The WISL GAZETTE A NEWSLETTER FROM YOUR FRIENDS AT WISLVOLUME 2 2024 is here! WRITTEN by Dr Susan McGinty Founder, Aya Leadership susan@ayaleadership.com I really enjoyed the down time over Christmas/New Year and I hope you did too. I always like to use January to ease into the year, give myself a little extra permission to take space for myself and my family, and let my brain switch into gear in its own time. But that doesn’t mean I am not ready to support you and year team reach your goals in 2024, because I am! Like many of you, I took some time to reflect on the year just gone.&nb ..read more

In a world that often moves at a dizzying pace, there’s incredible power in slowing down and embracing the beauty of each moment. Mindful living isn’t just a practice; it’s a way of life that gifts us the present. **The Gift of Presence:** At the heart of mindful living lies the simple yet profound act of being present. It’s about savoring the sights, sounds, and sensations of the here and now, free from the grip of past regrets or future worries. **Nurturing the Mind-Body Connection:** Mindful living invites us to reconnect with ourselves. It’s about tuning into our bodies, listening to t ..read more

Mentors Continuously Improve Leadership Skills In this article we will break down the definition of a leader and how becoming a mentor will make you a better leader. If you can find the time to give back, you too will learn and grow in your professional career.  What is a leader?  The Britannica Dictionary defines a leader as someone or something that leads others: such as someone who guides other people. It also defines a leader to be a powerful person who controls or influences what other people do. Aside from defining a leader it is important to also look at the qualities of what ..read more

Women in STEM Leadership Is Happy to Welcome Our Newest Executive Member, Cecilia Saez Women In STEM Leadership (WISL) welcomes its newest Executive Member, Cecilia Saez! We’re happy to have Cecilia as part of the WISL family, sharing her experience with those aspiring to be leaders in the STEM industry, and serving as an essential part of professional network. About Cecilia Saez In her 20-year career span, Cecilia successfully scaled high-growth tech startups, completed M&A arrangements, shaped  cultures and led domestic and international business expansion initiatives by guiding exe ..read more

Cybersecurity Opportunities For Women Are you considering a career shift to the tech industry, specifically cybersecurity? Are you a seasoned tech professional looking to advance your cybersecurity certifications? Regardless of your personal situation, there are many reasons why women need to consider cybersecurity careers.   Currently, women are advancing to leadership positions more quickly than their male counterparts and their advanced education and training is to credit. If that’s not incentive enough, women are actually in demand in the cybersecurity industry. Corporations as w ..read more

Women In STEM Leadership Recognizes Women’s History Month With A Power Group of Women Leaders March is Women’s History Month. Women In STEM Leadership (WISL) celebrates all women particularly those in the male dominated field of STEM. Each of our board members brings with her a diverse set of skills and experiences that contribute to the power of Women In STEM Leadership. To join us in our mission to increase the representation of women in STEM leadership, visit our website to learn more about our group and become a member today!  The post WISL Celebrates Women’s History Month ..read more

According to Merriam Webster, cultural change is the ‘modification of society through innovation, invention, discovery, or contact with other societies.’ No society can develop without cultural change because change is constant and enables growth and development. Gender inequality has most of its roots in the culture of a people and that in turn retards the growth of a society. Culture is a big reason why many people believe that STEM is a male field and it will be better if women stay away from such fields as it is above their station and capability. Unless there is a revolutionary change tha ..read more

Gender equality is a topic that has been up for debate for a while now. Many think gender equality is a term that assumes there is no difference between genders. But in reality, gender equality refers to equal access to opportunities and resources such as decision making, economic participation, and educational rights regardless of gender. That means someone’s gender should not be a reason why they are excluded from opportunities or access to resources. This issue is a universal issue and we can see how it affects the future of girls especially in male dominated fields like STEM. According to ..read more

Networking is important for women and especially women in leadership positions. Being a leader or a woman in stem (STEM being a male dominated field) is challenging enough but for many women, that is not the only challenge, they are also saddled with other responsibilities such as motherhood, marriage, and other family responsibilities. WHY YOU NEED A SAFE PLACE TO NETWORK A safe place refers to a place you can go to meet likeminded individuals in order to feel empowered, share ideas and information as well as get access to support, services and recreational activities. In these safe places, w ..read more

Certain fields like science, technology, engineering and mathematics have always been male dominated. Even though we have more women going into these fields as time goes by, there is still a significant shortage of women, especially in leadership roles. For instance, in the United States, women are said to make up 48 percent of the workforce in the tech field but hold only about 18 percent of the leadership roles in top tech companies. WHY THERE ARE LESS WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP ROLES IN STEM CULTURAL FACTORS: Cultural factors play a huge role in the participation of women in the STEM field. In ma ..read more