Editor’s Note: Jasmina Brooks is president of Irvine-based Biosense Webster, which was bought in 1997 by Johnson & Johnson. Biosense Webster, which makes equipment to diagnose and treat cardiac arrhythmias, has more than 13,000 employees, including 600 in Irvine. The Business Journal’s Special Report on healthcare begins on page 15.
While the U.S. workforce is close to reaching gender parity, STEM fields have yet to catch up.
Men continue to significantly outpace women in STEM, which stands for science, technology, engineering and math. Today, women make up only 35% of STEM workers. Between 2011 to 2021, that number grew by only 3% percentage points, according to the National Science Foundation.
Orange County is a region with not only historical strength in biotech and medical device manufacturing, but also increasing interest in STEM. Bachelor’s and graduate diplomas in STEM represented 43% of all degrees conferred in 2020, according to a community indicators report from the Orange County Business Council.
There’s potential for women to make far more significant gains, especially among the next generation.
Advancing representation of women in STEM also holds inherent economic value. In 2021, the life sciences sector produced approximately $46 billion in economic output and employed more than 45,800 people in Orange County, according to the California Life Sciences Institute (CLSI). Research from McKinsey also shows that companies with more than 30% women executives also hold a higher likelihood of outperformance.
Simply put, we need more women in STEM to shape the modern workforce.
Johnson & Johnson, which drives breakthrough scientific innovation at our MedTech campus in Irvine, has long been a leader in championing women. When the company was founded more than 135 years ago, eight of our first 14 employees were women. In 2015, we launched a WiSTEM2D initiative that provides tools and opportunities for women of all ages to pursue STEM studies and careers.
We have created a culture of diversity and inclusion where women are empowered to succeed—a necessary step in shaping the future of Orange County’s STEM sector.
Next Generation
The STEM gender gap continues to persist among Gen Z. A 2023 Gallup survey revealed females are nearly 20 percentage points more likely to say they aren’t interested in a STEM career because they didn’t believe they would be good at it.
Research suggests this is due to a lack of exposure, rather than lack of aptitude. When it comes to educational progress in science, for example, there is no measurable gender gap between students in fourth grade, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
Having female role models in STEM can provide the exposure that many girls need. At Johnson & Johnson MedTech, I’m honored to lead our Irvine WiSTEM2D group that reached 1,000 students last year.
Each quarter, we host two to three groups on our Irvine campus in addition to visiting local schools and universities. We also expand our impact through close partnerships with nonprofits like Vital Link and Girl Scouts, reaching students from kindergarten up to Ph.D. candidates.
For younger girls, it’s all about making STEM accessible. They might learn how a medical device prototype is taken to manufacturing design or go into the lab to build a step of a catheter. As students get older, they have better awareness of the medical device industry and the technical needs spanning many different career paths.
Older students benefit from panels with senior female leaders, including those who work across diverse business functions. Hearing from women like Raina Dauria, VP of Regulatory Affairs, Gerianne Sarte, VP of Finance, Cardiovascular & Specialty Solutions (CSS), and Jennifer Currin, VP of Scientific Affairs, CSS, can help open the next generation’s eyes to the myriad roles that exist in STEM, from business to finance. All three work in our Orange County facilities.
There’s also “speed networking,” so two to three students can have deeper conversations with an employee related to their interests and goals. This allows them to build important connections, which can result in mentoring relationships and future job opportunities.
The Pipeline
While fueling early interest in STEM is vital, so is supporting women currently in STEM careers to continue to advance and thrive.
After 25 years of working in the medtech industry, I have seen firsthand the valuable contributions that women have made to advancing life-saving innovative science and technology. My early career was significantly enriched by the support and encouragement I received from the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). Engaging with this community provided me with valuable mentorship, networking, and a platform to exchange experiences with fellow women in engineering.
At the same time, I understand the challenges women may face in their STEM careers. A McKinsey report noted that female directors are leaving at a higher rate than in the past year, which is exacerbating the lack of representation that makes career advancement challenging at more senior levels.
At J&J MedTech, having strong role models and mentors like Celine Martin, Company Group Chairman, Cardiovascular & Specialty Solutions Group, Alenka Brzulja, worldwide president, Mentor Worldwide, and Nikki Sidi, U.S. president, Biosense Webster, has helped us create a culture of diversity and inclusion where women are empowered to succeed. We also have male leaders who are strong advocates and allies for the women on their teams and across the organization.
Johnson & Johnson offers a variety of programs that spark women’s advancement, from formal leadership development to initiatives that help women reignite their careers after an extended leave. Last year, our Women’s Leadership & Inclusion employee resource group launched a series of monthly conversations with J&J’s leaders to discuss career advancement for women.
Today, 43% of our management positions in the U.S. are held by women.
Though we have made significant strides in empowering women to pursue and succeed in STEM careers, the journey toward balanced gender representation in STEM spheres remains considerable. The commitment to champion and embolden women within these realms must persist. We need more exposure, more mentors, more role models, more male advocates—and more companies like J&J MedTech that will tirelessly advocate for and provide unwavering support to advance girls and women in STEM.
To learn more about Johnson & Johnson MedTech’s commitment to the advancement of women in STEM, visit jnj.com/wistem2d.
