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A Game Changer

Girlstart is honoring 2019 women in STEM.

Next month, Girlstart is hosting the annual Game Changers luncheon to honor women who have made a significant impact in STEM. This luncheon raises funds to support Girlstart’s year-round programs in Houston, including free after school and summer camp programs. Recently, we had the opportunity to chat with one of the 2019 Women in STEM Honorees, Isabelle Scott. She is currently pursuing a computer science degree at Rice University with a minor in business.

Isabelle has been a part of Girlstart for many years. She began her journey as a summer camp attendee for multiple summers before she switched roles as a volunteer when she entered high school. Now, as a college student, she works as a summer camp counselor so that she can provide the same high-quality mentorship that she experienced through Girlstart.

Enjoy our interview of Isabelle to learn why STEM mentorship is so vital for a girl’s future.

What does being a women in STEM mean to you?

It means having to have a bit more confidence in your abilities because people might be more likely to doubt you. But it also means meeting more people like you to connect with.

What area of STEM do you currently work/volunteer in?

I’m in my second year of studying Computer Science at Rice university.

What is your favorite thing about working/volunteering in STEM?

I like how it’s really fancy problem solving and I get to use a variety of tools to solve the world’s problems. My favorite project so far is working on a program to tag parts of languages. It’s similar to Machine Learning, but tracks nouns to determine the next word(s).

What is the most challenging thing about working in STEM?

The most challenging thing is to try and find new solutions or solve a problem in a way that hasn’t been done. I can’t use a solution that has been used before to fall back on and help me solve a problem. I have to figure out a way that hasn’t been done.

What are some really neat things you get to do in your STEM field?

It’s such a collaborative field. I enjoy getting to work with other people and learn how they think, problem solve, and work with people who think differently than me.

Why did you choose the STEM field?

My dad teaches Computer Science and the University of Texas. I grew up attending events that introduce kids to STEM. When I joined the Girlstart summer camps, I was able to see a broader area of topics and other girls doing STEM like me.

How did mentorship impact your future in STEM?

Seeing STEM normalized and encouraged as a woman was helpful because it wasn’t viewed as something that was odd or different. I could explore topics that interested me and learn while being supported.

How did Girlstart help support your interest in STEM?

Girlstart Summer Camp was the first time I saw a lot of women in the STEM field and it felt like a quiet way of being supported. I realized that STEM is something I could do and pursue. Girlstart allowed me to  keep reconnecting and re-engaging in STEM and other women in STEM. I ended up attending Summer Camp for three years,  volunteered while in high school for four years, and had my first year as a counselor this past summer.

Do you have a memory or favorite moment from your time as a Girlstart participant?

This past summer was so memorable. We were teaching a lesson with middle schoolers about programming drones. I was able to really develop a close connection to one of the girls. All of the girls named their drones and this girl named her drone after me. It ended up being my favorite lesson to teach.  I loved seeing how excited the girls would get when they were able to program their drones to do what they wanted.

What is one piece of advice you would share with current Girlstart participants?

Being a woman in stem doesn’t have to be a big deal. It doesn’t mean that it has to be you taking a stand against something. You are just pursuing what are interested in and you just happen to be a woman.

Why Girlstart inspires girls to pursue STEM:

Isabelle is one of the many girls that continues to be inspired by Girlstart’s programs. By providing high-quality programs for after-school and summer,  Girlstart is able to change the game for many girls who are interested in participating in STEM. Providing exposure and opportunity is vital to creating the next generation of scientists and engineers. Help Girlstart continuing mission of changing the game for the future:

Be a Game Changer.

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Announcing Austin Game Changers Keynote Speaker Melanie Mitchell

Melanie Mitchell is Professor of Computer Science at Portland State University, and External Professor and Member of the Science Board at the Santa Fe Institute. She attended Brown University, where she majored in mathematics and did research in astronomy, and the University of Michigan, where she received a Ph.D. in computer science. Her dissertation, in collaboration with her advisor Douglas Hofstadter, was the development of Copycat, a computer program that makes analogies. She has held faculty or professional positions at the University of Michigan, the Santa Fe Institute, Los Alamos National Laboratory, the OGI School of Science and Engineering, and Portland State University. She is the author or editor of five books and numerous scholarly papers in the fields of artificial intelligence, cognitive science, and complex systems. Her most recent book, Complexity: A Guided Tour, published in 2009 by Oxford University Press, is the winner of the 2010 Phi Beta Kappa Science Book Award. It was also named by Amazon.com as one of the ten best science books of 2009, and was long-listed for the Royal Society’s 2010 book prize.   Melanie originated the Complexity Explorer online education program at the Santa Fe Institute.

Sponsor the Luncheon

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Thank you to our Houston Luncheon Sponsors!

Thank you so much to our Houston Luncheon sponsors. Because of you, our girls have a space to explore science and learn about STEM careers. You are igniting passion and inspiration our girls through your contributions.

