Breaking Down Barriers for Young Women in STEM

The best way to show students what they can achieve is to introduce them to accomplished people. Three women in Page’s leadership development group recently addressed young women in grades 8-12 about pursuing careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). Just learning what it takes to be an architect or an engineer opens up young imaginations about possible futures. As Project Architect Margarita de Monterrosa told the students, who could someday work for Page, “Knowledge is power!”

Margarita, Graduate Mechanical Engineer Ashley August and Graduate Electrical Engineer Brenda Umanzor were invited by the event chair, who had previously met them at a University of Houston Bauer College of Business Women in Leadership executive education course. Brenda took on the role of facilitating Page’s role in the day-long 2019 Gulf Coast Young Women’s Leadership Symposium hosted by the Texas Diversity Council.

In their panel discussion “Careers in STEM Fields” they were joined by women from Houston Community College System and ExxonMobil and prompted by the event moderator, the female CEO of Big State Construction, to share advice. The students were told to get out of their comfort zones and be curious. Ashley advised them, ““Aim high and take advantage of every opportunity. Don’t wait for someone to present your dream to you, go out and find it!”

In addition to its aspiration of being considered an employer of choice by current and future employees, Page also supports increasing diversity and inclusion across the multiple industries represented at the firm, architecture, engineering, interiors, planning and consulting. To read more about some of these efforts, click here.