Lily Takeuchi

Biomedical Engineer, PhD Student & SCWIST Vice President & Director of Business Development

Since 1981, SCWIST has delivered high-impact programs to remove barriers that prevent women from entering and advancing in STEM careers.

After 40 years of STEM impact, the Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology (SCWIST) continues to evolve to advance its vision and mission.

SCWIST has partnered with the Government of Canada and over 1600 organizations on the 50-30 Challenge, with a goal to achieve gender parity (50 per cent) and increase participation of underrepresented groups (30 per cent) in STEM workplaces. To better understand how STEM companies can create change, SCWIST surveyed 552 STEM employees about their perspectives on equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) to help move the dial forward.

“There’s a growing awareness among STEM employees that achieving 50-30 within an organization can help improve business outcomes by eight times and financial targets by two times. With 93 per cent of our survey respondents seeking help to achieve 50-30 within their workplace, our SCWIST team continues to provide resources to support EDI efforts,” says Dr. Melanie Ratnam, SCWIST Director of Policy and Advocacy.

“SCWIST is also committed to improving access to STEM career pathways through its job board, annual career fair, resume coaching, workshops, mentoring, and networking connections,” shared Lily Takeuchi, Vice-President and Director of Business Development at SCWIST.

Further, SCWIST aims to support employers to introduce equitable hiring practices, and advocates for pay equity, flexible work, parental leave, and inclusive workplace cultures through its STEM Forward for Economic Prosperity project, supported by Canada’s $100 million Feminist Response Recovery Fund.

By increasing the number of diverse, STEM-trained people in the workforce, we can solve the complex problems of today and the future. SCWIST is proud to empower girls from grade school to their career launch and beyond, through programs including Youth Engagement, Immigrating Women in STEM, Make Possible, Make Diversity Possible, and Supporting Safe STEM Workplaces.

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What inspired you to pursue your dream of being an astronaut?

I first got interested in space when I was just a little girl. My dad remembers me asking questions about space and Mars. Our best guess as to what sparked my interest is an episode of The Backyardigans. This was a TV show I used to watch as a kid which had a Mission to Mars episode. This is the only situation we can think of where I would have heard the word space. The more I learned about space later, the more I loved it. 

What has been your favourite part of aerospace training?

I’ve loved all the hands-on experience I’ve been able to get in my life — from working with space suits, floating in microgravity, learning about water survival, and much more. One of the best experiences I’ve had was when I got to fly a fighter jet as part of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. During this flight, I could pull 9.1 Gs, equivalent to nine times my body weight pushing down on me with pressure. It was surreal.  

What’s your impression of Canada’s role in the future of aerospace and aviation?

I think Canada has a large role in the future of aerospace and aviation. I’ve completed a microgravity campaign at the National Research Council Canada (NRC). I also did gravity-offset training with space suits at the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). From my experiences, Canada has played a major role in research and facilities. I’m excited to see the next steps for Canada in the space industry.  

What advice can you offer to women and young girls interested in the industry?

Women or young girls interested in the space industry should 100 per cent pursue it. It’s such an exciting time with so many opportunities for young women. If you’ve found an interest, follow your dreams, and never let anyone take your dreams away. Tell people about what you’re interested in doing because the industry is always looking for more girls who are passionate. Although space can seem male-dominated, the women working in the space industry are welcoming and inspiring. 

Will you be taking a trip to Mars anytime soon?

The current plans are to start going to Mars in the early 2030s. Of course, this time frame could change, but hopefully, that’s when we will see the first humans travel to Mars. 

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Algonquin College encourages women to seek opportunities in STEM by reserving classroom seats in key programs.

At Algonquin College (AC), improving opportunities for women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) starts with making physical space.

In 2018, the School of Advanced Technology and the Algonquin Centre for Construction Excellence launched the We Saved You a Seat (WSYAS) initiative as a pilot program to address the underrepresentation of women in STEM and to meet the projected skills shortage in the industry. The initiative reserves 30 per cent of classroom seats for women across seven programs. The idea behind WSYAS is to improve visibility, foster a diverse community, improve learning outcomes for all students, and encourage women to dream bigger.

The seven programs of the WSYAS initiative include Computer Systems Technician, Computer Systems Technician – Networking, Electrical Engineering Technician, Electromechanical Engineering Technician, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Powerline Technician, and Construction Engineering Technician — most of which offer co-op and non-co-op options.

