Ideas for Women Looking to Break Through Barriers in STEM

By Jasmine Dyoco
​Edited by Lauren Koenig

Though women were instrumental to the growth and development of STEM fields, data shows that the number of women entering these industries has flattened. If you’re looking to break barriers to realize the career of your dreams, here are some suggestions for how to overcome the challenges that women face in STEM.​

Photo by Unsplash

Advance your career with knowledge certification

When your knowledge grows, so can your paycheck. Women who run against a wall in career advancement can boost their potential with a professional development course. Ideally, you want classes that provide you with a certificate after a final assessment. Even after collecting further certifications and degrees, keep your skills sharp by expanding your knowledge and taking quizzes to test your understanding of essential topics.

Build your brand by sharing expertise

Learn how to explain complex topics in clear terms and contribute articles to websites to share your expertise. Subscribe to STEM podcasts and reach out to programs looking for guests to discuss relevant subjects. Search for opportunities to guide others by speaking at local school and community events to explain the value of your work and earning potential. While these activities will boost your resume, they also have the added benefit of positioning you as a role model and as an example of someone who has achieved a STEM career. In turn, this will encourage other women to advance and share their knowledge. 
 
Build your confidence while helping others

Fighting the uphill battle becomes exhausting, and times may come when you don't feel like you're up to the challenge. Join organizations that support women in STEM and build a robust network. Ask for mentors who can boost your confidence with tips and new perspectives. Serving as a mentor yourself can also help you overcome feelings of burnout and establish a sense of community within your field. Help other women join the industry and amplify their voices.

Prioritize self-care and time management

Attention to your physical and emotional self-care can keep you energized and self-assured. Work hard, but plan sufficient rest and at least one day a week to disconnect from your work to focus on family and recharge yourself.

If you get overwhelmed during the workweek, break down large assignments into manageable tasks. Prioritize duties by deadline and difficulty to remove stressful items from your agenda. Time blocking is an effective technique for priming yourself for peak performance.

Start a business

If you struggle to connect with a company that has solid core values and is willing to pay you a fair wage, evaluate starting a business in your field. Starting a company is challenging, but the satisfaction and earning potential are limitless when you run your own firm. Search for stories and advice from other female entrepreneurs who triumphed.

A stable business begins with a carefully crafted business plan. Include these elements in a well-rounded strategy:

• A company description that outlines your legal structure, history, and goals
• The products and services you offer and the problems they solve
• A market analysis that shows the current competitive landscape and the potential demand 
• A sales and marketing strategy to capture an increasing market share
• The company's organizational and management structure
• Required funding and financial projections for at least five years

Carefully consider your business structure as well. Forming an LLC will protect your personal assets and come with other benefits like flexibility, reduced paperwork, and pass-through taxation. You can work with a formation service to handle LLC registration. Before you select a formation company to work with, take a look at the 7 best LLC services available to ensure you’re selecting one that’s trusted and reliable.


Much progress has been made in helping women advance in STEM-related industries, but the battle continues. As women help their fellow females enter STEM fields and boost their own progress through taking professional development courses, finding supportive mentors, and starting a STEM-related business, the sector will further benefit from the experience and talent women bring.​

Jasmine Dyoco

Jasmine Dyoco loves crossword puzzles, audio books, and fencing. She  is passionate about learning (anything and everything)! She works with Educatorlabs to curate scholastic information.