Episode Summary

Women in STEM: Journeys and Challenges
Natoshia welcomed Dr. Toshia and introduced her guest, Dr. Scyatta Wallace, who has been a valuable LinkedIn connection. Scyatta shared her journey in the finance and financial literacy space, particularly with black women, women of color, and women in STEM. Dr. Toshia discussed her journey as a woman in STEM, starting from her high school research activities to her college experiences. She initially considered a career in medicine, but her interests shifted towards research, particularly in developmental psychology and resilience. Dr. Scyatta also shared her experiences as a woman of color in academia, highlighting the importance of finding positive role models and the challenges of balancing multiple degrees. Natoshia empathized with Dr. Wallace's experiences, sharing her own struggles with physics and the need for a more inclusive approach to STEM education.

Dr. Wallace Bio

She navigated the STEM world successfully as a tenured Professor, acquiring funding from federal/foundation sources. She learned a lot along the way navigating her STEM career journey & supporting youth in creating a successful pathway to theirs. 

She understands that broad career readiness skills enhance innovation and build professional capabilities that are important for advancement in STEM.  She can help you provide effective career & leadership programs at your institution. 

She has over 15 years of experience developing youth-centered programs & tailored offerings. Therefore, when you work with her, you are supporting youth in a way that is engaging and speaks to them. 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drscyattawallace/

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/drscyatta

To Learn More Visit www.successinstem.org

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Kelli's Nitrogen Ice Cream Research and Experiences
Kelli, a battery chemist with an interest in nitrogen-based ice cream production, shared her research and experiences. She discussed the use of liquid nitrogen in culinary arts, highlighting its origin in East Asia and its potential for innovative techniques. Kelli also shared her successful acquisition of a mobile nitrogen tank from eBay, with the support of her coworker, to further explore her idea.

Kelli's Journey to STEM Entrepreneurship
Kelli shared her journey from working in a battery lab to starting her own business, Dipping Dots, which later evolved into a STEM-focused catering company. She highlighted how her background in STEM, her experience in teaching, and her family's influence led her to pursue entrepreneurship. Kelli also discussed her passion for teaching and how it has been a significant part of her career, having taught general chemistry at the University of Georgia for over 20 years. 

Homemade Ice Cream Process and Recipe
Kelli explained that the traditional recipe involves combining milk, cream, sugar, and vanilla extract, and then churning the mixture using an ice cream maker or a motorized mixer. They also discussed the role of salt in the process, which lowers the freezing point and allows the ice cream to thicken. Kelli shared that she continues to make ice cream using these methods, but has adapted the recipe to use a kitchen aid mixer instead of an ice cream maker.

Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream and Science Communication
Kelli explained to Natoshia the unique process of making ice cream using liquid nitrogen, highlighting its benefits such as faster freezing times and the absence of additional emulsifiers. Kelli also discussed her focus on maintaining the quality and purpose of her product, despite the slow growth of the liquid nitrogen ice cream industry. She emphasized the importance of science communication and education, stressing that it's not enough to showcase science; one must also ensure that the audience, including children and employees, is informed and that the community is impacted.

Discussing Frozen Yogurt, Ice Cream, and Toppings
Natoshia and Kelli discussed the differences between frozen yogurt and ice cream. They also discussed the confusion between dairy and non-dairy frozen treats, with Kelli noting that many people are unaware of the differences. Kelli decided to explore this topic further for a future blog post on their Instagram, and they also discussed the additional toppings one can add to their frozen treats.

Kelli's Availability and 7 Cream Lab
Natoshia and Kelli discussed Kelli's availability and where her business, 7 Cream Lab, can be found. Kelli mentioned that her business has a website, is active on social media, and has two physical locations, one in Avondale Estates, Georgia, and another in Midtown, Atlanta. She also shared that her advice to her younger self would be not to limit oneself, as she believes many people unknowingly limit their own possibilities.

