Leadership Academy Created for Diverse STEM Students

Defence company Raytheon Technologies and Girls Who Code  have launched a leadership academy and programme to boost the number of diverse STEM students from underrepresented groups.

The new programme supports over 100 students in the US to build technical and professional skills in an effort to diversify future talent pipelines. Launched on 30 August, the initiative targets STEM students who will soon enter the workforce. The Leadership Academy aims to provide students from historically underrepresented groups with increased exposure to tech careers by empowering them with a supportive community of peers and professional development opportunities. Students in the Leadership Academy come from more than 80 colleges across the US; and about 90% identify as Black, Latina, Indigenous, or first-generation college students.

“We are incredibly proud to be the inaugural partner for the Girls Who Code Leadership Academy, helping empower more students to explore and ultimately thrive in STEM-related roles,” said Vince Campisi, Senior Vice President of Enterprise Services and Chief Digital Officer for Raytheon Technologies. “Building on our successful collaboration, this new programme will continue to identify new ways to close the gender gap and will be a vital part of how we transform the future of our talent pipeline together.”

TEACHING TECH FUNDAMENTALS

“At Girls Who Code, we understand that to prepare our students for the workforce; we must not only equip them with the resources they need to build on their technical skills. To help them thrive, we also need hands-on engagement that will teach them the fundamentals of growing their networks through leadership,” added Tarika Barrett, CEO of Girls Who Code. “We’re overjoyed to partner closely with Raytheon Technologies on this pilot programme and are excited by the opportunity to continue to provide students with the tools and confidence they need to make a difference.”

This four-month pilot programme will include small cohort meetings – designed to provide opportunities for shared learning, career mentoring, and community-building – as well as a Give Back Project. Participants will receive guidance from peers and Raytheon Technologies mentors as they plan, manage and execute community service projects. Volunteers from the company will also participate in speed networking events and technical interview prep sessions with the students.

Raytheon Technologies’ partnership with Girls Who Code is part of the company’s Connect Up initiative, which supports building a more diverse technology workforce by improving STEM education opportunities for women and students of colour. Programmes such as the Leadership Academy have the potential to help fill current and future tech talent shortages with young leaders who are well equipped with the skills to thrive across all industries. Raytheon Technologies has partnered with Girls Who Code since 2018.

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