In this week's episode of SheEO Lead-In, host Rebecca Jones engages in a thought-provoking discussion with Holly Smithson, President and CEO of Athena. Athena's mission is to advance 1 million women in STEM , by 2030. With only 1 in 4 STEM jobs held by women, their challenge is to educate and advocate for closing the gender gap and seeding greater innovation through diversity. Holly went from running a global leadership lab to running a proverbial crime lab now that multiple state's enacted legislation and pending lawsuits against diversity programs at colleges and corporations. Despite clear evidence that diversity drives significantly greater profits in companies, shareholder value and innovation cycles, its apparent this society is driven by somethings else entirely.

The conversation delves into the critical importance of resilience and support for women in leadership roles. Holly shares her personal experiences and highlights the necessity of diverse perspectives to drive innovation and growth. She and Rebecca explore the roles of confidence-building, leadership development, and role models in empowering women to overcome fear and achieve their full potential.

Together, Rebecca and Holly emphasize the value of recognizing and leveraging diverse perspectives, modeling positive behaviors and core values, and extending grace to others. Their discussion underscores the importance of fostering a culture of collaboration and inclusivity.

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