Women Innovators Leading the Charge in STEM

In the ever-evolving landscape of science and technology, women are making significant strides, challenging the status quo, and reshaping the narrative around innovation. Despite systemic challenges, female inventors at companies like Mastercard are not only contributing groundbreaking ideas but also paving the way for future generations.

The Innovation Gap: A Persistent Challenge

According to the World Intellectual Property Organization, women constituted only 16.5% of inventors in over 3.2 million international patent applications in 2020. This stark disparity underscores the need for concerted efforts to bridge the gender gap in STEM fields.

Voices of Change: Insights from Women at Mastercard

• Sunitha Miryala, a product development manager in Singapore, emphasizes the importance of recognizing one’s ideas as potential inventions, even if they don’t initially seem groundbreaking.
• Ke Zhou, a senior product manager in Shanghai, pursued a patent after realizing her customer profiling system had no existing solution.
• Omokehinde Adebanjo, Senior VP of Franchise in Dubai, supports early STEM education through Mastercard’s Girls4Tech program.
• Prina Patel, a data scientist, highlights the need to dismantle unconscious biases in tech industries.
• Claire Le Gal, SVP of Fraud Intelligence, encourages women to speak up and contribute unique perspectives to innovation.
• Ellen Moskowitz, Director of Biometric Innovations, urges women to proactively submit ideas for patents.
• Lisiane Pereira, VP of Data Strategy in São Paulo, calls for collaborative support among women in tech.
• Debasmita Das, Manager at AI Garage in India, believes hackathons and mentorship can spark innovative confidence.

Cultivating a Culture of Inclusion

Mastercard’s initiatives, such as Girls4Tech, aim to address the systemic gender gap by engaging girls in STEM early. By fostering inclusive collaboration, organizations like Mastercard—and education platforms like ThED Automate—are helping unlock the full potential of future innovators.

Source: Mastercard Newsroom: 8 Female Inventors on Closing the Gender Gap in Innovation