I’d like to tell you a story about a very rocky romance it’s the story of my
very rocky romance it’s the story of my
very rocky romance it’s the story of my relationship with stem for those of you
relationship with stem for those of you
relationship with stem for those of you who may be living under a rock stem is
who may be living under a rock stem is
who may be living under a rock stem is an acronym for science technology
an acronym for science technology
an acronym for science technology engineering and mathematics as a spoiler
engineering and mathematics as a spoiler
engineering and mathematics as a spoiler alert my story has a happy ending I’m
alert my story has a happy ending I’m
alert my story has a happy ending I’m now a technology lawyer at an
now a technology lawyer at an
now a technology lawyer at an international media company where I
international media company where I
international media company where I specialized in big data and drones
specialized in big data and drones
specialized in big data and drones finding new and innovative ways to use
finding new and innovative ways to use
finding new and innovative ways to use our drones for news gathering is a
our drones for news gathering is a
our drones for news gathering is a significant part of my job
significant part of my job
significant part of my job in fact my team recently received the
in fact my team recently received the
in fact my team recently received the first ever license to fly a drone over
first ever license to fly a drone over
first ever license to fly a drone over people in the US but the fact that I
people in the US but the fact that I
people in the US but the fact that I ended up in a stem career may seem a
ended up in a stem career may seem a
ended up in a stem career may seem a little surprising given that I hated it
little surprising given that I hated it
little surprising given that I hated it during my formative years the truth is
during my formative years the truth is
during my formative years the truth is we don’t normally think of stem hating
we don’t normally think of stem hating
we don’t normally think of stem hating girls as having a bright future in the
girls as having a bright future in the
girls as having a bright future in the tech industry but I’m here today to ask
tech industry but I’m here today to ask
tech industry but I’m here today to ask you to reconsider that idea because I
you to reconsider that idea because I
you to reconsider that idea because I believe that girls and women who have
believe that girls and women who have
believe that girls and women who have strayed from the stem path can help
strayed from the stem path can help
strayed from the stem path can help transform the world of technology for
transform the world of technology for
transform the world of technology for the better with that in mind my story
the better with that in mind my story
the better with that in mind my story begins when I was in elementary school
begins when I was in elementary school
begins when I was in elementary school at this age I loved science and math so
at this age I loved science and math so
at this age I loved science and math so here I am on Christmas morning and about
here I am on Christmas morning and about
here I am on Christmas morning and about the second or third grade opening up a
the second or third grade opening up a
the second or third grade opening up a microscope as you can see I was pretty
microscope as you can see I was pretty
microscope as you can see I was pretty stoked I love this microscope so much
stoked I love this microscope so much
stoked I love this microscope so much that I remember breaking it out during a
that I remember breaking it out during a
that I remember breaking it out during a sleepover at my house so that my friend
sleepover at my house so that my friend
sleepover at my house so that my friend Cara and I could look at algae fun right
Cara and I could look at algae fun right
Cara and I could look at algae fun right but a few years after this photo was
but a few years after this photo was
but a few years after this photo was taken things changed for me as shown by
taken things changed for me as shown by
taken things changed for me as shown by this eighth grade diary entry declaring
this eighth grade diary entry declaring
this eighth grade diary entry declaring my hatred for algebra and
my hatred for algebra and
my hatred for algebra and my early love for math and science
my early love for math and science
my early love for math and science started to fade during middle school
started to fade during middle school
started to fade during middle school algebra became my frenemy it was
algebra became my frenemy it was
algebra became my frenemy it was difficult to understand and it just made
difficult to understand and it just made
difficult to understand and it just made me feel bad about myself and just as my
me feel bad about myself and just as my
me feel bad about myself and just as my hatred for math was starting to drive me
hatred for math was starting to drive me
hatred for math was starting to drive me away from all things STEM other subjects
away from all things STEM other subjects
away from all things STEM other subjects started to draw me in I loved writing
started to draw me in I loved writing
started to draw me in I loved writing and designed so much that in high school
and designed so much that in high school
and designed so much that in high school I Co published my own socially conscious
I Co published my own socially conscious
I Co published my own socially conscious magazine called tea cup with my best
magazine called tea cup with my best
