Celebrating Women |
Lee & Hayes is committed to celebrating women's achievements, raising awareness around bias, and taking action to achieve equity. |
To read the entire transcript of our interviews with these amazing women, please read below!
Lee & Hayes asked some of our female colleagues how they are helping to forge a gender-equal world, along with some other questions about what it means to be a woman in today’s professional environment.
Sarah Kalemeris, Senior Corporate Counsel – Intellectual Property, T-Mobile
How are you helping forge a gender-equal world?
T-Mobile insists on diverse slates for its outside counsel. If a firm claims to not have the resources, then they need to go to the law schools and start recruiting earlier. And if they claim there aren’t enough resources in law schools, then they need to go to the colleges, then to the high schools, etc.
Diversity in patent law is an industry-wide team effort, but it starts from the clients and it is a client’s responsibility to insist that diverse candidates, and especially female scientists, are trained and given equal opportunities to succeed.
Sarah Tariq, Director – Vision, Zoox
What advice do you have for women entering your field?
Find what you love doing and pursue it! Computer science is an extremely interesting, exciting and challenging field. If you love solving puzzles, having to work on problems where you have to apply creativity and curiosity, working on something that makes a positive difference in people's lives and having your hard work rewarded by something tangible (code that runs, an app that works, an algorithm that is faster and better than what anyone else had) then this could be a really rewarding career for you. If it sounds interesting don't let cultural norms, stereotypes and statistics stand in your way.
Yes, there is a large chance that you might be one of the only girls in a classroom or the only woman on a team, but that's ok! Being a woman is an axis that defines you, but there are so many others; your curiosity, intellect, resilience and drive. You will find common ground with your classmates and coworkers on many things that motivate you and interest you. It is true that there are unfortunate cases in our industry of stereotyping and harassment but there are also so many positive experiences, like mine. I chose computer science in my undergrad without having any prior experience with coding because it gave me the opportunity to invent something new and unique every time I did an assignment, no matter how small.
I chose to naively pursue computer science because I loved it, without thinking about how few women there would be in my classes or what kind of experience I thought I would have in the workplace, and I'm really glad that I did! I have had an incredibly fulfilling and exciting career and I have never apologized for being a woman - I can write great code and wear red stilettos, and you can have a great career in computer science while being true to yourself!
Nidhi Nahar, Patent Portfolio Manager, Square, Inc.
How have you helped, or intend to help, forge a gender equal world?
We all benefit from diversity at the decision-making and creativity table. I encourage more and more women to participate in the patent program, whether or not they are engineers. I also think that companies focus a lot on recruitment but if a workplace does not provide an inclusive environment, people will leave.
What made you interested in your career?
Technology can be daunting and complex, but it shouldn't be. Everything I do is geared towards making engineering simple, understandable, and accessible.
What is your greatest professional achievement?
In 2014, I provided legal services to launch PeaceJam's "One Billion Acts of Peace," a campaign led by thirteen Noble Peace Laureates and designed to inspire average citizens around the world to work together to create one billion high quality projects that address world issues.
Have you had any mentors, role models, or loved ones who have inspired you to pursue your career goals? How have they helped you?
I'm surrounded by people who are invested in my personal and professional growth. My husband and my father are my biggest cheerleaders. My mom and my sister gently nudge when I start to doubt myself. And professionally, my manager helps create the opportunities for me to grow and develop unique skills. He has also been working really hard to get me to stop saying "sorry" all the time.
What advice do you have for women entering your field?
Just do it. Don’t overthink, or listen too closely to the people who say you can’t. Don’t be ashamed to ask for the opportunities you want.
Heather Scholten, CIO/Head of Operations, Spiceology, Inc.
How have you helped, or intend to help, forge a gender equal world?
For me it was about proving continuously that my ideas and work ethic are no different than a man's. I strive to prove everyday that I am no different.
What made you interested in your career?
I have always been a foodie so when I was presented with the opportunity to co-found a spice company, it didn't take long to convince me.
What is your greatest professional achievement?
Co-founding my spice company and being named one of Forbes Fastest Growing Companies in the US.
Have you had any mentors, role models, or loved ones who have inspired you to pursue your career goals? How have they helped you?
We have had many along the way and each has brought experience and perspective that we needed to keep pushing the needle on growing our business.
What advice do you have for women entering your field?
Nike said it best....Just Do It. There's nothing in this world that can't be accomplished if you truly believe that you can just do it, and it makes no difference if you're a man or a woman.
What are some ways that we can encourage more women to participate in your industry?
Celebrating entrepreneurship and removing the gender labels. I am a business owner, an entrepreneur, and a fierce businessperson. Nowhere did I mention a woman.
Name a woman trailblazer that you believe everyone should know about. Why are her achievements important?
Besides me? :) Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook. She's inspirational to me because she built her career in roles where she was coined "first woman to".
What's next? What are your goals for the future?
To continue building the biggest and baddest spice company and one day be an inspiration, investor and mentor to other budding entrepreneurs.
Melissa Coombes, Patent Attorney, Lee & Hayes
How have you helped, or intend to help, forge a gender equal world?
I try to help forge a gender equal world by trying to focus on the different strengths and perspectives that both men and women bring to the table.
