What role does mentorship play in advancing women’s careers in STEM?

It is clear that more women than ever before are pursuing education in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). In turn, we are seeing more women who are employed within STEM industries or applying their STEM knowledge at their workplace.

However, studies show that women in STEM are still not advancing at the same rate as their male counterparts. There is also evidence that women are exiting the STEM industry in higher volumes than men, typically after five-seven years in the industry.

This represents a great pool of unfulfilled and lost potential that could greatly benefit the economy and contribute to the success of individual enterprises. Corporations are losing their investment in candidates who leave prematurely.

Mentorship is often cited as a successful means of engaging, motivating and developing employees, and aligning their progression with the objectives of their employer. When targeting women specifically, a mentorship program serves to counter the existing and underlying structural barriers in place and supports their growth.