History is undeniable and the past cannot be undone, but the future always offers opportunities for transformation. Education of women, and especially girls, has had a history of excluding them from some of the most vital areas of learning. One area, in particular, which is historically lacking in female representation is STEM. This acronym stands for science, technology, engineering, and math, and recently the imbalance of men to women within this industry was brought into sharp focus. Philanthropist Claire Revell is an advocate for the advancement of women in STEM and their greater inclusion in leadership roles.
It has been reported that only 28% of the STEM workforce comprises women and the reason behind this low number is that women are not encouraged to pursue an education in STEM. Claire Revell is passionate about education, and as the current director and CEO of the global B2B learning technology provider Intellek (formerly TutorPro), and co-founder of new EdTech company SIDIS Academy, she understands the need for education to reflect the modern age we are living in. Claire believes that education is the cornerstone of any industry, and those who are encouraged to train and learn within a certain discipline are the ones who will carry the legacy of that discipline into the future.
Claire is resolute about her advocacy for more women in STEM. She states that the low number of women in the industry is the result of a never-ending cycle, where women become aware that they are less likely to be hired within the world of STEM and so they do not pursue an education within it. Expanding on this point, Claire says, “If all of the leadership roles within STEM or any industry are filled by men, then women will feel no encouragement or support to aim higher than what is expected of them.”
After completing her A-Levels and seeing the importance of the skill skyrocket, Claire taught herself how to code and build up expertise in Web development. From there, she opened up her own doors to opportunities that would help her become an industry leader. She was appointed director and CEO of Intellek in 2017 and has not looked back since. Today, she continues to champion her belief that there are no limits to what women can achieve.
STEM may be historically lacking in female representation but thankfully individuals such as Claire Revell are dedicated toward ensuring that the future of STEM is female.