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Engineering Career Journeys and Transitions

Leah recounted her journey from a mechanical engineering student to her career in the consumer goods industry, highlighting the challenges she faced, including discrimination and lack of social connections. She emphasized the importance of problem-solving and critical thinking skills in engineering and how these skills are applicable in various fields. Leah and Natoshia discussed the benefits of an engineering background, especially in terms of problem-solving and adaptability. Leah shared her experience of transitioning from engineering to procurement, highlighting the broader career opportunities it offered. Both agreed on the importance of risk assessment in career transitions and the need to prioritize personal wellbeing. Leah also shared her personal experience of taking a leave of absence from her work to assess her career trajectory and wellbeing, which led her to start a career coaching business.

Entrepreneurship: Freedom and Challenges

Natoshia and Leah engaged in a discussion about entrepreneurship, with Natoshia expressing her love for the field and its potential to help individuals find their purpose. Leah emphasized that entrepreneurship requires a different set of skills compared to working in a corporate environment. They both agreed that the choice between entrepreneurship and a traditional 9-to-5 job depends on individual needs and preferences. Natoshia and Leah also discussed the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship, with Natoshia emphasizing the freedom and satisfaction of being her own boss and Leah highlighting the difficulty of the journey but the absence of regrets. They ended the discussion with Leah suggesting the title "It's hard, but I don't regret it" for an upcoming episode.

Navigating Success: Black Professionals' Challenges

Natoshia shared her personal experiences of being the only black person in predominantly white classrooms and workplaces, and how these experiences influenced her decision to mentor and coach young women in STEM. She also mentioned her participation in the "Triumph in the Trenches" anthology project, which aims to highlight the challenges faced by black professionals. Leah discussed her chapter in the anthology, focusing on the challenges black professionals face in navigating success. She emphasized the importance of redefining success and the need to understand the unspoken rules and expectations in the workplace. Leah highlighted her goal of illuminating the challenges and rigged aspects of the system to help professionals make informed decisions about their careers and well-being.

Leah C. Murphy Bio
Purpose-driven, executive coach, author, and professional development expert with 15+ years of Fortune 500 leadership experience. Negotiation practitioner on a mission to teach 10,000 women how to negotiate for better compensation. Focused on transformative partnerships with companies and professional organizations to upskill organizational leaders while creating a differential impact to the bottom line through enterprise leadership strategy and operational execution clients through a custom set of proprietary tools.

Website: http://www.gemsforthejourney.org/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leahcmurphy

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Empowering Women of Color in STEM

Natoshia and Kim discussed their professional connections and shared their enthusiasm for empowering women of color in STEM. Natoshia admired Kim's success and highlighted her dedication to creating a platform for underrepresented voices in the field. Kim, a blended learning specialist, shared her experience working on a project with the Flying Classroom, where she integrated technology into a curriculum focused on building a car and a plane with students. She reflected on her personal and professional experiences leading to this project.

Overcoming Fear of Computer Science Certification

Natoshia and Kim discussed the need for teachers to overcome their fear of computer science and obtain the necessary certifications to teach this course. Kim stressed the importance of teachers feeling comfortable and having sufficient resources to teach new initiatives, such as computer science and generative AI. She advised educators to take advantage of free online courses to familiarize themselves with these subjects. Natoshia mentioned that in Georgia, there was an initiative to have a certified computer science teacher in every school, though she was unsure if this applied to every grade. Kim also shared examples of other states, like Texas, that offer incentives and support for teachers to become certified in these areas.

Transitioning to Tech Company

Kim discussed her transition to a role as an educator advocate lead for a tech company, where she could use her experience of transitioning a school district online during the pandemic to benefit teachers, students, and staff worldwide. Natoshia shared her decision to resign from her current role at the end of 2023, a decision she had already informed her boss about. However, her boss initially disbelieved her, leading Natoshia to confirm her resignation and reveal that she had been training her replacement throughout her tenure. Kim expressed her admiration for Natoshia's thoughtful approach to her departure.

