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This isn't just about enforcing organisational guidelines and showcasing verbal support; it's about nurturing inclusivity from the ground up, and taking active steps to drive progressive change, says Cher Whee Sim, VP, People Strategy, Technology and Talent Acquisition, Micron Technology.
In 1992, I was one of only five female engineers in a cohort of 100 new college graduates hired by TECH Semiconductor Singapore, now Micron. Standing out in crowded rooms and lecture halls, I often felt the need to prove myself by being twice as good as my peers because of my gender.
Back then, some learning opportunities weren’t even available to women due to societal influences. During a manufacturing engineering training trip to Japan in the early 1990s, the learning opportunities took place over drinking sessions, which I did not feel comfortable participating in, as I believe that women should not have to choose between career progression and personal welfare. This caused me to miss out on important information exchange and networking opportunities compared to my male colleagues.
Today, women make up only 34.3% of Singapore’s STEM workforce, despite comprising nearly 40% of STEM university graduates, as reported by the Ministry of Social and Family Development. We’ve made progress, but there is still much room for improvement. From a business perspective, narrowing the Stem gender gap can significantly boost Singapore's innovation and economy. Research shows that having more women in the knowledge workforce correlates with higher creativity, and their involvement in research increases the diversity of socially relevant research.
This isn't just about enforcing organisational guidelines and showcasing verbal support; it's about nurturing inclusivity from the ground up, and taking active steps to drive progressive change.
MENTORSHIP: Bridging the gap, fuelled by experience
As a woman in a male-dominated field, I’ve faced unconscious bias and pressures to conform. Early in my career, I was offered a rotation in financial planning – a role far outside my comfort zone. On top of my self-doubt from not having prior technical knowledge for the role, societal norms for women back then were that women were not usually chosen for the next leadership position or offered a rotation. A few of my former male colleagues then were dissatisfied with the decision and decided to ask for a transfer. While it would have been an easier choice at that moment to give in and reject the offer, a supportive mentor believed in me and encouraged me to take the leap.
This experience taught me the importance of self-belief and mentorship in navigating uncharted territories. Together with like-minded colleagues, I founded the first employee resource group in Singapore, the Micron Women’s Leadership Network (MWLN) to support the growth and development of women within the company. The network would organise events, provide mentorship and offer resources to help women thrive in their careers.
Today, MWLN boasts over 1500+ members, contributing to over 40% female representation within Micron’s Singapore workforce. Our efforts also led to more than 17 per cent of the original patent applications that Micron filed in FY23 named women as an inventor. Since then, we were able to showcase our abilities to bring forth outstanding innovations when given an opportunity to do so.
My mentor’s support for my rotation back then also emphasises the crucial role of male allyship in male-dominated fields such as STEM. Debunking the idea of rescuing women as damsels in distress, the allyship can come in any form of support for female colleagues, including challenging stereotypes, encouraging equal treatment among colleagues, rejecting misogynistic behaviours or remarks, and fostering a safe, collaborative environment that values diverse perspectives and ideas. This shifts the needle of the systemic culture to being more inclusive and welcoming towards women and female leadership, beyond the STEM sector.
By supporting every generation of women in tech, we can create a welcoming environment that encourages more women to thrive in STEM careers
DIVERSITY: The engine of innovation
I’m deeply passionate about supporting diversity, and I’ve seen firsthand how our inclusive culture is fuelled by leaders and employee resources groups (ERGs) encouraging our employees to adopt inclusive practices within the workplace. In our HR efforts, we use technology to enhance our recruitment strategies and create a more diverse hiring process. This includes leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to develop a ranked list of our targeted underrepresented applicants and a diversity dashboard. AI can also help identify the type of wordings that make a job description more appealing to men than women and mitigate that, eventually bringing in a better mix of candidates.
According to a Boston Consulting Group study, companies with diverse leadership teams report innovation revenue of 19 percentage points higher than those with below-average leadership diversity — 45% of total revenue versus just 26%. Embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) isn't just morally imperative; it's vital for our productivity, innovation, and competitive edge. On the ground level, we've implemented practical solutions to address physical challenges such as heavy lifting, thereby expanding the candidate pool for equipment engineers beyond physically strong men.
By designing tools that empower all team members, including our female engineers, to handle heavy equipment and machinery tasks, we not only overcome physical obstacles but also contribute to closing the gender pay gap. This approach enables women to take on a broader range of responsibilities and roles within our company.
However, creating an inclusive workplace environment isn’t solely about top-down directives. It starts with each one of us, including myself. It’s about fostering safe spaces where everyone feels respected, valued, and heard, whether in a leadership role or just starting out in your STEM career. You can make a difference by volunteering for STEM programs, mentoring aspiring professionals regardless of their identity markers, or simply advocating for inclusive practices and behaviour in your workplace by treating others how they want to be treated. Simple inclusive practices can include using inclusive language in everyday conversations among peers, understanding unique viewpoints with an open mind, and actively listening to others' diverse experiences.
Your voice and actions can contribute to shaping a future where diversity isn’t just a goal but a lived reality.
EDUCATION: Building the pipeline
A National Technological University (NTU) study found that the percentage of Singapore women in STEM careers to be surprisingly low, considering that girls excel in math and science at school and women gravitate towards work activities and interests that are typically found in STEM careers. This could be due to societal feedback and gender role expectations, which lower self-efficacy and deter women from pursuing these fields.
To address this, giving every aspiring innovator an equal shot is essential, and that starts from education. At Micron, I'm passionate about driving STEM initiatives that annually engage over 10,000 school-age students, nurturing their interest in STEM from young to extending holistic opportunities for the diverse and underrepresented workforce. Our inaugural Micron Chip Camp for girls this year reaffirms our commitment to equip participants with firsthand exposure to STEM careers, dispelling misconceptions, fostering confidence and paving the way for future success in the field.
The path forward
The path forward towards a brighter, more inclusive future for women in STEM is clear: it begins with investment in education, continues through fostering mentorship, and thrives on embracing diversity. Most importantly, it begins with believing in change as an individual and actively pursuing that change with your voice and actions.
As someone who has walked this path, I can tell you that every step is worth it. Let's create a future where women not only participate but thrive. We can push boundaries, support one another, and make the tech world a place where everyone can shine brightly. Together, we can rewrite the narrative of STEM.
Photos / Provided
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