Meet “Meet Girls In STEM

 

We were lucky to catch up with Rania Azizah (a director of Girls In STEM) recently and have shared our conversation below.

Rania, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

From the beginning, Girls In STEM has been by-girls, for-ALL, student organization fighting to close the STEM gender gap. In 2015, our founder, Alice Hou, was attending junior high school when she realized the lack of representation for women wanting to pursue STEM careers. At the time, many STEM organizations were not focused on the issue of gender gaps, which Alice strove to bridge. This problem launched her initiative and today’s existing organization, “Girls in STEM.” By creating Girls in STEM, she didn’t just acknowledge the issue—she took concrete steps to make a difference that would impact our community for years. Alongside the other members of the founding board (Gauri Nukala, Shaina Joshua, Jessica Sateesh, and Riya Pau), they began to speak to girls in the local schools to raise awareness of this issue, which they saw come to fruition when members would come forward with their stories on how Girls in STEM impacted their school careers and confidence going into male-dominated fields. The founding board was able to establish the first chapter of the organization in their school, and through further advocation, later founded their own 501(c)(3) nonprofit when more schools across the country began their Girls in STEM chapters. The increase in support was especially rewarding, especially knowing that no one was truly alone in their experiences. What started as a simple school club focusing on bringing awareness to gender inequality in STEM careers became a large network reaching countless girls globally, providing mentorship, sisterhood, and confidence knowing that every girl has a chance at a future in STEM.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

For a decade, Girls in STEM has continued to encourage young women to explore the field of STEM through annual expos, community engagement events, school outreach, and student-student mentorship. Globally, we have over 1,000 members throughout our Girls in STEM chapter network with over 50 chapters across North America, Asia, Africa, and Europe. Chapters engage in STEM-related activities such as robotics and coding, encouraging STEM learning experiences while cultivating a sense of community amongst Girls in STEM members. The board of directors works especially hard to onboard new chapters daily and secure partnerships that will provide them with necessary resources, building the foundations of the organization. By closing the STEM gender gap and diversifying leading fields, Girls in STEM has made a substantial impact by providing the necessary tools for success, resulting in over 5,800 girls impacted in this past decade and over 200 Girls in STEM officers equipped with leadership skills.

This year, Girls In STEM is having its annual Summer Expo on Saturday, July 26th at the Plano Parr Library Program Room–this will be an amazing opportunity for girls of all ages to explore hands-on workshops and build lasting relationships. We will be hosting two separate sessions–one in the morning and one in the afternoon–to cater to different age groups. With the morning session developed specifically for younger girls around the elementary age, parents can expect fun, engaging activities for their children as well as a safe environment that guarantees a unique experience. Additionally, the afternoon session provides insightful experiences given by both professional and collegiate speakers, giving our older girls advice as they prepare to further their STEM educations. Registration for the morning session is FREE, while the afternoon session is available for just $7–this includes merch (a T-shirt and a tote bag!) as well as three free raffle tickets for our amazing prizes. The link to register and purchase tickets can be found here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/girls-in-stem-expo-2025-tickets-1390527738899?aff=oddtdtcreator

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

The most important qualities that impacted the success of our organization can be described in just three short words: Patience, communication, and resilience. The biggest challenge Girls in STEM has faced in kickstarting the organization has always been numbers. Starting from humble beginnings, garnering attendees from our very first chapter meetings has always been a struggle as it required constant encouragement of participation and persistent outreach efforts to create a strong foundation. Just as our organization began to take off, the COVID-19 pandemic became yet another major battle for us, collapsing existing relations with sponsors and damaging existing chapters as a result of the inability to have meetings. However, despite this challenge, we remained steadfast in our mission and doubled our efforts to make sure the community we created did not go to waste–by adapting to hybrid meeting environments and promoting online opportunities, our organization emerged stronger than before. By remaining patient throughout challenges, communicating with members and fellow board members, and approaching setbacks with resilience, Girls in STEM not only successfully overcame the biggest challenge since its creation, but also laid the groundwork for the future of accessibility in STEM.

To other nonprofit leaders—know that growth rarely happens overnight. In many cases, challenges aren’t just obstacles; they’re opportunities in disguise. Approach every problem with perserverance, passion, and determination, and your organization will only then begin to strengthen.

What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?

In the past 12 months alone, we have raised over $5000 solely from community partnerships and the support of generous donors. With the additional funding, Girls In STEM has been able to send vital resources to international chapters, provide improved community events (such as the annual Summer Expo), and begin discussions regarding the future of financial support for our members. We are committed to making STEM education as accessible, empowering, and inclusive as it can possibly be.

On another note, our chapters have experienced a surge in growth in the past year. What began as a small initiative with just a handful of dedicated students has now expanded into a large network of sisterhood and shared passion. This rapid expansion is a testament to the growing awareness around the importance of gender equity in STEM and the incredible work being done by our chapter officers and community leaders. Their passion, commitment, and outreach efforts have helped spread our mission far beyond what we initially imagined and inspire us everyday to continue with our mission. Moreover, chapters are now running their own independent events, forming relationships with local organizations, and creating unique opportunities tailored to the needs of their own communities. Since the very beginning, our mission has been to empower girls from all backgrounds—regardless of socioeconomic status, identity, or where they are on their STEM journey. As we reflect on the past ten years and look ahead to what’s next, there is one thing we can confidently say: Girls in STEM is only just getting started. With every chapter, event, and initiative, we are building a stronger, more inclusive community that will only continue to grow as a global force for equity, innovation, and lasting empowerment.

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Image Credits

Roma Thakur

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