Team Leadership and Succession Planning

Natoshia praised a team member's leadership skills and suggested she should be considered for a higher role in the team, while Kim concurred with Natoshia's assessment and commended Natoshia's initiative. Natoshia also underscored the importance of having a successor and advised Kim to consider grooming a potential replacement. Kim then shared her journey from consulting to coaching other educators, while stressing the importance of living in the moment and learning from experiences. Natoshia confirmed that the show notes and links to the episode would be available for those interested in learning more about Kim's journey.

Bio of Kimberly Lane Clark
Kimberly Lane Clark, Ed.S. is an award-winning former 16-year educator and keynote speaker based in Texas. She is a Computer Science/STEM advocate focusing on crashing the digital divide for underrepresented groups, primarily women. She works to make an impactful change through innovative educational technology tools to provide access to learning for ALL and instructional design strategies. Kim is an experienced keynote speaker with excellent verbal and written communication skills. 
She communicates effectively with internal management and external vendors. Kim focuses on a positive customer experience, attention to detail, and organization for every program she develops. 
In her latter career, Kim has mentored and trained hundreds of educators face-to-face and virtually in Computer Science, STEM, Diversity inclusion, Edtech tools integration, innovation design, Blended Learning strategies, and Project-Based

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Episode Summary
Celebrating Women in STEM: A Golden Shoe Proposal

Natoshia Anderson and Xena, the founder, had a conversation on Natoshia's show, "Stimming and Stilettos," discussing the importance of recognizing and celebrating the beauty and intelligence of women in male-dominated industries such as STEM. They proposed the idea of a symbol, like a "golden shoe," to represent women in STEM fields. Xena emphasized the need for more women in the workplace to normalize self-expression, reduce jealousy and microaggressions. 

Architecture, Diversity, and Inspiration

Xena, the founder of an architectural firm, discussed her role in overseeing building design, often comparing it to conducting an orchestra. She shared her personal journey in architecture, influenced by her father who instilled a love of design in her. Xena highlighted the lack of diversity in the field, noting that less than 1% of architects are black women. She also discussed her recent collaboration with Kimberly Dowdell, the first black female president of the American Institute of Architects, on a coloring book project aimed at promoting representation and inspiring children. The book was launched with a book signing at the Atlanta airport, which is run by black men. Xena emphasized the importance of showing opportunities to children and questioned the efforts of organizations in doing so.

Authenticity, Code-Switching, and Workplace Dynamics

Xena and Natoshia discussed the importance of authentic representation and the detrimental effects of code-switching, particularly in professional settings. They shared their experiences as black women in male-dominated industries and emphasized the need to encourage children to be themselves. They expressed concern about the pressure to comply with certain expectations and the potential for retribution if they didn't. They also discussed the challenges faced by young women and interns in the workplace, particularly those of color, and highlighted the importance of awareness about power dynamics. They emphasized the significance of platforms like their podcast, which provides a space for open dialogue and support.

Black Women's Struggles and Empowerment

Xena and Natoshia discussed the challenges they face as Black women, particularly the pressure to be perfect without making mistakes. They expressed frustration with expectations placed on them and the notion that they need to be superhuman to succeed. The conversation highlighted the need for fair pay and treatment, and the importance of not perpetuating the idea that they need to be better than their non-Black colleagues. They also touched on the importance of self-respect and individuality. Xena suggested that they should have the courage to challenge such thinking, even if it meant confronting older African Americans. The conversation concluded with satisfaction about the changing attitudes in society.

Bio of Xena Stryker

Xena is where Architecture merges with Imagineering! Stryker is a community-driven Architectural Firm CEO committed to reconstructing underserved communities while expressing the client’s culture through eye-popping art and creative design! Her firm’s niche is “Dopamine Design” as she’s known to bring structures to life…With A Twist… by adding bright colors, sophisticated furniture, and exciting activations inspired by nostalgic music! Xena has designed construction documents and renderings for more than $475 million in city, state, federal and private construction projects across the United States of America!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/architectbae/
Website

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Episode Summary
Jasmine Suarez shared her journey in STEM, beginning with her studies in business at the University of Cincinnati, where she took technical courses in coding and HTML. She later transitioned from a job in the Federal Government to a role as a cybersecurity workforce ecosystems advisor for a woman-owned company. Jasmine Suarez emphasized the importance of real-world education and experience and her commitment to mentoring and speaking engagements to empower others. She also highlighted her advocacy for STEM education and awareness, and her mission to inspire underserved and underrepresented groups to pursue careers in STEM and cybersecurity.

