On February 11, 2021, the Skandalaris Center hosted a Women in STEM Skandalaris Startup Webinar featuring accomplished panelists and breakout room hosts representing the St. Louis and WashU STEM and startup communities.
Moderated by Skandalaris Center staff member Sydney Everett, the panel featured Dr. Cheryl Watkins-Moore, Director for BioSTL’s STEM Entrepreneurial Inclusion Initiative, Dr. Cristina de Guzman Strong, Assistant Professor in the Division of Dermatology located in the Department of Internal Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine, and Margo Edwards, Director of the Applied Research Laboratory at the University of Hawaii.
Following are some key points from the panel. Watch the full panel below.
On their STEM careers:
“STEM as a background can leverage you into so many careers.”- Cheryl Watkins-Moore
“There is no one set path, there are many opportunities, and you can succeed in all of them.” – Cristina de Guzman Strong
“I am just a scientist whether it’s cooking or gardening. Everything is an experiment.” – Margo Edwards
On the importance of mentorship:
“Many great men were mentors, but in earth science (plate tectonics) there really weren’t women mentors, except for my peers. It was really important to me to have those women to link arms with and say this is important and this is something we want to do.” – Margo Edwards
“If someone asks, be clear about what you want from a mentor and how you want that relationship to be established. Then think about how you will reach back and give back. Make it a priority to always bring somebody up along with you.” – Cheryl Watkins-Moore
"It’s building in relationships. How can we learn from one another? How can we all help each other. You need teams. You need sponsors to champion you and advocate on your behalf. Then it’s important to reciprocate and say thank you." – Cristina de Guzman Strong
On dealing with “Imposter Syndrome”:
“Uncouple yourself from being just like someone else. Create a story for your success and imagine your path to get there. In time it will come with you. Stay the path and you will achieve success. You can be like them but do it in your own story.” – Cristina de Guzman Strong
“Show up. Be present. Sit at the table. Ask questions. Do your research. To build that confidence you have to show up to network. If you are not networking, you are not connecting. Most importantly, listen to people. People are more than willing to talk to you, but you have to be willing to listen.” – Cheryl Watkins-Moore
“We have to look at the system and say, this is wrong and this needs to change.” – Margo Edwards
Following the panel Skandalaris Center Experts on Call and In-Residence Professionals hosted small-group breakout discussions for attendees. The rooms were led by Shanae Chapman, a Senior User Experience Designer at Smart Bear and the Founder + CEO of Nerdy Diva, Abby Cohen, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Sparo, and Dr. Veronika Redmann, a consultant, and medical writer to companies large and small in the biotechnology field.
Skandalaris Startup Webinars are a great way to connect with WashU alums and learn tips and skills for your entrepreneurial endeavors. Visit the Skandalaris Startup Webinars page to see previous webinars and upcoming events.