magazine called tea cup with my best friend Erin and sold it to my classmates
friend Erin and sold it to my classmates
friend Erin and sold it to my classmates I became really interested in politics
I became really interested in politics
I became really interested in politics and gender equality I quoted Margaret
and gender equality I quoted Margaret
and gender equality I quoted Margaret Thatcher to anyone who would listen if
Thatcher to anyone who would listen if
Thatcher to anyone who would listen if you want anything said ask a man if you
you want anything said ask a man if you
you want anything said ask a man if you want anything done ask a woman I
want anything done ask a woman I
want anything done ask a woman I couldn’t wait to turn 18 so that I could
couldn’t wait to turn 18 so that I could
couldn’t wait to turn 18 so that I could finally vote but in the midst of my love
finally vote but in the midst of my love
finally vote but in the midst of my love affair with writing and the liberal arts
affair with writing and the liberal arts
affair with writing and the liberal arts I still had occasional encounters with
I still had occasional encounters with
I still had occasional encounters with stem I even ended up taking AP Physics
stem I even ended up taking AP Physics
stem I even ended up taking AP Physics during my senior year of high school
during my senior year of high school
during my senior year of high school looking back this is where I reached a
looking back this is where I reached a
looking back this is where I reached a fork in the road that led me away from
fork in the road that led me away from
fork in the road that led me away from stem for many years to come so here I am
stem for many years to come so here I am
stem for many years to come so here I am on the left in physics class doing
on the left in physics class doing
on the left in physics class doing something actually let’s face it
something actually let’s face it
something actually let’s face it I may be copying that other girls lab
I may be copying that other girls lab
I may be copying that other girls lab work sorry mrs. Joyner at the end of the
work sorry mrs. Joyner at the end of the
work sorry mrs. Joyner at the end of the year my physics teacher paired each of
year my physics teacher paired each of
year my physics teacher paired each of us with an engineer for a special
us with an engineer for a special
us with an engineer for a special physics career day I ended up being
physics career day I ended up being
physics career day I ended up being paired with an agricultural engineer on
paired with an agricultural engineer on
paired with an agricultural engineer on a peanut farm like the one shown in this
a peanut farm like the one shown in this
a peanut farm like the one shown in this photo no offense to President Jimmy
photo no offense to President Jimmy
photo no offense to President Jimmy Carter and those of you with the peanut
Carter and those of you with the peanut
Carter and those of you with the peanut farming heritage but it was the most
farming heritage but it was the most
farming heritage but it was the most boring day of my life I didn’t even get
boring day of my life I didn’t even get
boring day of my life I didn’t even get to ride on the tractor needless to say I
to ride on the tractor needless to say I
to ride on the tractor needless to say I did not major in engineering when I went
did not major in engineering when I went
did not major in engineering when I went to college instead I poured my energy
to college instead I poured my energy
to college instead I poured my energy and passion into the liberal arts and
and passion into the liberal arts and
and passion into the liberal arts and declared political science as my major
declared political science as my major
declared political science as my major and my interest in writing and politics
and my interest in writing and politics
and my interest in writing and politics ultimately led me to law school when I
ultimately led me to law school when I
ultimately led me to law school when I finished law school eleven years ago
finished law school eleven years ago
finished law school eleven years ago I figured that stem was finally behind
I figured that stem was finally behind
I figured that stem was finally behind me and that I would simply write and
me and that I would simply write and
me and that I would simply write and argue my way into a successful legal
argue my way into a successful legal
argue my way into a successful legal career as it turns out I was completely
career as it turns out I was completely
career as it turns out I was completely wrong you see my company started to use
wrong you see my company started to use
wrong you see my company started to use data and drones to innovate our business
data and drones to innovate our business
data and drones to innovate our business and I realized that if I wanted to be
and I realized that if I wanted to be
and I realized that if I wanted to be good at my job I needed to know how this
good at my job I needed to know how this
good at my job I needed to know how this stuff actually worked at first this made
stuff actually worked at first this made
stuff actually worked at first this made me feel pretty intimidated when I first
me feel pretty intimidated when I first
me feel pretty intimidated when I first started working in drones I had never
started working in drones I had never
started working in drones I had never even seen a drone in person before but
even seen a drone in person before but
even seen a drone in person before but I’d opened because well I knew that I
I’d opened because well I knew that I