Resilience and Mentorship in Overcoming Challenges

Natoshia Anderson commended Jasmine Suarez for her resilience and determination, particularly in dealing with cancer-related challenges. She highlighted Jasmine Suarez's journey and survival as a testament to her strength. Natoshia also shared her own personal story about a mentor figure, Ow, who had a significant impact on her academic journey, providing guidance and support when she struggled with thermodynamics. She credited Ow for helping her overcome challenges in her classes and ultimately graduate.

Mentorship, Diversity, and Authenticity in Professional Environments

Jasmine Suarez and Natoshia highlighted the significance of mentorship, emotional support, and diversity in professional environments. They discussed the importance of providing guidance beyond just technical skills and understanding the unique experiences of individuals from different backgrounds. The conversation also emphasized the need for authentic self-presentation in professional settings, with Jasmine Suarez sharing her personal journey of finding her true identity after leaving the airline industry. Both agreed on the importance of presenting oneself in a way that aligns with personal values and identity, while also navigating different professional environments where certain codes of presentation may be necessary.

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Episode Summary

I cannot wait for you to meet Chela" Wallace.  She is a brilliant chemist turned STEM educator and mentor. Her STEM story starts with wanting to understand what was happening to her Grandmother who was diagnosed with cancer and ultimately died from it when she was very young. This experience fueled her interest in finding a cure and in science sadly, though Chela didn't have a chance to explore science until her 7th-grade year in grade school when she met up with a teacher that gave her the freedom to explore and do a science fair project on hair.

Chela' was able through college, to find her people and make the transition into the work world where she has been following her path and helping people of color in STEM.

Chela' Wallace Bio
With over 17 years of experience, Chela' is passionate about advancing equitable STEM education and fostering student retention in post-secondary STEM careers. She specializes in implementing robust STEM visions across diverse educational settings, both nationally and internationally.

🚀 Current Role:
Director of Special Projects at KIPP NYC, collaborating with Chief Equity and Academic Officers to implement Graduate Aims, Culturally Responsive and Sustaining Education (CRSE), and Project-Based Learning Vision. Responsibilities include strategic planning, equity alignment, team leadership, communication, stakeholder engagement, instructional evaluation and support, data-driven evaluation, and professional development initiatives.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chela-s-wallace/

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Episode Summary
Orietta's STEM Story starts with a story about her not getting into preschool because couldn't count. But it also is a great illustration of her perseverance and her dad's love that he taught her to count. Her love of math began then and carried her through to Spain and around the world. I love that she never stopped. She is a true testament that STEM is universal and is for everyone.

Orietta Verdugo Bio

Orietta Verdugo is a distinguished business leader boasting two decades of diverse experience in the manufacturing and technology sectors. Throughout her career, Ms. Verdugo has held a variety of influential roles in business development, product marketing, operations, and process improvement. Her leadership prowess has been demonstrated in her successful management of a factory and a business development organization within the technology industry.

Her expansive industry knowledge spans semiconductors, energy, and retail sectors, offering a broad perspective and unique insights. She has led teams across North America, Europe, and Asia, and has embarked on two international assignments in Mexico and Spain. Ms. Verdugo's leadership extends to multi-layered organizations, technical talent, and women worldwide.   

website: https://oriettaverdugo.com/
Book: Amazon.com: Shattering the STEM Ceiling: Conquering Obstacles and Advancing as a Woman in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics: 9798850240585: Verdugo, Orietta P.: Books

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Welcome to 2024!
Shehara's Career Transition to Financial Planning
Shehara shared their educational and career journey, highlighting their struggles with reading and math that led them to a special school. Shehara's interest in problem-solving and STEM subjects led her to consider a career in accounting, but she ended up pursuing engineering. After five years of studying electrical engineering, Shehara switched careers and entered the financial services sector. Shehara's interest in personal finance led them to start their financial planning firm, where she continues to grow and develop as a financial advisor.
Career Change and Purpose Discussion
Shehara shared her journey of changing careers from engineering to finance - a field they were unfamiliar with but found intriguing. She expressed her passion for teaching and her desire to help others with financial planning, especially those aiming to retire early. Shehara emphasized the importance of self-reflection and understanding one's purpose, noting that it's not about being stuck in a situation but about taking ownership of one's life and envisioning how one wants it to look.

