Get Recognized, Get Promoted: Mastering Visibility for Women in STEM (Part 1)
Malia Lym, PE????♀?
Career Strategist for Women in STEM I Empowering Women to Lead With Confidence and Secure Promotions | Creator of the MAGIC Monday Framework?
Mastering Visibility for Women in STEM (Part 1)
As a woman in STEM, you've likely put in countless hours of hard work, striving to excel in your field. But here's a harsh truth: hard work alone isn't enough to get you noticed or promoted. The fear of being perceived as too assertive or aggressive can also hold women back from seeking the visibility they need.
But let's face it, many women struggle with this. I've seen clients who were spoken over in meetings, and women assigned to projects who never spoke up once in any project meetings—a complete waste of opportunity. This is not okay. I surveyed over 100 STEM professionals and men are twice as likely to seek out high-visibility projects. This mindset needs to change for women. No more wallflowers!?
This series is meant to create a change in how you show up and stand on the impact you make and the ideas you have.
Understanding the Importance of Visibility in STEM Careers
In the world of STEM, women face unique challenges that can make it difficult to gain the recognition they deserve. When you close your eyes and envision a leader, human nature will have you envision yourself or someone like you. In a male-dominated field, your coworkers, who are predominantly men, will naturally envision a man as a leader. This bias is ingrained, and it's your responsibility to show them that you can be a leader too. It's not fair, but it's the reality. You need to do the extra work to change their perspective and position yourself as a leader.
Despite their significant contributions, many women remain under-recognized and undervalued. This lack of visibility can stall career growth and leave women feeling invisible. The systemic biases and lack of mentorship opportunities make it harder for women to be seen and heard. Women often have to work twice as hard to get half the recognition.?
Visibility is crucial for career growth because it leads to recognition, opportunities, and advancement. When you're visible, people notice your contributions and are more likely to consider you for promotions and key projects. Others can’t want to work with you if they don't know who you are or what you are capable of. Being seen and heard is not just about getting credit for your work—it's about positioning yourself as a leader and influencer in your field.
Three Strategies to Increase Your Visibility
Here are three steps you can take today to start increasing your visibility:?
1) Leveraging Company Platforms to Showcase Your Expertise:
Find out what forms of visibility matter at your company. Social media platforms like LinkedIn are powerful tools for increasing your visibility, but if no one from your job is active on LinkedIn, then you’ve added work to your plate just to shout in an empty forest.
Instead, look around. How are others getting visibility? Does it happen in town hall-style meetings, internal company newsletters, company events, employee networks, etc.? Jot down a few that you see at your job and start getting involved, bringing your unique strengths to the forefront, and be active in multiple ways.
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2) First Steps to Building Your Reputation:
Start by identifying your strengths and unique contributions. What sets you apart from your peers? Highlight how your work is important for the overall team and organization. This allows you to highlight your contributions and the larger impact. Knowing this helps you discuss your strengths with others more regularly.?
And take this as far as you’d like. Utilize unique skills - are you a travel enthusiast, or a travel agent hobbyist? Start and lead a travel club or a choir if you sing.?
3) Networking Effectively in Male-Dominated Fields:
Networking is essential, especially in male-dominated fields. Attend industry events, join professional organizations, and participate in networking opportunities to build meaningful connections. But let's be real, early in my career I struggled with this. As a young woman of color, my technical peers were older white men. How in the world would I strike up a conversation, let alone relate in meaningful ways that would open the door for securing a professional connection? I looked for answers in a book: How to Win Friends and Influence People. This book, along with the other top books I recommend, has been instrumental in building leadership and other soft skills that have been crucial in my success and the success of my clients.
Overcoming Barriers and Achieving Career Growth
It's a difficult leap to go from feeling invisible to standing confidently in the front of the room. Women continue to face bias, shrink themselves just to get by, or even give up on STEM. Trust me I know this all to well.?
At 22, I was an engineer in LA making $98,500 a year, living the “American dream.” But the reality was far from perfect. The stress of daily belittlement triggered my chronic illness, leading to 24 hospital and emergency room visits in one year. My leader made daily lunch plans with the whole team, excluding me while I was in the room. I found out I was being blocked from work opportunities in my technical specialty, the very role I was supposed to be an expert in. I felt powerless and invisible. Imposter syndrome started to seep in.
What saved me was a mentor believing in me—not just with words, but with actions. A senior mentor opened doors and took me under their wing. I needed to see myself in those high places. Through being a shadow to a leader, I found the motivation to keep going and go harder. I finally broke six figures and have increased my earning year after year, got my PE, earned a Master’s in Engineering Management, expanded my network, became a global engineering specialist and technical subject matter expert, and more.?
Being invisible, facing imposter syndrome, and having a lack of confidence is not a story unique to me. And while we dream of a world where mentors proactively reach out to help, that day has yet to arrive. That’s why I created a community of women in STEM where I can personally provide mentorship and help them navigate male-dominated fields as a woman.
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