Asian American Women Driving Innovation
VIEW EVENT DETAILSHistorically, women throughout the world have been sorely underrepresented in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, as well as in businesses that are driving STEM industries. In 2017, the United States Department of Labor reported that women accounted for 42.2 percent of full-time workers in the life, physical, and social sciences, while only 25.2 percent worked in computer and mathematical fields. In architecture and engineering, only 14 percent of full-time workers were women. According to a 2016 Report on Gender Diversity in Silicon Valley, just 6.3 percent of Silicon Valley’s 150 most successful public companies have women serving as top technology, engineering and research executives. At a time when diversity and representation are at the forefront of a national conversation, how can we bridge the gender gap in business and tech?
Join us and for an inspiring conversation with two influential, barrier-breaking Asian American women, Girls Who Code Founder and CEO Reshma Saujani and prominent women’s advocate Nina Davuluri. They have each made it their mission, through myriad successful initiatives, to empower and educate girls and women in business and tech. Hear about their successes and challenges in navigating STEM industries, and their unique experiences as Asian American women. The conversation will be moderated by Yale University's Center for Innovative Thinking, Andrew McLaughlin.
Nina Davuluri is the first Indian-American woman to become Miss America. She is an advocate for diversity, women’s empowerment, and STEM education. She is the host of the new reality show Made in America, which empowers young Asian American women. She has been featured on CNN’s Out Front with Erin Burnett, Anderson Cooper 360, The New York Times, The Washington Post, among many other local media outlets both nationally and internationally.
Reshma Saujani is the Founder and CEO of Girls Who Code, a national non-profit organization working to close the gender gap in technology. She began her career as an attorney and activist, and was the first Indian-American woman to run for U.S. Congress. Reshma has been named one of Fortune’s World’s Greatest Leaders, and Fortune’s 40 under 40.
Andrew McLaughlin (moderator) is a co-founder and partner at Higher Ground Labs and executive director of the Tsai Center for Innovative Thinking at Yale University. He is a venture partner at Betaworks, chairman of the board of Access Now, and a member of the board of directors at Chartbeat and Public Knowledge. He was a member of President Obama's senior White House staff, serving as Deputy Chief Technology Officer of the United States from 2009-2011. In that role, McLaughlin was responsible for advising the President on internet, technology, and innovation policy. From 2003-2009, he was head of global public policy for Google. In 2000, Time magazine named him one of its Digital Dozen. In 2001, he was named a Global Leader for Tomorrow by the World Economic Forum. He is a fellow of the Young Leaders Forum of the National Committee on US-China Relations.
This spring, Asia Society presents Asian in America — a series of public events, performances, conversations, and celebrations of the remarkably diverse experiences of Asians and Asian Americans in the United States.
Brave, Not Perfect by Reshma Saujani can be purchased at AsiaStore or through the AsiaStore website.
Event Details
Asia Society
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