Pursuing Purpose and Financial Legacy
Natoshia and Shehara discussed the importance of pursuing one's purpose and not being confined by others' expectations. Shehara shared her belief that people should not be limited to one role or interest, as exemplified by their multifaceted interests. The conversation then shifted to financial matters, with Shehara emphasizing the importance of nominating a beneficiary for all accounts to create a financial legacy. They also noted the advantages of technology in banking, highlighting that some tasks may be more feasible with a bank rather than a credit union.


Time Management, Budgeting, and Support for Black and Brown Women in Tech
Shehara and Natoshia shared their personal experiences and strategies for time management and budgeting, emphasizing the importance of utilizing tools that work best for each individual. Shehara announced a workshop they are organizing with Michelle Hayward on January 22nd to support black and brown women in the technical engineering fields. They also shared advice they would give to their younger self, stressing the importance of pursuing personal goals over societal expectations. Towards the end of the discussion, they mentioned a future event and agreed to continue the conversation about Shehara's method of overcoming debt.


Find out more about Shehara Wooten or buy her book here: YSF Links - Your Story Financial, LLC

Linkedin:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/Shehara/

January 22, 2024 webinar at 7pm EST
https://bit.ly/PositiveHireOwnYourNarrative

Cash Flow Planning tool
https://bit.ly/YSFAWinton

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Support the show

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STEMming in Stilettos Youtube Channel: https://youtu.be/xAc25J7UH9A

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We had to have a Part 2

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Episode Summary

This is probably the episode I'd tell you myself that you need to listen to over and over again. Josselyne brings us into her world of being unmessablewith and how she got there. It's the world we all want to live in. We get to create it and live in it yall. Its there for us if we take the steps to do the work to get there.

This one is a must-listen.

Josselyne Herman Saccio Bio
Josselyne Herman-Saccio has been leading transformative courses for more than 30 years. She has worked with, and impacted over 200,000 people directly in the areas of business, family, self-expression, fulfilling their vision, resolving conflict, and overall “well"-being. A relationship, communication, and performance expert; and the founder of United Global Shift, her non-profit organization that has worked with leaders from more than 20 countries. (and counting). For the past three and a half decades, Josselyne has worked with a diverse group of people, including executives, entrepreneurs, stay-at-home mothers, victims of domestic violence, those in professional transition, community activists, pop stars, composers, neuroscientists, philosophers, athletes, Broadway, TV and Film personalities, thought-leaders, and CEOs. Regardless of differences in life experience and professional stature, each person, Josselyne’s view, shares a common goal: to be expressed, valued, and experience being able to make a difference and fulfill their vision no matter what challenges life throws at them. In her work with both individuals and organizations, she has had the honor of guiding many people through the empowering process of becoming “Unmessablewith”.

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Episode Summary
1) Liz did not picture herself being a part of the Navy, but when a great opportunity came along, she didn't hesitate to take it.
2) She was told that she wouldn't make it in the Navy because she's a woman and speaks with an accent. 
3) She proved that person WRONG! She's made a career in the Navy.
4) She really believes in the good work that DEI is and is working both within and outside of her organization to ensure that DEI is enacted in an authentic way that will be beneficial to all long term. Its good work

