Girlstart’s Women in STEM weekly series highlights various women who are making a difference in STEM. Be inspired as these incredible women describe how they became interested in their field, provide insight into a day in the life, and share learnings from their experiences.

Jessica Harris

President @ Harris Energy Solutions LLC

Jessica’s interest in Girlstart was sparked from her involvement in Solar Austin, where she introduces children to the STEM field. We are thrilled that she has extended that passion to join Girlstart in our efforts to increase girls’ interest in STEM!

Do you have any words of encouragement for girls who may be interested in a STEM career?

Don’t let others skepticism of you and your ability discourage you! You can do anything you put your mind to.

Was there a specific person, program, or event in your life that led you to your STEM career?

In high school when I started thinking about colleges, I found a strong passion for engineering. I noticed I began looking at things, like building structures around me, and thinking about all the different forces and structures that made the building stand the way it did. I also deeply care for the environment and sustainability so I found a job where I can combine both of my passions to make buildings more energy efficient.

What are your favorite things about your career?

My favorite thing about my career is that every day I get to do my part to help save the planet.

Why is confidence in STEM important for girls?

It is important to give girls the confidence they need to succeed in whatever field they choose. STEM is an important field because it is a challenge, and girls will learn that failure is okay while exploring and experimenting. We should encourage girls to pursue the STEM field when it is of interest to them to build character and strength in themselves and confidence in their abilities.