Bringing STEM awareness and opportunities to women

Being unaware of career opportunities in STEM is one of the primary reasons women are underrepresented in the field. Nicole Lemieux is a graduate of the Electrical Engineering Technician program at AC and now works as an Electrical Technologist. She shares that she’s fulfilled in her role because she enjoys seeing projects come to life and that the compensation and work-life balance are sustainable. Lemieux says, “Without the WSYAS initiative, I wouldn’t have encountered and chosen this career path.”

The benefits of more diverse and inclusive classes spill into the offices, workshops, and worksites where our students — whatever their gender — employ their skills and talents.

Christopher Hahn

Systemically supporting women’s STEM education

AC recognizes that visibility is only one puzzle piece in removing the barriers women face in entering STEM professions. To provide comprehensive support for women, the college also offers financial aid from various donors to qualifying applications through scholarships, bursaries, and awards. Additionally, mentorship opportunities allow students to connect with women in the industry. One is a coffee break run by Kathryn Reilander, Faculty and Coordinator of Electrical Engineering Technology at Algonquin College.

A safe space for challenging the status quo

At AC, diversity means more than quotas. It’s championing systemic change that’s both conscious and subliminal. Christopher Hahn, Dean of Algonquin Centre for Construction Excellence, shares that academia is the ideal place to kickstart systemic change as colleges are supposed to be forward-thinking and knowledgeable about anticipating the challenges and needs of the future. It should always be a safe environment to engage in these topics.

Through industry connections, AC identifies the areas where skills are needed and formulates solutions that break down the entry barriers for women by establishing initiatives like WSYAS and adjusting academic policies to take the meaning of representation beyond visibility.

Choosing AC for STEM education

WSYAS is just the beginning of AC’s mission to enable prospective students to dream big! The college recognizes that brilliance is not limited to gender, ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, or religion and is dedicated to investing in opportunities that reduce the barriers to post-secondary education.

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Companies across Canada are starting to recognize the important perspectives and insights that gender-balanced teams bring to their businesses. The “business case,” for making gender diversity a key corporate priority is clear. 

Creating an inclusive and diverse culture increases and improves employee retention and facilitates recruitment, which is one of the biggest challenges for companies today. In addition, diversity of gender, background, and ideas builds and improves the organization’s ability to adapt and evolve, fueled by differing points of view. Diversity in an organization also improves risk management capabilities and has proven to increase innovation. That’s an impressive list of reasons to embrace this. 

The “why” is not the most challenging part; it’s the “how” that requires commitment and focus for us to get there. How do we move our organizations toward more gender diversity and, ultimately, gender parity. As in life, there’s no silver bullet, and these efforts require a multi-pronged, multi-year, multi-team approach — driven from the top.

Here are some of the best practices that many companies are integrating into their way of doing business. 

Leadership walks the talk

• Have one member of the executive team responsible and accountable for gender diversity and inclusion
• Set internal targets for gender diversity within senior management
• Publish progress publicly on an annual basis against these targets and
• Ensure the pay of the senior executive team is linked to delivery against these targets on gender diversity

Get it in writing 

Companies are updating or creating corporate policies to include new practices and clauses that will begin to level the playing field. For example, they may consist of policies around flexible work and work from home, parental leave policies, compensation policies that ensure equal pay for equal work, and requirements for gender and diversity equity, all of which can be incorporated into the hiring and promotion processes. 

Cultivating the culture

For these initiatives and policies to become an accepted part of the corporate culture, the senior leadership team must lead the way by supporting ongoing investment into these initiatives and demonstrating their importance to the business’s success. 

Concrete ways this can be achieved is through developing programs to support female talent, creating mentorship opportunities, offering leadership training tailored to the needs of women, and creating a culture for men to work as allies with their female peers and colleagues. 

Be the CEO of your own career 

These best practices are some ways in which companies are addressing this need. But there are ways every woman can effect change — by being the CEO of her own career. First, be curious: ask, read, learn, and challenge so you can enjoy life-long learning and help others to do the same. Build and maintain your network; it’s your single biggest career asset. Finally, manage your reputation, which is key to opening doors.

And dream big: “If not you, then who?” or “If not now, then when?” 

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What inspired you to establish the Global Initiative & Vision for Education (GIVE)?

