Celebrating Our Female Scientists and Engineers

Thursday, February 11 is the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. To mark the day, we asked female Spectrum Brands scientists and engineers from around the world to reflect on their experiences and offer their advice.

What attracted you to a career in science? What do you love most about your work?

Engineering is a very creative career. It can create new products and make people’s lives better and easier. As a Pfister engineer, the proudest thing for us is to see the product we designed go to a consumer’s family and support their daily needs. What I love most about working in engineering is to see the product in our mind or in the computer become the real product with functions; you can touch it and use it. – Cindy Zhang Engineering Manager – Plumbing, R&D Xiamen, HHI

I have always been curious and wanted to understand connections. That’s why I decided to study natural sciences. I find it nice to work in a varied professional field where practical work and theoretical considerations go hand in hand. – Sabrina Schwarzbich, Trainee R&D, Global Pet Care

I decided to go into Chemistry after I took a college chemistry class and did well, I enjoy the laboratory atmosphere and appreciate the logic of science.  I was fortunate to spend most of my career among many other female chemists. – Lisa Goforth, Senior Analytical Chemist, Home & Garden

I had an early interest and excelled in math and science classes in school, and was lucky enough to have a support system, namely several influential teachers over the years as well as my mother, that encouraged me to pursue those interests, sending me to “engineering camp” and helping me understand the different career paths that were a match to these strengths.  I love the balance of the technical & creative aspects my current role, and many other science related jobs, provides. – Rachel Koebler, Manager, New Product Development, Home & Personal Care

How can we support women and girls in science?

Of course, there are many ways, but to me, the focus should be in creating new role models and mentoring programs for girls/women by women. Starting early would also contribute to this, so creating interests and encouraging girls at an early age/ at school would be key. –  Dr. Birgit Burg, Manager, Global R&D Center Aquatics Care, Global Pet Care

From my perspective, this is providing access to very versatile and broad opportunities of education. Women and girls should have the chance to explore new fields by attending courses or doing internships in areas that maybe are not very high up on their radar or completely in line with their career plans. By trying out new things you can discover unknown talents and interests which – without this experience – you might never have been aware of.  – Dr. Diane Kleinschmidt, Manager R&D Global Aquatics & Companion Animal Europe

It is imperative to encourage women and girls to adopt a growth mindset, and to base feelings of belonging on effort and engagement wherever they are, whether in a classroom or work setting. When I joined the University for my PhD program, I was unprepared to face the multiplicity of issues that surfaced daily. I was fortunate some of the professors came to my rescue and their efforts had a profound effect on me. Today, I realize their encouragement helped me to identify the problems I encountered as difficulties and not limitations. The art of mentoring should be encouraged and not removed from our society. We have come a long way and I salute the pioneers in this field, but societal priorities are fast changing, and women are no more the focal point, but we still have to continue the fight for women who want to excel in science. – Gladys Mbofung-Curtis, PhD, Plant Scientist, Home & Garden

I remember the days of being in classes and I was the only female. At one time I even sported a look with glasses and dark hair to feel smart enough to fit in. For me it was a necessity to find others to push through the invisible fence of self-doubt. I guess for any future women in science finding others that help you and encourage you through school groups, mentors or community is really important. – Cassy Maktabi, Senior Manager, New Product Development, Home & Personal Care

Every woman has innate problem-solving skills! We are natural problem solvers. Don’t let your notions about science or engineering turn you off. It’s not only about building or memorizing terms. If you’re interested in figuring out how things work and the science behind it, then maybe science or engineering career is for you. You won’t know unless you try. Go for it and don’t let anyone stop you.  – Firdaus Nandoliya, R&D Engineer, Home & Personal Care

We can support women and girls in science by modeling equality for the next generation.  Make a conscious effort to not proliferate gender biases in our next generation by providing equal opportunities to our sons and daughters.  Let their interests be the guiding force behind what they pursue, but we have to do our part by making sure they are exposed to a wide variety of opportunities/experiences.  Make STEM related activities one of them!  If you are an adult in the science field, talk to young people about what you do, girls and boys.  Buy those nieces and sisters and daughters and granddaughters STEM related toys.  See what your local community has to offer kids (museums, camps, classes, etc). Shop in the “stem and learning” toy category on Amazon.  Try a science experiment at home with the young girls in your life. – Rachel Koebler

What is your best piece of advice for women who want to break into a science field?

From the get-go, define your interests, find out how and what you need to achieve those interests and go for it. You will excel in whatever is of interest to you. On your journey, do not hesitate to ask for help when you have exhausted all your leads (asking for help when you have done the necessary research is scientific). Thus, taking a more active role in furthering and encouraging women in science will entail collaborating with already established programs to build core supervisory competencies. – Gladys Mbofung-Curtis, PhD

Try to broaden your horizon as much as possible. Try out new areas and projects, tap into fields you are not familiar with, sometimes they turn out to be more interesting that you would have thought. Also, get as much practical/ hands-on experience as possible.  – Diane Kleinschmidt

The science field can be exciting and even flashy. Science is not just a subject to be learned but a way to approach the world. What you learn in your career and studies creates a foundation for solving problems. So good luck, the work is worth the reward. – Cassy Maktabi