STEM Demystified – Joanne Santos (USA/Poland) 

Welcome to another edition of STEM Demystified, a project to tackle the underrepresentation of women in STEM. This weekly Newsletter showcases how women are conquering science, technology, engineering, and mathematics worldwide.  

Today Joanne Elizabeth Santos is our inspiring role model. Born in the United States of America and raised in Poland, she has consistently demonstrated resilience, adaptability, and determination throughout her life. Although her first passion was sports, particularly volleyball, where she played from amateur to semi-professional levels, a spine injury steered her toward a different path – one that would see her excel in technology. 

Despite early setbacks, Joanne’s athletic background instilled in her the values of dedication, hard work, and authenticity, which have been the foundation of her success in Tech. After moving to the UK at 16, she thrived in an environment that tested her language and leadership skills, rising quickly in the competitive world of customer service and tech. 

From her role at EE, where she earned multiple awards and recognition as a “Samsung Champion,” to her impactful contributions at Vaioni and now Intercity Technology, Joanne has consistently driven positive change. Her passion for excellence and leadership has not only earned her recognition but has also allowed her to shape company culture and improve customer relations. In a male dominated industry, Joanne is a great example of what women can accomplish. Her latest milestone? Being named a winner of the prestigious Tech100Women 2024 award – a testament to her impact in the tech industry. Let’s dive into Joanne’s remarkable journey and explore how she’s shaping the future of STEM. 

What was your trajectory from school to where you currently are professionally/academically?  

I’ve found this question to be a bit tricky to answer. While I was in school, I was an exceptional student academically and physically. When I was 8 years old my parents got divorced and we’ve moved out from my dad’s house to the other side of Poland to move in with my nan. She always made sure that we understood the principles of life and that you need to work hard to achieve success. This has been on my mind ever since. I truly believe based on my grades, performance and many awards won my school trajectory was very positive, and I can with ease say that I have outperformed my own expectations. Since moving to UK when I was 16, I always ran my life with the same values, it wasn’t easy trying to write, speak and think in a completely different language and still remain top student, but I was always up for challenge, in my mind there’s no room for feeling sorry for myself and only space for finding solutions. Being top performer and leader is something I find natural for myself and seeing the change I can drive within companies I’ve worked for, and the industry so far has been extremely rewarding. 

What motivated you to get into STEM? Did you have a female role model or anyone who inspired you? If so, who?  

I have actually ended up in industry by pure accident. One of my friends from college has asked me to help her get a mobile contract at Three Mobile UK, as her English wasn’t great at the time she felt more comfortable having someone next to her who can help. When we were at the shop sorting out the deal, branch manager has quickly spotted what we were doing and approached me to offer me an interview. This came as a massive shock as I wasn’t that tech savvy at the time but fast forward, I’ve got a job within a week and started really making the impact within our branch, winning multiple top seller awards as well as supporting driving shop to becoming the best in the region.

My passion and love for technology and industry has grown over the years working with EE, BT, Vaioni and Intercity however, it is truly difficult to find role models at different stages of your career within the STEM industry. When I look back at my career it makes me truly sad to see the lack of women representation within the industry, I really can’t think of anyone who I was looking up to at the time, LinkedIn wasn’t a think yet and all events were as expected full of male representation instead, it felt lonely at times but my career in sports has taught me discipline I needed to power through and realise we need to create our own spaces and opportunities as I don’t want young girls growing up, having the same perspective.  

What’s your most important professional/academic achievement?

What truly drives me is creating real, lasting change. I’ve always been at the top academically and in sports, finishing with straight As and consistently ranking first in my class. But I’ve never seen that as the true measure of success. What fuels me is the impact I’m making now—creating tangible change and driving progress in the industry.

Over the past 10 years in the STEM field, I’ve achieved a lot on paper—multiple awards, two degrees, and a steadily advancing career. But none of that compares to the value I place on earning people’s trust, which I consider my greatest achievement. When I joined Vaioni, I didn’t have much experience with the operational side of the business. Yet, the owner entrusted me with the responsibility to overhaul processes and drive improvements. Within just a year, I’d transformed Vaioni’s operations, boosting our NPS by 50% and securing the company’s two largest deals to date. I was named Leader of the Year, but to me, the trust of my colleagues and customers is far more meaningful. It’s that trust, and the change I was able to drive, that reflects my real success.

