When it comes to encouraging more students to enter the fields that make up STEM –Science, Technology, Engineering and Math – American faces twin crises. First, how do we meet the looming 1.8 million shortfall in the number of workers who have the technical skills necessary for the jobs of tomorrow? And second, how do we ensure that more women and girls go into these fields?
The good news is that there are some true leaders committed to solving this problem. Among them, Cisco’s own Liz Centoni, Vice President, Engineering Strategy & Portfolio Planning and Chief of Staff for Chief Development Officer. Liz sits in the part of Cisco that innovates and develops our new technologies, products and solutions, the core of Cisco’s engineering team. Liz is an active mentor and supports under-represented minorities. At Cisco, she launched a “Women in Engineering Leadership” forum, and is the Global Executive Sponsor for Cisco’s Women in Science and Engineering (WISE), a recipient of the YWCA (Silicon Valley) 2015 TWIN Award, and CloudNOW’s “Top 10 Women in Cloud-2015.”
That’s why this week Liz will be honored by one of our nation’s most notable organizations that is trying to make mentoring a national priority – Million Women Mentors.
The Million Women Mentors organization is dedicated to advancing the education of girls and women in STEM. Today, Million Women Mentors is meeting at the National Press Club for an annual summit and gala. Cisco is proud to be both a sponsor and participant. www.millionwomenmentors.org
Cisco believes passionately in STEM mentoring as a tool that can help advance diversity in the STEM fields, a cause we wholeheartedly support. We are especially honored to be among the group – public and private – scheduled to receive awards tonight. We have committed to the US2020 pledge – that 20 percent of our workforce will mentor students in STEM annually by 2020. We have also significant programs in place to train students to meet the needs of the 21st century economy, as well as to increase the number of students of all backgrounds to go into STEM.
We’re proud to share the stage with other corporate leaders and elected officials, including Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).
As Patrice D’Eramo, Cisco’s vice president of America’s Field Marketing and a one of the Vice Chairs of the MWM told me: “Each of us has an obligation to extend a hand mentoring the next generation of leaders,” she said. “We want to open the door of opportunity to all students – and especially girls and young women– to be aware of STEM careers and to be excited by the possibilities that are out there. My career in tech is living proof what happens when you are mentored, in STEM, at a young age.”
I could not agree more.
Congratulations to Liz, other awardees, and the Million Women Mentor’s organization on this day of celebration. The work they do truly makes a difference.
Congratulations Liz !
Congratulations and truly deserving! You are an inspiration!
Amazing, very well deserved! Congratulations, Liz!!!
Congratulations Liz! We are so proud of the work you do for Women and STEM!
Congratulations Liz, Truly Amazing and Inspiring … very well deserved. You Rock Liz !!!
Congratulations Liz!! You are an inspiration to all. Well deserved!
Yay! Congratulations Liz! Well done!
Liz, It is a privilege to work with you as a global chairperson for WISE ERO. You are truly an inspiration for women in tech and role model for young girls. Under your leadership, WISE is going reaching new heights. Thanks for being there for us!
Congratulations Liz! Well deserved given all the help and guidance you offer to all of us Women Engineers at Cisco.
The mark of an outstanding leader is the quality of the team standing behind her. Thank you for your impact on others, and inspiring everyone else to take your lead and become better themselves. I’m very proud of you and delighted to see you get the recognition you so deserve.
Congratulations, Liz! You are such an inspiration to us all. Thank you for your mentorship and sponsorship for women in STEM. You keep reminding us that the possibilities are endless!
Well Deserved Liz! We are so proud of what you do!
Great hanging out with you at Million Women Mentors Summit. Your message was inspiring and thank you for everything you for for women/girls in STEM. you make us proud. Liz
Truly inspiring, we need more people like Liz.
Congratulations Liz!!! Thank you so much for your sponsorship to Cisco San Jose Engineering Women’s Forum.
This is amazing! congrats!
I have core interest in maths and love scientific way of thinking. It enables me to learn faster, solve complicated problem in studies as well as in general life