Platinum Sponsors:
Ernst & Young

Gold Sponsors:
Deloitte
Jacobs
Weatherford

Silver Sponsors:
Barrios Technology
Engility
hp
Reliant
Mei Technologies

Bronze Sponsors:
Andrea and Joe Koch
Camac
Chevron
Exploring 4 Solutions
Par Avion LTD
Pierpoint

An additional thank you to our speakers who showed us what’s possible with STEM education!

Keynote Speaker: Eileen M. Collins
Event Emcee: Casey Curry
Moderator: Kathryn Keeton
STEM Honorees:
Lynn Dugle
Marie Lynn Miranda, Ph.D.
Barbara Morgan
Rebecca Richards-Kortum, Ph.D.
Nancy Webb, MD

View Photos from the Luncheon

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2018 Austin Women in STEM Honorees

Sarah Adler
Cofounder of Spoon University, VP Product at Discovery

Sarah Adler cofounded Spoon University, a next-generation food media platform, while she was in undergrad at Northwestern in 2013. Now, Spoon exists on more than 300 college campuses all over the world, with more than 5,000 active student contributors. After going through the Techstars accelerator program and raising $2.5M in funding, Sarah helped grow the team to 30 people and recently sold Spoon to Scripps Networks Interactive, now Discovery, to help reach the next generation of consumers. Sarah is now head of product at Discovery for Spoon University and Genius Kitchen, both of which are youth-oriented food media brands. Sarah was named to Forbes 30 Under 30 in the media category in 2018.

Marla Britt Fields, PMP
Sr. Technical Program Manager at Velo3D

Marla Fields received her bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from MIT.  After graduation she moved to San Jose, California to work for Applied Materials where she worked as a process engineer, demo lab manager, product line manager and program manager.  She served as the president for the Women’s Professional Development Network at Applied Materials and chaired the Silicon Valley’s Corporate Women’s Initiative Consortium. Recently Marla found a new home at Velo3D – an amazing start up in the 3D printing space perfecting her program management skills.  She is a board member for Girls on the Run of Silicon Valley and volunteers with Girlstart and the Greene Scholars Program.

Erika Linford
Vice President, Technology at Southwest Airlines

As a Leader in the Technology Department, Erika is responsible for our Commercial portfolio. In this role, she provides technical solutions and support to our Commercial Leaders and their Teams across Network Planning, Revenue Management, Corporate Sales, and Marketing. Erika and her Teams partner with the Commercial groups to identify and delivery technical solutions that support their business priorities, ranging from new business capabilities that provide incremental revenue value to digital Customer applications.

Erika joined Southwest in 2011 as a Director in Technology, supporting Network Planning & Revenue Management. She was then promoted to Sr. Director, Technology where she led the Office of the CIO (OCIO). In May 2016, Erika transitioned to Sr. Director, BTS- Customer within Corporate Delivery supporting Call Center Teams, including Customer Support & Services and Customer Relations, as well as our Customer-facing Teams in Ground Operations. In this role she had additional responsibility for supporting Southwest’s end-to-end Customer experience.

Prior to 2011, Erika was engaged at Southwest in a consultant capacity serving as Program Manager for Technology’s AirTran Integration-related projects. She also served with the Revenue Management Department as interim Director, Projects & Analysis Development. During her five-year tenure with McKinsey & Company, Erika served clients in the travel and logistics industry sector, including airlines, hotels, and railroad. Prior to McKinsey, Erika worked in the pharmaceutical industry sector for start-up to mid-size companies.

Erika earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and her Masters of Science in Organic Chemistry from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Erika and her husband Michael have two young children and a very large German Shepard.  They enjoy spending time in Colorado – hiking, skiing, and just generally being outside in the fresh mountain air!

Trisa Thompson
Former SVP & Chief Responsibility Officer at Dell

Trisa Thompson recently retired as the Senior Vice President and Chief Responsibility Officer at Dell, with responsibility for Dell’s Legacy of Good program including strategic giving, sustainability, entrepreneurism and DWEN.  Prior to this role, Trisa was a Vice President in Dell’s Legal Department for 12 years.

Trisa graduated with honors from The National Law Center, George Washington University.  She received her undergraduate degree, magna cum laude, from Boston University, where she majored in Mass Communications.

Trisa has served as a judge for the global Circular Awards with the World Economic Forum, working to increase understanding of the benefits of a circular economy. She was also on the national corporate advisory board for the American Red Cross. Trisa received the 2008 Volunteer of the Year award from the United Way of Austin.  In addition, in 2014, the National Diversity Council awarded her the Most Powerful and Influential Women of Texas Award and they also named her as one of the Top 50 Women in Technology in 2014.

Trisa is a board member of the LifeWorks Board of Governors, an organization helping homeless teens gain self-sufficiency.

Previously, Trisa served on the Boards of the United Way in Central Texas, the Women’s Giving Network, Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, I Live Here I Give Here, and was president of the Zach Scott Theatre and KLRU Boards.  She was also a founding member of the Austin/San Antonio Chapter of the Texas General Counsel Forum.

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