Liz Chaluisant Bio:
She is a trained problem solver (engineer), mentor, and strategic thinker with a unique career path. For the past 14+ years, she has demonstrated experience in a wide range of technical, business, and administrative operations.  She excels at balancing the big picture with the realities of tactical execution and is able to recognize overlaps in plans, processes, people, and many other facets of a high-functioning organization. She also enjoys opportunities to partner with C-suite-level executives to ensure their goals and objectives are executed flawlessly.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-chaluisant-2a7a81b5/

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Episode Summary

Meredith Broussard is a computer scientist AND journalist. She has found a way to combine the two by using data to inform her writing (data journalist). She is on a mission to demystify technology and AI in particular. AI (artificial intelligence) isn't extraordinary, she says, "it's just math."  She believes that Chat GPT is fun and innovative and like other technologies have some flaws to be worked out.


Meredith Broussard Bio

Data journalist Meredith Broussard is an associate professor at the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute of New York University, research director at the NYU Alliance for Public Interest Technology, and the author of several books, including “More Than a Glitch: Confronting Race, Gender, and Ability Bias in Tech” and “Artificial Unintelligence: How Computers Misunderstand the World.” Her academic research focuses on artificial intelligence in investigative reporting and ethical AI, with a particular interest in using data analysis for social good. She appeared in the 2020 documentary Coded Bias, an official selection of the Sundance Film Festival that was nominated for an Emmy Award and an NAACP Image Award.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredithbroussard/
Website: https://meredithbroussard.com/
Books: More Than a Glitch: Confronting Race, Gender, and Ability Bias in Tech
                Artificial Unintelligence: How Computers Misunderstand the World
https://meredithbroussard.com/books/

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Meet Andrea Miller, Teacher, Instructional Coach, and STEMinist who is really trying to make a difference in the lives of students. She really trying to get STEM into the hands of students. STEM and schools shouldn't be hard and right now, it is. She is trying to break down barriers. I love the work that she is doing. If you want to learn more about what she's doing you can find more about her work here: STEM Provider Workshop (twelve12group.com)

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Episode Summary
Winnie had an interest in STEM really early but didn't really know it was STEM. She loved math and working on building websites. She was self-taught for a long time. She progressed through school asking teachers for opportunities to learn more. She really wants to make the entry point to STEM seamless for minority women. 



Winnie Karanja Bio
She is dedicated her career to pursuing racial and gender equity in STEM/closing the representation gap in STEM.  She is the founder and CEO of Represented Collective, a media company helping corporate spaces, educational institutions, academic establishments, research teams, and individuals to understand, pursue, and sustain equitable practices in STEM. 

At RC, She leads teams that envision and implement products and programming that recalibrate outdated systems in order to support and nurture the excellence of women and BIPOC. She collaborates with partners with similar convictions to produce tangible means by which STEM fields can achieve these goals. 

As the Founder and Inaugural Executive Director of Maydm, a non-profit with a mission of equipping girls and students of color in 6th-12th grade with computer science and engineering skills to pursue opportunities in the STEM fields, she brings with her extensive experience in workforce development, talent development, culturally relevant curriculum design, STEM education.



LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/winnie-karanja

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It's been 10 years of STEMming in Stilettos yall! I cannot believe it.  Here's a look back with me and Maria Johnson who was my co-host at the very beginning. We review the origin story of STEMming in Stilettos and many other things along the journey of where the podcast is today and how we got here. I hope you enjoy it. We will be celebrating all of August as we move into this new season. 

I sincerely want to thank all of the listeners for being ever so faithful in tuning in every month. Thank you!

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Episode Summary

Technology is in everything and is everywhere. In this episode, with our guest Tai Goodwin of That Marketing Team, we learn that there is significant tech behind marketing online. Tai's background gave her insider knowledge of how to use tech to enhance marketing efforts. She leveraged her self-taught skills and talents to entrepreneurship. That Marketing Team will help you get your backend system together so that you can do what you do best. This was a fascinating conversation about the need for marketing and how tech can be used to help your business flourish

