According to UNESCO, women account for just 35% of STEM graduates worldwide, a figure that has shown no improvement in a decade. This underscores that women remain significantly underrepresented in STEM fields globally – making conversations about inclusion more critical than ever.
In the UK, women make up around 27% of the core STEM workforce, with persistent shortages in engineering, computing and technology roles. Addressing these gaps matters: diverse STEM teams consistently deliver more innovative solutions and better reflect the needs of the populations they serve.
To highlight the importance of representation and inspire future talent, we brought together our Chief R&D Officer, Angela Naef, and colleagues Moniq Lyons (R&D Associate, PMD Team), Lisajo Orogun (Global Medical Affairs Associate) and Sophie Chen (Quality Manager) for an open conversation about their journeys into STEM.
Angela began by sharing her early fascination with science, sparked by a childhood microscope. She spoke about STEM careers as “unbounded” due to the endless questions and challenges they offer.
Each participant reflected on challenges they have faced along the way.
Moniq described completing her degree during the loss of her mother – an emotionally demanding period where family encouragement helped her stay the course, opening doors that would have shut had she paused.
Lisajo shared her unconventional move from pharmacy into industry. With the pandemic disrupting the traditional internship pathways, she relied on determination and resilience to carve her own route.
Sophie spoke about learning to navigate project setbacks, adopting a “fail quick, learn quick, grow quick” approach that strengthened her technical confidence.
Together, they explored how organisations can help tackle the gender gap. Their insights were clear: create meaningful opportunities, ensure women are in the room, recognise achievements publicly and increase the visibility of female role models. Small acts of encouragement, they agreed, can have a transformative impact.
The group closed with advice for young women considering STEM careers: build strong technical skills, nurture relationships, stay curious and trust that you belong in every room you enter.
Watch the full roundtable discussion for more insights and advice.