When I moved to Intercity, I brought the same approach, and within just two months, I was awarded “People’s Champion of the Quarter.” Gaining the trust and confidence of an entirely new team so quickly was a huge milestone for me, and it’s a testament to the difference I strive to make every day. It’s not the accolades that matter most—it’s the real change I create and the trust I earn along the way.

Did you face any challenge throughout your professional/academic journey? How did you overcome it?  

Many, I think the last of female representation is truly overwhelming at times. As a foreign, young female in an industry so heavily dominated by men is not easy to navigate. You need to remember the amount of time you going to spend with these people, topics you’re going to talk about and people you can rely on. I was fairly fortunate that after playing sports my whole life I found it fairly easy to gain people’s trust and find stuff to talk about, but I was also taken advantage of twice. 

When I first joined Three Mobile my manager was nothing but lovely to me, he was always supporting and helping me along the way as it was my first job ever. I quickly realised that some of the transactions he was making me process weren’t necessary 100% compliant, he was in the company for 30 years and this is my first job, I wasn’t brave enough back them to call this out and got trapped in a situation which unfortunately cost me my job at the time as his word was worth more than mine… The interview was conducted with 3 other males in a room, all friends of my manager for many years. I was outraged that I let someone do this to me and that company hasn’t protected me, I felt that there was no one who I could of turned to for support which wasn’t great and questioned my worth for the industry for a long time, till last minute I wasn’t sure if this is something I wanted to pursue thinking it will always be this way.

Vaioni and Intercity are two companies which showed me what true teamwork means and support I’ve had around me really showed me that we need to pave our own paths, and I really wanted to make sure no other female feels so small and vulnerable in industry which is truly amazing!  

In your opinion, what needs to be done to attract more women into STEM?

In recent years, through my involvement in school talks and career panels, I’ve become increasingly aware of a critical gap in early education and exposure for young girls when it comes to the STEM industry. From a young age, boys are given toys like rockets and cars, while girls are often handed dolls to dress and care for. This subtle but powerful conditioning limits the way girls see their opportunities, suggesting that success in fields like STEM is out of their reach. But I reject that notion entirely.

The system needs to change. We need to introduce STEM subjects and career pathways to girls at an early age—through coding workshops, science fairs, and career panels that show them what’s possible. Most importantly, we need more visible female role models to break these outdated stereotypes. When women are vocal and create their own spaces, people will listen. But it starts with believing in ourselves and our abilities. That’s what we need to teach the next generation—that their potential is limitless, and that their voices matter.

Mentorship programs, media representation, and events that highlight the diverse paths of successful women in STEM are crucial. Every woman’s journey is different, often filled with unique challenges, and these stories need to be heard. We also need to create supportive, bias-free learning environments where girls feel empowered to explore STEM fields without hesitation. If we want to make real progress, we must teach young women not just to seek out opportunities but to create their own—and to believe that they deserve every success they achieve.

What advice would you give to anyone looking into a career in STEM (or those who do not consider it)?  

My advice to anyone in STEM would be to stay bold, confident in your abilities, and above all, stay curious. The beauty of the STEM field is that it offers such a wide variety of paths—you can explore different areas, experiment, and find what you love without the fear of judgment. Don’t be afraid to try new things, whether that’s through online courses, mentorship programs, or attending events. Thankfully, there are more and more Women in Tech initiatives popping up, creating inclusive spaces that help women feel supported and empowered.

Failure is inevitable, but it doesn’t define you. What matters is how you learn from it and use it to become better. Embrace challenges as opportunities for growth. The STEM industry is tough, but you need to believe in your skills and abilities. Don’t let stereotypes or doubts hold you back. Women have already made ground-breaking contributions to this field, and you can too.

Finally, get involved in clubs and networking groups. Surround yourself with people who share your passion and challenges. It can make all the difference in overcoming obstacles and finding solutions more quickly. Remember, you’re not alone—we’re all in this together. Stay bold, stay curious, and never stop pushing yourself to grow.

Joanne’s journey is a powerful reminder that there are no limits to what women can achieve in STEM, or in any field for that matter. From overcoming personal challenges to transforming the cultures of the companies she’s worked for; Joanne’s story highlights the strength and resilience women bring to the table. Her unwavering commitment to creating space for future generations of women in tech is an inspiration for us all. 

By staying curious, embracing challenges, and paving the way for others, we have the power to break barriers and stereotypes. Let Joanne’s journey inspire you to break through barriers and claim your place in STEM!