Women In STEM With Sheila Masaku

In this episode, I was able to interview a young economist, lecturer and researcher, Florence Mwila, whose story is a story of persistence and direction. In our discussion, Florence talks about her background, how she got interested in economics, and how her background influenced her career. The conversation includes important lessons about continuing to be motivated by challenging academic journeys and the importance of knowing your goals and being focused no matter how tough the journey can get.Florence talks about her experience in conducting research, analyzing data in economics and academia, and also about the importance of continuous learning, leadership, and skills development. As a young woman in STEM, Florence shares how she overcomes self-doubt and how scholarships and support systems assisted her in finding her way.The episode is an inspiring message to young women who may desire to pursue a career in economics, research, or academia on how they can apply knowledge to drive change and remain purposeful when occupying a seat in STEM disciplines.Listen to it and be reminded that your background does not limit your future!

Confidence does not always come easily especially in STEM areas where women tend to feel the need to prove themselves.In this episode, we discuss the imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and the bad feeling that you are not good enough when in fact you are. I give personal reflections about confidence, why imposter syndrome seems to be the problem of so many women in STEM, and how we can start to speak up and use our voices to achieve our dreams.I highly recommend this episode to women in STEM who feel that they did not belong in STEM or women doubting that they can succeed in STEM.Tune in and be encouraged!

In this exciting episode, I feature my very first guest on the podcast, my friend and colleague Mrs Abigail Katongo! She is such an inspiration and a powerhouse in the field of Data Science.In this session, we discuss what initially drew her attention to data science, how she began her journey in data science, what the field is all about, and what skills are the most important in this field. She also tells us of the struggles she has gone through being a woman in the field and how she has managed to overcome these struggles with determination and intent.Most of all, she presents sincere positive words of encouragement to women thinking about pursuing a career in data science but do not know how to jump into it because they feel intimidated or scared.If you are already in STEM, or are thinking of becoming a data scientist, or maybe you just need a role model to believe that you can also do it, I know you will find this episode inspiring and exciting! Tune in and be inspired.

STEM fields can be pretty daunting especially for women trying to navigate their way in male dominated careers. We are often made to believe that only A+ students or only men can take up STEM careers and that we must choose between a career in STEM and family life. In this episode, we dismantle some of the most popular myths about STEM and present the truth behind them. Join me in this exciting episode!

In this first ever episode of the Women in STEM Podcast with Sheila Masaku, I share how I found myself in the realm of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). This episode is a candid yet empowering unfolding of my journey to who I am today. This is a very special episode as it forms the basis of the objectives of this podcast which are to share stories, support, and information to all women who are passionate about STEM and who wish to develop a successful career within it.If you are a student, a young employee, a mom in STEM, or somebody who only just found out that you love data, science, and innovation, then this episode is the one you must watch! Listen, be motivated and come with me on this engaging ride on the way to empowering the next generation of women in STEM.