Tai Goodwin Bio
Tai Goodwin is the CEO of That Marketing Team and creator of Quiz & Grow Rich. She's an award-winning instructional designer with 20+ years of experience creating learning solutions for Fortune 500 companies like Barnes & Noble and tech start-ups like Leadpages. Recognized as a Small Business Influencer Top 100 Champion by Small Biz Trends in 2013, she is a contributor to The Huffington Post and has been featured in Forbes.com, Money, and CAREER Magazine. Her mission is to help women grow their business without selling out or burning out. Her specialty is teaching authors, coaches, consultants, and speakers how to build sustainable businesses around their expertise and experiences. Clients and audiences alike sing Tai’s praises for her ability to insightfully deliver her unique brand of inspiration and instruction. Possessing an exceptional gift for balancing passion with practical action, Tai gives her audience exactly what they need to go from stuck to started to thriving. A former AmeriCorps member, teacher, and corporate training specialist, Tai is certified in human performance improvement and has over 19 years of experience in training & development. Tai is the author of Girlfriend, It's Your Time: Reclaim Your Brilliance and Step Into Your Purpose. She is also the host of the Girlfriend It's Your Time podcast. You can learn more about her musings on what it means to be smart, black, and spiritually conscious in America on her personal blog, Smart and Black. Stay connected with Tai via Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

http://www.thatmarketingteam.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/taigoodwin

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Episode Summary
Lauren is the real deal when it comes to mathematics and integrating STEM. Her work with VEX Robotics ensures that the curriculum is designed to promote healthy STEM which means that it is integrated. She is and has always been a strong advocate for herself and for others. I love the work that she is doing with her doctoral studies and I believe it will have a lasting impact on the world of STEM.

What can we say about VEX Robotics and the World Competition happening right now!! You can get more information about vex here: Home - VEX Robotics

More information about the competition or how to start a team here: https://www.vexrobotics.com/competition



Lauren Harter Bio
Lauren Harter is the Director of Instructional Technology at VEX Robotics and has a wide range of experience in education. From teaching in the high school setting to developing materials that teachers use in numerous countries, Lauren’s experiences have shaped her contributions to the educational community.

Lauren received a double bachelor's in Mathematics and Secondary Mathematics Education from Duquesne University in 2016. Shortly after, she began teaching high school mathematics at Serra Catholic High. For two years, she taught 9-12th grade Algebra I, Algebra II, Trigonometry, and Calculus to a wide range of students.

Lauren is nearing the end of her Doctoral studies and is conducting research in teaching practices that promote conceptual understanding in mathematics and teacher quality.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-harter-1b4788b0

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STEMming in Stilettos Youtube Channel: https://youtu.be/xAc25J7UH9A

Episode Summary

Ursula Spencer is a super dope nerd. She is a Black woman in STEM who has overcome all the -isms to lead her own company that serves kids all over the world.  Early on in her career, she took ownership and wrote her own path. She is an entrepreneur and tech guru that is investing in our future through Dope Nerds and AR/VR. This episode takes the listener through some of her past experiences and give insight into why she feels so strongly about giving back to the community and bringing young, gifted, and Black students into the world of tech.

Ursula Spencer Bio

The founder of Dope Nerds is a self-taught technologist and accomplished tech entrepreneur. At the young age of 11, she taught herself how to hack and launched her first tech company at 21 years of age. With over 30 years of experience as a Sr. Consultant, Subject Matter Expert, and Technical Advisor, she has worked for organizations such as the Federal Reserve Bank, Chase, and Bankers Trust, ultimately leading technology teams for the Federal Reserve System's twelve banks. Her interest in virtual reality began in 2009 when she became an early adopter of online virtual worlds to understand its potential impact on industries beyond entertainment and gaming. In 2019, she founded Dope Nerds as a brand, focusing on leveraging her technical expertise to provide innovative and impactful learning experiences for youth and under-represented communities. 


Website: https://dopenerds.tech
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ursulaspencer/

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STEMming in Stilettos Youtube Channel: https://youtu.be/xAc25J7UH9A

Episode Summary

1. Her experiences are sooooooooooooo familiar to me as a Black woman in STEM.
2. She has been able to use her experience to assist and help others in leadership and beyond.
3. She is proud to be from New Jersey and to have been educated in New Jersey. 