I’d opened because well I knew that I had to and before long I was waist-deep
had to and before long I was waist-deep
had to and before long I was waist-deep in stem take a look at this formula now
in stem take a look at this formula now
in stem take a look at this formula now as I mentioned my company recently
as I mentioned my company recently
as I mentioned my company recently received a license to fly a drone over
received a license to fly a drone over
received a license to fly a drone over people this formula was the cornerstone
people this formula was the cornerstone
people this formula was the cornerstone of our safety case to the government
of our safety case to the government
of our safety case to the government it helped us calculate whether we can
it helped us calculate whether we can
it helped us calculate whether we can operate a drone safely over people based
operate a drone safely over people based
operate a drone safely over people based on factors like kinetic energy given my
on factors like kinetic energy given my
on factors like kinetic energy given my past turbulent relationship with stem I
past turbulent relationship with stem I
past turbulent relationship with stem I was surprised to discover how intrigued
was surprised to discover how intrigued
was surprised to discover how intrigued I was by all this in a way it made me
I was by all this in a way it made me
I was by all this in a way it made me feel empowered like I had control over a
feel empowered like I had control over a
feel empowered like I had control over a subject that once controlled me and I
subject that once controlled me and I
subject that once controlled me and I realized something else too let me show
realized something else too let me show
realized something else too let me show you some footage that my company’s news
you some footage that my company’s news
you some footage that my company’s news team captured in kobani Syria using a
team captured in kobani Syria using a
team captured in kobani Syria using a drone after the town had been decimated
drone after the town had been decimated
drone after the town had been decimated by air strikes but only the drones I
by air strikes but only the drones I
by air strikes but only the drones I view that really opens up that level of
view that really opens up that level of
view that really opens up that level of damage
when I saw this footage I was blown away
when I saw this footage I was blown away in a flash I realized that stem was a
in a flash I realized that stem was a
in a flash I realized that stem was a tool that could be used to do all of the
tool that could be used to do all of the
tool that could be used to do all of the things that I’ve always loved to do tell
things that I’ve always loved to do tell
things that I’ve always loved to do tell stories create awareness and inspire
stories create awareness and inspire
stories create awareness and inspire social justice what I loved was not just
social justice what I loved was not just
social justice what I loved was not just the technology but what we can do with
the technology but what we can do with
the technology but what we can do with it
it
it now as promising as all this technology
now as promising as all this technology
now as promising as all this technology is we’re being hindered by one very
is we’re being hindered by one very
is we’re being hindered by one very important and nagging factor the tech
important and nagging factor the tech
important and nagging factor the tech industry is completely dominated by men
industry is completely dominated by men
industry is completely dominated by men study after study shows that this lack
study after study shows that this lack
study after study shows that this lack of diversity impairs everything from our
of diversity impairs everything from our
of diversity impairs everything from our ability to innovate to our bottom lines
ability to innovate to our bottom lines
ability to innovate to our bottom lines and yet the gender gap is stubbornly
and yet the gender gap is stubbornly
and yet the gender gap is stubbornly persisted for decades and it doesn’t
persisted for decades and it doesn’t
persisted for decades and it doesn’t seem to be getting much better by some
seem to be getting much better by some
seem to be getting much better by some estimates there will be one point four
estimates there will be one point four
estimates there will be one point four million computing jobs by the year 2020
million computing jobs by the year 2020
million computing jobs by the year 2020 and women are on track to fill just 3%
and women are on track to fill just 3%
and women are on track to fill just 3% of those roles 3% now I’ve certainly
of those roles 3% now I’ve certainly
of those roles 3% now I’ve certainly experienced this gender gap firsthand as
experienced this gender gap firsthand as
experienced this gender gap firsthand as you can see from this photo my wonderful
you can see from this photo my wonderful
you can see from this photo my wonderful drone teammates are mostly men my
drone teammates are mostly men my
drone teammates are mostly men my partners in the industry and in the
partners in the industry and in the
partners in the industry and in the government are also mostly men at my
government are also mostly men at my
government are also mostly men at my meetings and negotiations it’s not at
meetings and negotiations it’s not at
meetings and negotiations it’s not at all uncommon for me to be the only woman
all uncommon for me to be the only woman
all uncommon for me to be the only woman in the room I try not to let this bother
in the room I try not to let this bother
in the room I try not to let this bother me but sometimes it just does for
