention women who lead and/or own STEM businesses, are still too small in number.
Why is this important? Because according to the American Association of University Women, “the cures for the world’s most pressing ills — environmental, economic and technological — will be envisioned and built by people in engineering and computing.” Yet women make up only 12 percent of engineers and 26 percent of computing professionals. It is crucial that women’s perspectives are heard in building our future and solving these global challenges.
Of today’s women-owned businesses, the third highest industry is professional, scientific and technical services firms. As a partner at MacKay Sposito, a professional technical services firm delivering civil engineering, land surveying and construction management, I’m proud to be part of that group. But while we are slowly seeing more and more women in architecture, engineering and construction, those industries are still dominated by men.
The solution to building women business owners and leaders in STEM fields such as engineering and computing begins with education. Clark County is fortunate to have two STEM schools: iTech Preparatory Middle and High schools and Henrietta Lacks Health and Bioscience High School. We have seven STEM programs countywide. These include the ACES Magnet at Hudson’s Bay High School, which features architecture, construction and environmental services, and math and green construction programs at Evergreen and Mountain View high schools. Further, Clark College is leading our state with STEM programs that inspire women. Clark is also continuing to make STEM an important and essential program with construction of the STEM building on campus.
