Session: Deploying STEM Reentry Programs: Experiences from Worldwide Tech Companies
The challenges to improving an organization's diverse technical talent are well documented across tech industries around the world. As a non-traditional way to address these challenges, companies have launched and expanded global STEM reentry programs with the help of the SWE/iRelaunch STEM Reentry Task Force. Attend this session to learn about how large tech companies have implemented successful STEM reentry programs, including gaining senior executive buy-in, recruiting candidates, and developing the reentry program, for consideration in your own companies.
Bio
iRelaunch Managing Director, Jennifer Howland, co-leads iRelaunch's consulting practice and co-leads the STEM Reentry Taskforce with the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). Prior to joining iRelaunch in 2020, she had a successful 35 year career as an engineer, manager and development executive at IBM. One of the standout and globally recognized programs Jennifer created – from ideation to implementation and expansion – was IBM's Tech Re-Entry program where she was a founding member of the STEM Reentry Taskforce, led by SWE and iRelaunch.
Jennifer is a graduate of Clarkson University where she received a bachelor of science in electrical and computer engineering. She received her master’s degree in manufacturing systems engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. for close to 20 years Jennifer was an active leader with DiscoverE and was the campus liaison executive for women in technology at Clarkson. She is on Clarkson University’s Honor’s Program Advisory Council. She is recognized in the industry as an expert in leading large, global development teams, global STEM reentry programs, developing and progressing diverse technical talent, unconscious bias and career development, having been a frequent speaker at numerous notable conferences.
Jennifer has been honored for her efforts, including being selected in 2017 as one of Good Housekeeping’s ‘10 Women Changing the Way We See the World’ as a leader in science and technology and in 2018 being the first IBMer featured in the December 2018 issue of Hudson Valley Magazine honoring women in business in the Hudson Valley region of New York. In 2019 Jennifer received the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) 'Advocating Women in Engineering' award for her lifelong work in advocating for technical women. She has two grown daughters, both of whom hold engineering degrees.