me but sometimes it just does for
me but sometimes it just does for example a couple of years ago is it a
example a couple of years ago is it a
example a couple of years ago is it a drone Expo and I remember looking out
drone Expo and I remember looking out
drone Expo and I remember looking out and literally as far as my eye could see
and literally as far as my eye could see
and literally as far as my eye could see there was a sea of men I felt a little
there was a sea of men I felt a little
there was a sea of men I felt a little isolated and self-conscious never before
isolated and self-conscious never before
isolated and self-conscious never before had I been quite so aware that I was
had I been quite so aware that I was
had I been quite so aware that I was different I realized that some men might
different I realized that some men might
different I realized that some men might not have much experience with the
not have much experience with the
not have much experience with the feelings that I’ve just described as a
feelings that I’ve just described as a
feelings that I’ve just described as a case in point I was
case in point I was
case in point I was recently at a woman’s networking event
recently at a woman’s networking event
recently at a woman’s networking event hosted by a very male-dominated company
hosted by a very male-dominated company
hosted by a very male-dominated company of course most of the guests were women
of course most of the guests were women
of course most of the guests were women but I was pleasantly surprised to see a
but I was pleasantly surprised to see a
but I was pleasantly surprised to see a handful of men in attendance – it was
handful of men in attendance – it was
handful of men in attendance – it was pretty clear that these men were a
pretty clear that these men were a
pretty clear that these men were a little out of place among all of these
little out of place among all of these
little out of place among all of these women they couldn’t fully participate in
women they couldn’t fully participate in
women they couldn’t fully participate in our conversations and they just weren’t
our conversations and they just weren’t
our conversations and they just weren’t fitting in one guy awkwardly stood in
fitting in one guy awkwardly stood in
fitting in one guy awkwardly stood in the corner and looked like he didn’t
the corner and looked like he didn’t
the corner and looked like he didn’t know what to do with his hands for this
know what to do with his hands for this
know what to do with his hands for this one occasion the majority was the
one occasion the majority was the
one occasion the majority was the minority unfortunately many women in the
minority unfortunately many women in the
minority unfortunately many women in the tech industry go through their entire
tech industry go through their entire
tech industry go through their entire careers doing this exact same way I have
careers doing this exact same way I have
careers doing this exact same way I have a daughter and I want to change things
a daughter and I want to change things
a daughter and I want to change things for her and for all of our daughters so
for her and for all of our daughters so
for her and for all of our daughters so that they don’t have to feel this way
that they don’t have to feel this way
that they don’t have to feel this way when it’s their turn at the wheel
when it’s their turn at the wheel
when it’s their turn at the wheel I believe my industry can change and I
I believe my industry can change and I
I believe my industry can change and I think we can do this by casting a wider
think we can do this by casting a wider
think we can do this by casting a wider net and bringing in girls and women of
net and bringing in girls and women of
net and bringing in girls and women of unique backgrounds who can help make our
unique backgrounds who can help make our
unique backgrounds who can help make our technology better let’s start with all
technology better let’s start with all
technology better let’s start with all the smart girls who have special
the smart girls who have special
the smart girls who have special creative talents I’d like to speak
creative talents I’d like to speak
creative talents I’d like to speak directly to each girl out there who
directly to each girl out there who
directly to each girl out there who loves to dream imagine or just think big
loves to dream imagine or just think big
loves to dream imagine or just think big the truth is the tech industry needs
the truth is the tech industry needs
the truth is the tech industry needs people just like you to help dream up
people just like you to help dream up
people just like you to help dream up our most revolutionary technology you
our most revolutionary technology you
our most revolutionary technology you can design and create the next
can design and create the next
can design and create the next generation of robots and drones the link
generation of robots and drones the link
generation of robots and drones the link between your creative talents and
between your creative talents and
between your creative talents and ingenious technology is so important
ingenious technology is so important
ingenious technology is so important that some experts have abandoned the
that some experts have abandoned the
that some experts have abandoned the acronym stem in favor of steam were the
acronym stem in favor of steam were the
acronym stem in favor of steam were the a stands for arts and let’s actively
a stands for arts and let’s actively
a stands for arts and let’s actively recruit the women who steered away from