There are many reasons. For one, I deeply believe in the importance of education on a personal, local, and global level. Many of us reading this are fortunate to have access to school and security, while millions do not have that same privilege. Access to education should be a guaranteed right. I wanted to ensure that every child had a chance, the opportunity to fulfill their potential and their promise.

However, I recognized the prevalent issues within our current schooling systems. Even those with access to schools are not receiving quality education due to how we do schooling in North America — schooling models that we then export to developing areas. For example, we put more time and resources into measuring our children’s potential rather than developing it.

Secondly, as a neuroscience student, I’ve studied the growing mental health epidemic amongst young people and know that we need a better way to provide education that doesn’t just address the intellect but the whole human being to develop a sense of meaning and purpose as the foundations for fulfilling their potential. And finally, the world is facing many pressing challenges, including climate change. To address these issues, we need innovative, equitable solutions which require creativity, curiosity, and character, not conformity and redundancy — skills that schools can aid in fostering rather than limiting. 

What kickstarted your ambition to become an astronaut?

My fascination with astronomy started by simply paying attention to life — by observing the world around us, looking up at the night sky, and noticing all the little wonders of our universe, from our human selves to the flickering lights in the infinite cosmic abyss. This awareness of the connectedness between ourselves and the universe, the excitement of the unknown, this sense of wonder, imagination, love of learning, curiosity, and feeling like I was a part of something much greater is what sparked my passion for astronomy.

How important is representation in aerospace to you?

Diversity in STEM and aerospace matters deeply in all areas because it allows for a multitude of perspectives, interests, and needs to be represented rather than being dominated by one group, as we have seen throughout history and the present. As such, without diversity, we may not all reap the benefits of innovation in the aerospace sector, leaving the fruits of progress to be hoarded by a few people instead of being distrusted equitably.

Furthermore, diversity allows people from different walks of life to gain access to STEM and space-related fields so that they can create access and opportunity for others to follow and ensure that everyone is able to benefit from these advancements while also having a part in building our future.

What advice would you give to young girls aspiring to have STEM careers?

Don’t limit your life based on someone else’s limited imagination. We must remember that the sky is not the limit and that although the path may seem difficult, as long as you know your why and your worth, the how will come, and you’ll overcome any challenges in your way. It can be difficult to succeed on your own, so don’t be afraid to ask for support and guidance, especially from those in the field you’re interested in.

The majority of people would be very grateful to mentor you, but if you don’t ask, the answer will always be no. And finally, when in doubt, remember that if you’re driven by a sense of meaning and purpose, anything and everything is possible. So make sure to start with your why — know what you value, what you care about, what impact you want to have, and why. Then ask how you can develop and use your skills to practice your passion for STEM in the service of others. As David Viscott said, “The purpose of life is to discover your gift. The work of life is to develop it. But more importantly, the meaning of life is to give it away.” 

What are your goals for the future?

Well, there’s a lot to do. We probably couldn’t fit all of my goals into this Q&A, but what I hope for most, and what I’m working toward on a daily basis, is using the research and community organizing we’re doing at GIVE, UNOOSA, and other organizations to effect change in education policy so that more young people, especially equity-seeking students, have the chance to use their care to change the world for the better. “To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition” — R.W. Emerson.

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In education, students sometimes get frustrated by pursuing studies that they don’t see as having long-term application in their lives. Thanks to STEM that’s all changing.

At Appleby College, the STEM approach to education fosters creativity and divergent thinking alongside fundamental disciplines. It motivates and inspires students to dream beyond the here and now.

A unique space to ideate

It’s important to empower students with the tools and learning that instill strong fundamentals and equip them with the ability to problem-solve, develop ideas, experiment, and create through iteration and trial and error.

Imagine a physical space where students come together to collaborate, design, explore, experiment, and test their ideas. Since 2016, Appleby students have enthusiastically embraced the opportunity to combine their knowledge of science, mathematics, and structures with imagination, creativity, and artistry to explore solutions to everyday problems that challenge people to think differently — all in the school’s state-of-the-art Design Lab.

“My experience in Appleby’s Design Lab has allowed me to experiment with new technologies and tools,” says Tia Rojas, a Grade 12 student. “There are more than enough resources at my disposal — 3D printers, physical materials, power tools, a laser cutter, electronics, and more — that help me transform my ideas into creations.”

