Cisco: An Open Letter to Women in STEM on International Women in Engineering Day

Dear young women in STEM,

Every time I’m asked what I’ve learned in my career, or what advice I’d give to young women in STEM, I share the same four things.

We need you

Your individual contribution matters. So much of technology and engineering comes down to solving problems, and innovation happens best when we’re able to look at a problem from all sides. We need your perspective - especially as we move into the era of AI. Right now, we are building and training the models that will shape our future. These models must be unbiased, ethical, and representative of us all. We need women in AI now so that AI works for women for years to come.

You will be a change-maker, a role model, a problem-solver, and an inspiration. Our industry will be better for your presence in it. I’m glad you’re here – keep going.

Find your voice

There will be times you feel conspicuous or “other,” and feel the urge to assimilate, hide, or fly under the radar. Please don’t! Don’t minimize your voice or deprive the room of your contributions. Your authenticity is your superpower.

Cultivate the courage to speak up. Ask questions, ask for the meeting, ask to take on challenges – this is how you’ll grow. But be just as open about giving. Share your knowledge and experience freely. Support others. Be a great team member. These are standout qualities that will make a difference in the quality of the work and in your career.

Find your people.

Community is critical. You need a support system where you can learn, seek guidance, and grow together with women who share your values and vision. This kind of allyship will help you learn more about yourself. My career has been shaped by advisors who pushed me into opportunities that I’d never have taken otherwise, but allowed me to use my strengths and grow. It takes some effort to build this community for yourself. Get active in professional organizations. Take advantage of in-office experiences. Plug into employee resource groups. Seek out a mentor and sponsor and keep in regular contact. Your career (and your life) will be so much richer when you’re surrounded by people who support you and make you better.

Never stop learning.

Make a commitment to being a life-long learner. Learn deep and wide.

Deep: Stay on top of skills and technology as they evolve. It takes discipline, but there are so many resources out there. Do your best to give yourself time to learn, even on busy days. This knowledge will set you apart.

Wide: Be open to non-traditional steps in your career. There will be moments where you're asked to take a role that you're looking at and thinking, “Well that wasn’t in my five-year-plan.” My advice: Go for it. The more you experience of a company, the more empathy you have for everybody in it. You begin to understand how everything works together, where things break down – it makes you uniquely qualified to lead and to help solve complex problems.

Stay curious!

I am thankful for you, and cheering for you,

Liz

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