Tell us a little bit about you...
I'm Cynthia Gwanmesia a Project Manager at Global Initiative Ltd.
I started working in the STEM sector as a Project Manager 3 years ago but my background and studies were in Accounting & Finance. I realised technology was moving really fast and basically present in our day-to-day lives and that was what attracted me to the STEM sector. I chose Project Management because I believed I had an advantage given that I am good with numbers and also have great interpersonal skills. I believe women can thrive in any environment as we are very smart and resilient!
What would you say to women considering a career in the STEM sector?
I would say go for it. It is never easy at the start especially coming from a completely different background. However, there are endless paths ranging from Project Managers, Data scientists, software engineers, business analysts and many more. I would also advise those women to upskill by taking courses, constantly learning and being up to date with current events and trends.
There has been lots of media coverage as of late around a number of organisations requiring staff to return to the office and the potential impact this may have on caregivers (predominantly women).
Do you have any views on this and the resulting impact on attracting and retaining women in the STEM sector?
The pandemic was a huge turning point for most organisations and now that the world seems to be in a better place, employers want to “ regain” what was lost. I believe physical human interactions are very important in the workplace as it improves efficiency but this is quite challenging for caregivers. Employers can be more considerate of that fact and find a balance such as hybrid working.
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