​ With today being National STEM Day, we are excited to spotlight the progress our region has made to inspire more girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). 

One example of our progress is STEM Goes Red. Led by the American Heart Association (AHA), this initiative engages girls in hands-on STEM learning and exposes them to leading employers and experts. 

Last week, the AHA San Diego chapter held its second STEM Goes Red event aboard the USS Midway – in collaboration with local employers, including us at SDG&E. About 100 students from Sweetwater and Castle Park high schools took part in the event, spending the day learning about CPR and STEM careers and taking part in speed mentoring sessions with local professionals.

Our CEO Shares Her Story as a STEM Professional

Our CEO, Caroline Winn, who chairs the AHA’s Go Red for Women campaign, is a passionate advocate for STEM Goes Red. In her address to students, she shared her personal journey rising through a male-dominated industry – her experience being the only woman in college electrical engineering classes and being the only woman in meetings at work. She ended on an uplifting note about the exciting, rewarding career opportunities in STEM, particularly jobs that address climate change.

"As chair of the Go Red for Women movement in San Diego, I am thrilled not just about the opportunity to help improve women's heart health, but also for the opportunity to engage with the STEM Goes Red program. STEM is key to solving the greatest challenges facing our society, and we need more girls, more bright minds to join these fields to come up with solutions.” - Caroline Winn

Winn, the leading champion for our #BeThatGirl mentorship program, also spent some time cheering on students who worked on building and racing wind-powered cars. The activity was led by the Fleet Science Center, one of our STEM partners.

SDG&E Engineers Engaged in Speed Mentoring

In the spirit of paying it forward, #BeThatGirl mentors Jayden Badillo, Mahelet (Mahi) Dejene and Amanda Ortega volunteered at a speed mentoring session at the STEM Goes Red event. Students got to ask the mentors questions ranging from the macro world of STEM in general to the individual turning points and personal choices that defined the trajectory of their careers.

“Being able to share my experience with many of the students who were curious about what it means to be an engineer was so special,” said Ortega, one of our electrical engineering team leads. “It’s important to share stories of what it’s like so that they can continue to pursue those passions and have a baseline comparison to what their journey could look like.”

Visit our website to learn more about how we inspire the next generation's innovative, diverse and talented STEM workforce.