My STEM story: celebrating International Women’s Day

As we celebrate International Women's Day (IWD), it's an opportunity to reflect on the remarkable contributions of women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). From pioneering breakthroughs to driving innovation, women in STEM have been instrumental in shaping the world we live in today. 

Throughout history, women have defied societal norms and shattered glass ceilings in STEM fields. From Ada Lovelace and Maria Skłodowska-Curieto to Grace Hopper and Katalin Karikó. Each of these incredible experts in their field spearheaded discoveries beyond belief at their time, leading to unimaginable innovation. 

Today, women continue to break new ground in STEM, making innovative discoveries, leading research projects and revolutionizing industries. From computer science to biotechnology, women are driving progress in diverse fields, leaving an inspiring legacy for future generations.

I developed a love for mathematics at an early age and excelled in it, even reaching the final stage of the national mathematics competition, thanks to my exceptional and encouraging primary school teacher. However, when I entered high school, my experience couldn’t be farther from this. Instead of supporting my passion and inspiring me to work harder, my new maths teacher dismissed my interests. 

This setback didn’t discourage me from pursuing software engineering studies where I found myself to be the only female in my year. Instead, the experience showed me the importance of mentors and role models early on, and encouraged me to strive for empowerment across various groups of people. I’m proud to be a woman in STEM and have shared my love of the field through various volunteering roles.

Most recently, I have taken on the role of organizing the Paris chapter of Pyladies, an international group with a focus on helping more women become active participants and leaders in the Python programming language community. We aim to provide a friendly support network for women and a bridge to the larger Python world. Anyone, regardless of gender, is welcome to come to our events or support us in other ways.

I was also involved in Native Scientists, a non-profit organization operating in various European countries which aims to broaden the horizons of underserved children, showing them that people from their country can be successful. The group develops and implements programs that establish meaningful connections between students and scientists to promote science and language literacy in fun and accessible ways for immigrant children.

I believe that to empower women to realize and unleash their full potential, we must create a safe and inclusive environment where everyone feels valued, respected and empowered to contribute their unique perspectives and talents. We should be giving women the opportunities and freedom to pursue any career they want, which includes STEM and other underrepresented industries. By challenging stereotypes, providing access to resources, encouraging and showcasing diverse role models, we can inspire the next generation of female scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians. Let’s all contribute to this, be it in our community, our workplace or at home.