What made you interested in your career?
The intellectual challenge is what drew me in to this career field, and the balance between logic and creativity is what has kept me here.
What is your greatest professional achievement?
Getting my Aviation Transportation Pilot license to fly airplanes commercially. :)
Have you had any mentors, role models, or loved ones who have inspired you to pursue your career goals? How have they helped you?
My mom has inspired me to work hard, no matter what obstacles get in the way.
What advice do you have for women entering your field?
Be you. You don't have to be one of the guys to survive or thrive in traditionally male fields.
What are some ways that we can encourage more women to participate in your industry?
Be here. Be supportive. Provide opportunities for growth and learning.
Name a woman trailblazer that you believe everyone should know about. Why are her achievements important?
Billie Jean King. She was a professional tennis player in the 60's and 70's who fought for the rights of women players in a very misogynistic culture. She was an incredible athlete and an amazing advocate for women.
What's next? What are your goals for the future?
My ultimate goal for the future is to raise my daughter and son to respect one another and all other people, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any actual or perceived differences.
La Shaun J. Berrien, Senior Director, Technology Transfer,
The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc.
How have you helped, or intend to help, forge a gender equal world?
Gender equality begins with equal access to education, employment and career development opportunities. I have and will continue to counsel women on the financial impact of educational choices, and ensure they have equal access to employment and career development opportunities within our organization. I believe that true gender equality is built on a foundation of equal access and powered by freedom of choice in one's endeavors.
What made you interested in your career?
I was fortunate enough to be able to obtain a high-quality education that afforded me the freedom to choose from several career options. I'm certainly not on the original path I chose, but have gained access to opportunities that allowed me to develop skills and explore career options that fit what I learned to be my strengths and passions. I am in Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property Law now because, unlike my younger self, I am much more practical and derive a sense of purpose from facilitating translation of good research into actual products and services that benefit humanity.
What advice do you have for women entering your field?
I would advise women entering Technology Transfer and Commercialization positions to get involved in a wide breadth of activities early on in your career to determine the ideal marriage of skill sets and passions that will serve you well in building a career you enjoy. There are many potential areas of specialization in this field, but being able to contribute across science, engineering, patent law and business will provide a strong foundation for making great choices throughout your career.
Cyndi Donahue, Marketing Director, Ignite Northwest
How have you helped, or intend to help, forge a gender equal world?
I'm involved in the Women's Leadership movement in Spokane and I started a Women's Leadership Lunch series to encourage women to consider what it means to lead in our business community. I intend to continue these endeavors to help forge a more equal world.
What made you interested in your career?
I spend my time helping people connect with themselves and others, so my career is based on encouraging others to grow themselves and building community.
What is your greatest professional achievement?
The creation of a series of business events that connect others, from BizConnect to Ignite Talks. Bringing people together drives my professional goals.
Have you had any mentors, role models, or loved ones who have inspired you to pursue your career goals? How have they helped you?
Yes! I have incredible friends who are mentors like Sinead Voorhees, Carolyn Kadyk and Bridget Barrington. I received the gift of needed help from Kim Pearman-Gillman, and inspiration from incredible women in our community like Stephanie Curran, Shelly O'Quinn, Latisha Hill, Gloria Ochoa-Bruck, among others.
What advice do you have for women entering your field?
Be confident in your abilities. Listen, learn and speak up when you should. Women sometimes have a different outlook - it is important to share your perspective.
What are some ways that we can encourage more women to participate in your industry?
I encourage other women to serve as board members. I would like more recognition for women leaders in startups. And a women-centric entrepreneur fund would be fantastic.
Name a woman trailblazer that you believe everyone should know about. Why are her achievements important?
Kim Pearman-Gillman, because she gets important work accomplished in our community, both in business and for charitable organizations.
What's next? What are your goals for the future?
I want to continue learning, help other women rise and work for improved prosperity for the Spokane region.
Kate Mead, Patent Attorney, Lee & Hayes
How have you helped, or intend to help, forge a gender equal world?
I think that one of the best things we can do to forge a gender equal world is to enhance gender diversity in traditionally gender-segregated spaces and industries. For my part, I've elbowed my way into a number of male-dominated fields, such as law and engineering. I've also done what I can to support young women interested in joining those fields. Improving representation may seem like a simple step, but it is a necessary step in the pursuit of gender equality.
What advice do you have for women entering your field?
There are very few women in patent law, but the best advice I have for women entering my field is to find a tribe. I think it's really important for women, and members of other underrepresented minority groups, to band together. As members of these groups, it can sometimes be challenging to assert ourselves in the ways that are necessary for us to successfully navigate these (often uncomfortable) spaces. Tribes can empower and support us, and provide us with important feedback and guidance that we need to succeed.
What are some ways that we can encourage more women to participate in your industry?
One way that we could encourage more women to join my field is by addressing the pipeline problem. All patent lawyers have to have a background in science or engineering, which are fields where we see very little participation by women. In order to encourage more women to join my field, we need to encourage more young women and girls to pursue careers in science or technology.
Name a woman trailblazer that you believe everyone should know about. Why are her achievements important?
Maud Menten! In 1913, she co-developed the Michaelis-Menten equation, which is one of the most important equations in biochemistry.
