The Women4STEM Daring Circle aims to increase the representation, leadership and impact of women with Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) skills at all stages of the pipeline from school to boardroom, and to highlight the strong connection between STEM skills, access to jobs and potential for positive societal impact.  

Our world is experiencing rapid disruption The future is digital. Everyone in our societies, not just engineers and astronauts, but also musicians, lawyers and artists will need STEM skills to succeed. At the same time, the world urgently needs these skills to shape a more inclusive and sustainable future. From health applications to climate solutions and beyond, STEM skills save lives and deliver meaningful livelihoods. 

Yet today there are serious gender imbalances in STEM. At every stage of the path to STEM leadership, there are fewer girls and women. Internationally, women account for 20% of the engineering workforce and 32% of employees in Data and AI [1]. Existing initiatives to encourage girls and women to study STEM and embark on STEM careers are not delivering results at the pace and scale we all need. The pipeline is leaking female talent and with it, investment in pro-diversity STEM initiatives.

When STEM loses women, it also loses their talents and differentiated perspectives which economies and organisations need to remain competitive in the digital economy transition. At the same time, women lose the opportunity to fully contribute to creating a better and more inclusive world. 

Across our research, action and communication, the Women4STEM Daring Circle aims to harness the potential for STEM skills to help close the gender gap, drive innovation and inspiration, and ultimately create the conditions for women in STEM to thrive across recruitment, retention and advancement to leadership.