More than a physical space

Through the ‘making’ component of STEM studies, the tools and resources made available enable students to develop their ideas and apply them as workable designs while collaborating, drawing inspiration, and learning from one another.

Future application

Since the school’s founding in 1911, Appleby’s mission has been to educate and enable students to become leaders of character, major contributors to, and valued representatives of their local, national, and international communities. Through STEM learning, students are acquiring the skills and knowledge to be future problem-solvers and leaders of industry.

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Only a few decades ago, women made up a very small proportion of engineering students across the country. Today, many of Canada’s most promising young women see themselves as future engineers: problem-solvers capable of making change and addressing society’s most wicked challenges.

In 2022, McMaster University’s Faculty of Engineering has reached a new equity milestone, with 40 per cent of incoming undergraduate students being women.

“It’s an incredible accomplishment,” says Heather Sheardown, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at McMaster University, who recently became the first woman to move into the position.

Heather Sheardown

Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, McMaster University

Sheardown says the university’s outreach efforts have succeeded in connecting with girls and showing them that they can make a difference in the world through engineering.

Building an engineering program that truly reflects Canadian society remains McMaster’s priority, says Sheardown. “We’ve known forever that diverse teams generate better solutions because we’re not all thinking from the same place. The more perspectives we can get, the better the solution we’ll come up with.”

Here are a few of the talented young women making up 2022’s incoming engineering undergraduate class:

Chelsey Ellis

Developed a love for biology, health, and the human body in her earliest years. Her mother, a family physician, fostered that interest with books and gifts related to human anatomy. But when a Grade 12 class showed her how science could be applied to human health through technologies like gene editing, 3D bioprinting, and wearable devices, she knew her future was in engineering. “I realized that I wanted to be able to apply the science I was learning right away instead of just learning the science,” she says.

Javayria Mudassar

Was awarded a prestigious Schulich Leader Scholarship for her academic excellence and leadership. An aspiring astronaut, she wants to contribute to new technologies that better our understanding of the universe.

And as a Muslim woman who speaks five languages, Mudassar also aims to be a role model who helps “shape a world where talent and passion are valued, regardless of who you are or where you’re from.” “I want to establish that one doesn’t have to choose between religion and STEM and that becoming an engineer who wears a hijab is possible and beneficial,” she says.

Neaha Bijo

Intends to study artificial intelligence. She wants to contribute to space exploration by incorporating AI into rovers. She also dreams of building a smart home to help older people with day-to-day activities and make it easier for them to live independently. She says her mother, a civil engineer, is her biggest supporter. She believes she will succeed as a woman in engineering because it’s an innovative field that’s always looking for ideas. “Diversity brings more ideas to the field. Each person is distinct, and it’s this distinctness that fosters innovation.”

Julia Dowson

Says participating in an all-girls LEGO robotics team in middle school helped inspire her to study engineering. She also has a passion for music, playing in her high school band and earning a scholarship for her dedication and skill. While still waiting to see where her studies lead her, she hopes to inspire other young women to study STEM subjects. “I also hope to be a strong woman leader for people to look up to,” she says.

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What challenges have you faced as an Indigenous woman in the tech industry? How did you overcome them?

Unfortunately, when I go through our investor list, I count 170 investors who said no to me. When I look back statistically, this might not have anything to do with it, but I can’t help but think that ninety per cent of them were white males who just didn’t understand me or what I was building. So, either I wasn’t getting the message out clearly, or they didn’t believe in me. I hate to say the latter was most likely what was wrong, but whether it was my being Indigenous or a woman or someone who is a part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, I will never know. 

When I realized I wasn’t getting investor interest, I took a couple of months to re-evaluate who I was targeting. I spoke with a few impact funds, and when I explained what we do and why, I noticed much more interest. So I switched gears and started reaching out to more impact funds and investors, which led me to close my Series A funding round successfully. 

How does Virtual Gurus help individuals overcome barriers to employment?

Virtual Gurus (VG) serves underrepresented communities by providing meaningful earning opportunities for people seeking an alternative to the 9 to 5 office work week. VG prides itself on championing BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of colour), people from the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, single and stay-at-home parents, and those with alternate abilities. 

What has been the proudest moment in your career as a woman in a male-dominated field?