recruit the women who steered away from
recruit the women who steered away from a traditional stem path like I did I’m
a traditional stem path like I did I’m
a traditional stem path like I did I’m speaking now to the women who fell
speaking now to the women who fell
speaking now to the women who fell head-over-heels for liberal arts and
head-over-heels for liberal arts and
head-over-heels for liberal arts and never considered a tech career to be a
never considered a tech career to be a
never considered a tech career to be a possibility stem wants you back and
possibility stem wants you back and
possibility stem wants you back and believe it or not your liberal arts
believe it or not your liberal arts
believe it or not your liberal arts background gives you the skills you need
background gives you the skills you need
background gives you the skills you need to design beautiful and intuitive
to design beautiful and intuitive
to design beautiful and intuitive technology
technology
technology and communicate the value of it to
and communicate the value of it to
and communicate the value of it to others as Steve Jobs said is technology
others as Steve Jobs said is technology
others as Steve Jobs said is technology married with the humanities married with
married with the humanities married with
married with the humanities married with the liberal arts
the liberal arts
the liberal arts they yields us the results that make our
they yields us the results that make our
they yields us the results that make our heart sing and now I’d like to speak to
heart sing and now I’d like to speak to
heart sing and now I’d like to speak to those of you who currently work in the
those of you who currently work in the
those of you who currently work in the tech industry one of the most important
tech industry one of the most important
tech industry one of the most important things you can do to help women succeed
things you can do to help women succeed
things you can do to help women succeed is to provide them with the right
is to provide them with the right
is to provide them with the right support networks I’ll give you an
support networks I’ll give you an
support networks I’ll give you an example of what I’m talking about over
example of what I’m talking about over
example of what I’m talking about over the past couple of years I’ve realized
the past couple of years I’ve realized
the past couple of years I’ve realized that there is a small but mighty group
that there is a small but mighty group
that there is a small but mighty group of women who populate the join landscape
of women who populate the join landscape
of women who populate the join landscape many of us are part of a newly formed
many of us are part of a newly formed
many of us are part of a newly formed non-profit group called women of
non-profit group called women of
non-profit group called women of commercial drones here’s a photo of a
commercial drones here’s a photo of a
commercial drones here’s a photo of a few of us from a recent White House
few of us from a recent White House
few of us from a recent White House during event our members come from many
during event our members come from many
during event our members come from many different backgrounds including
different backgrounds including
different backgrounds including engineering but also media public policy
engineering but also media public policy
engineering but also media public policy and even real estate and knowing this
and even real estate and knowing this
and even real estate and knowing this gave me the confidence to see what I
gave me the confidence to see what I
gave me the confidence to see what I could bring to the table based on my own
could bring to the table based on my own
could bring to the table based on my own experience
experience
experience the truth is it’s going to take a
the truth is it’s going to take a
the truth is it’s going to take a multi-threaded effort to bring gender
multi-threaded effort to bring gender
multi-threaded effort to bring gender balance to the tech industry I stumbled
balance to the tech industry I stumbled
balance to the tech industry I stumbled my way into tech and I was lucky and
my way into tech and I was lucky and
my way into tech and I was lucky and that I had the support of my colleagues
that I had the support of my colleagues
that I had the support of my colleagues and outside mentors but luck alone is
and outside mentors but luck alone is
and outside mentors but luck alone is not enough to get the job done we have
not enough to get the job done we have
not enough to get the job done we have to begin recruiting talented women and
to begin recruiting talented women and
to begin recruiting talented women and girls of unique backgrounds and
girls of unique backgrounds and
girls of unique backgrounds and empowering them to become leaders as if
empowering them to become leaders as if
empowering them to become leaders as if the future depends on their success
the future depends on their success
the future depends on their success because it does if we can open our minds
because it does if we can open our minds
because it does if we can open our minds to these possibilities I believe we can
to these possibilities I believe we can
to these possibilities I believe we can create a new reality or the difficult
create a new reality or the difficult
create a new reality or the difficult part of a tech career is the job itself
part of a tech career is the job itself
part of a tech career is the job itself and not a person’s gender thank you
and not a person’s gender thank you
and not a person’s gender thank you [Applause]
”
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