february 09, 2022 - Seat

To all the STEM women of the future

According to UNESCO, only 28% of engineering graduates are women
The lack of female role models in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) turns girls away from these careers, which perpetuates the shortage of role models for girls in the future
To break this vicious circle, on February 11^th SEAT S.A. is launching an initiative to introduce the company’s STEM women to girls and boys between the ages of 8 and 17

One of the 5th grade classes at the American School of Barcelona is getting ready for a different kind of day. Today they’re welcoming a visitor who could change their lives and shape their future, or at least that’s what she’s aiming for. “My name is #sarariera, I studied Mathematics and Industrial Engineering, I’m the head of Energy & Charging Services at #seat S.A., and I’m here today to tell you about my experience as a woman in #science.” The classroom is silent, but after one girl raises her hand to ask the first question, more and more hands hands go up. This could be the first time they’ve met a women with a STEM career (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).

Breaking the cycle. Only 28% of engineering graduates and only 33.3% of research scientists worldwide are women, according to the latest UNESCO study, UNESCO #science Report: Towards 2030 (2021). The lack of female role models in STEM contributes to these low numbers. Girls who don’t see themselves reflected in STEM careers choose other professions, and consequently, won’t become STEM role models for girls and boys in the following generations. Breaking this vicious circle can begin with meetings like today’s.

Changing the world starts in the classroom. Sara tells the class how she discovered that she wanted to study STEM careers: “When I was your age, we had maths class and my best friend looked over at me and said ‘Seriously, I hate maths’, and I thought ‘you hate maths? I love it!” That draws a lot of smiles from the children. “Then I realised that most of my classmates didn’t like it either, and that made me feel special; I saw that I had the opportunity to work on something that I’m passionate about and that contributes to society.” That brief exchange with her classmate guided Sara’s decision to focus her career on mathematics and engineering, which led her to her current role in helping #seat S.A. deliver sustainable mobility solutions.

Electric women. “What’s the coolest thing about your job?” asks Soraya. Sara has a very clear answer: “that I make the world a better place.” As the person in charge of electrification services at #seat S.A., this engineer is convinced that the future is electric and is measured in terms of diversity. “Why should we pursue STEM careers?” asks Aya, “The question is: why not? If you like them, it’s the best thing you can do, because you bring diversity to talent: you, or you, or you, could be the designer or engineer of one of the electric cars of the future” she replies.

Role models matter. This meeting is part of an initiative by #seat S.A. to bring the company’s female STEM role models closer to girls and boys aged 8 to 17 from different schools on the occasion of International Day of Women and Girls in #science (February 11^th). “We want girls and boys to see themselves reflected in women engineers, mathematicians and scientists, and to be able to say: ‘I want to be like her’” says #benjaminramirez, head of the Culture, Change & Diversity department at #seat S.A. In the classroom, Sara sends a message to an audience that’s paying close attention: “We as women don’t have many female role models in STEM, so work hard, pursue your dreams and you’ll be the best example for the girls of the future and for everybody, including me.”