Angie Ogando Bio

Angie Ogando received the following degrees from NJIT – a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering in 2002 and an MBA degree in 2011. She provides insight into conflict resolution, corporate values alignment, mission integration, and effective communication strategies. She is a Certified Master Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) coach and trainer and a Certified Master Trainer in Hypnosis. She is a co-founder of Yoshida Academy, a company focused on helping individuals improve their leadership talents and public speaking skills. She is also the founder and chief executive officer of The Enriched Mind, a company that offers leadership training for companies in finance, technology, and the fashion industry. Other positions held include Chief Operating Officer at Global Performance Group (2016) and Licensed Insurance Representative at Primeamerica (2003-2005). Ms. Ogando is a founding member of the Association of Ecuadorians/Americans United and was an advisor to the Institute of Ecuadorian-Latina Women Leaders. For eight years, she partnered with nonprofit organizations to provide legal and medical aid to the underserved Latino community through the association. Ms. Ogando was named Woman of the Year by the Dominican Parade in Essex County in 2009 and received the Community Activist award from the Municipal Council of the City of Newark in 2010.

Her clients call her the "People Whisperer." You'll call her amazing! An international powerhouse speaker, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and change maker, Angelica's superpower is being an Afro-Latina who can connect to people on the next level! Integrating her business and life experiences with her world-class coaching skills, Angelica will help you develop powerful, long-lasting success strategies to tap into your powers.

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STEMming in Stilettos Youtube Channel: https://youtu.be/xAc25J7UH9A

Episode Summary
Atiyah has always loved math. It's in her DNA. She would go to the store and count out her change at the checkout line. Her math abilities led her to private school. She learned to navigate two different worlds, private school, and the real world. She's always wanted to inform the world using math.  Black Girls Love Math is a labor of love to give girls a firm foundation and positive math identity. She has taken her love, life, career, and experiences and used them to assist other Black girls in persisting and succeeding at the next level starting with Math.

Atiyah Harmon Bio
She is the Founder and Executive Director of Black Girls Love Math. BGLM eliminates gender and racial inequalities in math for all who identify as Black girls in grades K-12. Additionally, she leads and creates adult professional learning. She is a Certified School Building Leader, Principal, and Leadership Coach with 15+ years of experience in education. She offers advanced instructional and leadership skills as well as expertise in instructional coaching, curriculum development, youth development, service learning, and positive behavior supports. She is committed to performance improvement and providing a full capability offering in educational enhancement activities from Kindergarten through twelfth grades.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/atiyaharmon
Website: https://www.blackgirlslovemath.org/

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STEMming in Stilettos Youtube Channel: https://youtu.be/xAc25J7UH9A

Episode Summary
There is so much to be said about the topic we discussed in the episode. Sans makes some great points as it relates to what happened to women during the pandemic. People are NOT really talking about this issue. It is important. Women were disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Many women had to leave jobs they loved to care for their children and this is sometimes with a partner in the home. Women across the world had to make hard choices that oftentimes led to great sacrifice for the women themselves. Sans talks about the health effects and the effect these decisions have had on the world at large. 




Sans Thakur Bio
Sans leads innovation in the making of science & medicine. With combined operating and strategic experience across more than 30 companies, +10 products, multiple digital health venture funds, and top 20 pharmaceutical portfolios, she is uniquely able to address matters of modern healthcare. 
She is Medable’s Chief Growth Officer and is focused on market expansion and growth initiatives to advance the company’s vision of human-centered research, enabling remote access to clinical trials regardless of geography, income, and race. She most recently served as global life sciences research lead for Accenture, responsible for market-shaping strategy and research in therapeutics, digital health, and business model innovation. During her 18 years in the life sciences industry, Thakur has advised more than 30 companies, launched 10 products, advised digital health venture funds, and managed a leading pharmaceutical portfolio.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanskritithakur/

Support the show

You can find out more information about Dr. Toshia here:

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STEMming in Stilettos Youtube Channel: https://youtu.be/xAc25J7UH9A