I recently closed a Series A funding round, and I’m proud to say that I’m the only Indigenous Woman in Tech in Canada to close one. We continue building the technology that will allow us to go global. Virtual Gurus now has a team of 40 employees (and growing) and over 650 virtual assistants. 

What advice can you give Indigenous women interested in a STEM career?

We need to create more communities and safe spaces for aspiring entrepreneurs from all backgrounds and all walks of life — to come together, share ideas, and get mentorship and guidance from those with expertise and resources.

Be prepared to learn. Google was my best friend. When I started Virtual Gurus, I had to learn everything on my own, including creating financial documents, building technology and websites, and ensuring I had all licensing to have this type of business.

Persistence, passion, and a clear vision are vital. Don’t be afraid to live your story.

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Canada’s bio-economy is likely to require 65,000 additional workers by 2029. However, companies will be challenged to fill positions due to a highly competitive labour market, relatively low awareness of bio-economy careers, and in many cases, an ongoing lack of HR capacity or capital to attract and retain candidates.

Despite this clear need for talent, many small- and medium-sized employers in the sector still overlook under-represented groups for their recruitment. For example, the number of women working in the bio-economy is disproportionate to the number of women who graduate from STEM programs. According to BioTalent Canada’s recent National Labour Market Information study released in 2021, women’s enrolment in college-level STEM and health programs has remained at around 50 per cent (as of 2018–19). Yet, women comprise only 34 per cent of Canada’s bio-economy workforce.

Hiring from under-represented groups like women will do more than meet labour needs. Diversifying the bio-economy’s workforce will also help companies in the sector become more creative and successful. Research shows that diverse companies with inclusive leaders are better able to attract and retain top talent, making them more innovative and more profitable.

To support employers in adopting more diverse and inclusive principles, BioTalent Canada’s new I.D.E.A.L Biosciences EmployerTM recognition program — which represents inclusivity, diversity, equity, and accessibility leadership — will recognize organizations in Canada’s bio-economy leading the way in embodying the diverse and inclusive corporate principles needed to promote growth and success in the sector.

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While some strides have been made in diversifying the workforce, women still comprise less than 25 per cent of the people employed in STEM careers¹ in Canada. From the classroom to the boardroom, we need to see more women pursuing STEM careers — and not just for the sake of gender equality.

Gender equality in STEM has clear business implications right now and for the future. Increased diversity and representation in STEM mean a larger talent pool, a boost to the global economy, and greater innovation through the inclusion of new skill sets, unique perspectives, and critical thinking. Research has also shown that companies with greater diversity have significantly higher profitability than those without.²

Leading the way

One organization advocating for this change is Women Leaders in Pharma (WLP), a group dedicated to supporting and coaching women, and those who identify as women, who work in the life sciences and pharmaceutical industry — both today’s accomplished leaders and those of the future. Here, women come together to empower one another, pursue change, and remove barriers for future leaders. Members are encouraged to use their powerful voices to identify inequities and create solutions. Their mission is not limited to the pharmaceutical industry but extends to STEM as a whole. “We have a unique opportunity to write our own story. To ensure that every boardroom, every leadership team, and every level of the STEM ecosystem is equally represented by women,” said Milva D’Aronco, a founding member of the organization and President of the Board.

Change is often slow to take place, but there’s a strong sense that the tide is starting to turn, with more corporations placing a focus on diversity and inclusion.

STEM to drive innovation

A recent study from Statistics Canada shows that women made up only 44 per cent of first-year STEM students aged 19 or less in undergraduate programs but accounted for more than 64 per cent of students in other disciplines.³

WLP hopes that more women will be encouraged to enter the field by highlighting what it means to work in an industry that values and often demands competency in STEM. “The pharma industry is all about people leveraging science to help other people,” says Sarah Robertson, a pharmaceutical executive and WLP Vice-President. “It’s an industry in which you can effect change that impacts people’s lives. Not only is this professionally challenging, but it’s also personally rewarding.” 

“It’s an exciting time to work in the pharmaceutical industry. Innovation is at the centre of all that we do to provide the best experience for our customers. Digital health is transforming care, medical practice, and how pharma innovations reach patients. Women can play a pivotal role in making this happen,” adds member and committee volunteer Negar Azari, a pharmaceutical marketing manager.

We believe the health-care industry benefits from balanced leadership. Representing over 400 members nationwide, WLP strives to live its mission by sharing experiences and knowledge with other women in the pharmaceutical industry.

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