STEM Demystified – Jennifer Myers (UK)

Welcome to another edition of STEM Demystified, a project to tackle under-representation of women in STEM. This weekly Newsletter will showcase how women are conquering science, technology, engineering, and mathematics worldwide.

Today, I am delighted to feature Jennifer Myers as STEM role model. Born in England, Jennifer developed a passion for mathematics and space from an early age. Despite facing several challenges, she achieved a BSc in Mathematics and Theoretical Physics and later completed an MSc in Digital and Technology Solutions.

Jennifer currently works as a Software Engineer for Boeing, where she excels at solving complex challenges and leveraging data analysis to drive innovation and efficiency.

Her journey from mathematics to technology showcases her resilience and determination. With a strong background in data analysis, Jennifer brings valuable insights to her role, driving impactful solutions in the tech industry

Mathematics was my favourite school subject since I was 11 years old. All throughout secondary school it stayed as my favourite subject and became my focus of A Levels – when I studied Mathematics, Further Mathematics and Chemistry.

Due to this love of mathematics, and an interest in space, I chose to study Mathematics with Theoretical Physics at university. It was here where I first got a taste of coding with some modules requiring Python. Also, during this time, I completed a year in industry in the role of “Operational Data Analyst Support”. This is where I first started to use data professionally and became experienced with SQL databases.

Following university, I looked to combine what I had learnt about data and statistics and got a graduate job as a Data Analyst with Costain. This position was incredibly rewarding as I was surrounded by a great team and given ample opportunity to develop my skills. It was during my time with Costain that I completed a Master’s degree part time alongside working.

While I enjoyed this period, I was being drawn to Software Development, and knew I wanted to explore this position. Around a year ago I decided to take the plunge and switch careers from Data Analysis to Software Engineering. I have found the position to be exactly what I was looking for, since it combines the analytical thinking and complex challenges I enjoy.

I always attribute my love of mathematics as the stepping stone into a STEM career – without this I wouldn’t have focussed my further education or career choices towards STEM. When I was in year six, I took some additional advanced mathematics classes which started teaching secondary school level topics early.

This class was the root of my love of mathematics and had it been taught by a different person that may not have been the case. I will never forget the enthusiasm and fun way she taught the class, encouraging all the students to enjoy the topic in ways we hadn’t thought about before. Unfortunately, I can’t remember her name – but her teaching has stayed with me.

There are a few achievements I am incredibly proud of. However, I think the most important one to date is having the courage to switch careers when I knew I wasn’t getting satisfaction from the Data Analysis role. At this point I had been promoted twice within the space of three years, going from a Data Analysis Graduate position to the Data Reporting Lead. In appearances, I was doing well professionally and on track for a great career.

However, I wasn’t enjoying the day-to-day and had a desire to be a Software Engineer. While I had a little coding experience from university and some small projects, I took on during my time at Costain, it would be going back to being a more junior position. This was a big decision, but ultimately one I knew I had to take. It has been the most rewarding experience to step into a role I am enjoying, learning daily and can see my career progression picking up again.

During my academic years I hit a period where I was starting to struggle. I chose to attend the local college to study my A-Levels rather than staying on at my secondary school and doing sixth form. I didn’t perform as well in these years as I had previously, and while I did achieve my A-Levels – the results were not as good as I had hoped.

This meant that I could not immediately start studying for my BSc at Plymouth University, but first had to complete a foundation year. This felt like a set-back and I debated whether to continue my education at all. However, I knew I didn’t want to give up and agreed to complete the foundation year. This ended up being the best thing for me as it meant I could move to Plymouth and get to know the city, the academic environment and the professors before starting my degree studies.

When faced with a challenge or a set-back, I have learned to look at it as an opportunity to discover or gain experience. I am grateful to Plymouth University for providing the opportunity to study the foundation year, and not allowing me to give up on my academic desires.

Early exposure to STEM is a great way to spark interest – it’s certainly what began my journey back when I was ten years old. STEM ambassadors are a great way to promote STEM, with engaging hands-on workshops the perfect environment to promote curiosity early.

Another thing that has encouraged me is seeing women in leadership positions and having these women as role models. I believe many organisations need to focus on retaining the female talent that comes into their teams – and notice any trends of women leaving quickly and questioning whether their environment fosters a diverse workspace.

Finally, addressing unconscious bias is incredibly important for diversity and inclusion – whether this be gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion etc. All companies should introduce compulsory unconscious bias training/workshops for all staff members. This training encourages employees to recognise that biases exist, and also encourages them to take responsibility to reduce the impact of those biases within interactions and decisions both in and outside of the workplace.

STEM careers can be incredibly rewarding especially if you find a field that interests and excites you. Particularly if you are someone who strives on continuous learning, as careers in STEM are constantly evolving requiring you to adapt to new technologies or methodologies.

Finding a mentor is a great way of building your network and gaining advice and guidance in your chosen field. Joining institutions such as The Institution of Engineering and Technology is one way to find mentorship, and you can join as a student if you are still studying.

Practical experience is always desired – apprenticeships, internships or placements are the perfect opportunity to gain experience, while also discovering if the fit is right for you. Let’s delve into Jennifer’s inspiring story and discover how she has navigated her career with resilience and adaptability.

Jennifer Myers’ journey from a young girl fascinated by mathematics and space to a successful software engineer at Boeing is a testament to the power of perseverance and passion. Her ability to overcome challenges, switch careers, and excel in a male-dominated field is truly inspiring.

Jennifer’s story highlights the importance of embracing opportunities, continuous learning, and supporting others along the way. She is a powerful advocate for women in STEM, demonstrating that with determination and support, women can achieve remarkable success in any field they choose.