Sarah Palmer: Keys to Achieving More in Life and Career
We had the pleasure of interviewing Sarah Palmer, a badass woman entrepreneur who has been supporting our work to level the playing field for girls in sport and STEM for more than four years. We're so inspired by Sarah that we invited her to share a little wisdom from her journey with you.
So, who is Sarah Palmer?
Sarah is Co-Founder and former Creative Director of BRANWYN, the groundbreaking sustainable performance innerwear that's shaking up the active underwear industry. Sarah's extensive background in fashion and wellness helped her introduce a first-of-its-kind underwear made by active women for active women, using biodegradable merino wool.
PLAG: How did sport prepare you for success in business? What specific skills did you gain and how do you use them in your role at BRANWYN?
SP: Playing sports was perhaps one of the most impactful activities I did that prepared me for not only a robust career, but life in general. For context, I played three sports - one each season throughout middle school and high school, and I went on to play field hockey in college for one of the top DIII schools. Prior to that, I was a competitive gymnast for 13 years and dabbled in competitive horseback riding. Needless to say, sports were a huge part of my life and development as a child and young adult.
As a start-up, BRANWYN requires a tremendous amount of time, energy and passion - much like many of the sports that I played. Especially in those first few years it required an immense amount of perseverance - picking ourselves up when we ran into supply chain issues, figuring out our marketing strategy, teamwork, doing jobs that we didn’t necessarily sign up for and working together to solve problems (more than I think any of us would like to admit!). But such is the nature of building a business from scratch.
PLAG: Briefly describe your experience with mentoring and how it impacted your life as an athlete. How have you benefited both personally and professionally from mentoring relationships?
SP: Mentors for me came in the form of coaches. I was lucky enough to have the same coach in my respective sports throughout high school and college, so I was able to develop very deep and impactful relationships. There are two coaches in particular that stick out to me - my high school field hockey coach and my college coach. Both actually have a lot of similarities now that I think about it. They certainly shaped how I showed up on a team (which eventually translated to my professional life) and cultivated and nurtured my natural leadership skills and work ethic.
Both personally and professionally, mentoring relationships have helped me get where I am today. Whether it’s perspective at one of life's many crossroads, an introduction, or knowledge about an area or subject matter that I’m not as well versed in, all of my mentors have helped me become who I am today.
PLAG: How do you think girls, in particular, can benefit from being a part of a sports team?
SP: One of the greatest benefits of being a part of a sports team is learning how to collaborate and work with others to reach a common goal. When I played field hockey in high school, we won our conference championship my junior year. However, it was our semi-final game that was the most memorable game of the season. It was an away game, at one of our rivals, on a field that we all struggled playing on (it had a lot more dirt than grass and lots of divots). It was a tie game at the end of regulation that went into not one, but two overtimes before we finally put the ball in the back of the cage. I remember that we were all exhausted, but you never would have guessed it. The entire team, including the people on the bench, were in it, giving it all they had. If one of us felt like we couldn’t run one more step we would look to someone else on the field for a moment of eye contact and an emphatic “You got this!” to give us an extra boost of energy.
I believe that’s what made that win so much sweeter than the rest - the feeling that we were all in it together from start to finish, that it wasn’t just one person that carried the team, but all of us.
PLAG: What is the best advice you’ve received from a coach? How have you applied that advice in your career?
SP: If we ever had a particularly tough game that didn’t go our way, my high school field hockey coach would always tell us, “You have the rest of the day to be bummed/sad/angry/disappointed etc., but after that it’s time to move on. We can’t dwell on the past, we can only learn from it and move forward.”
That advice has stuck with me for many years - so much so that I share it with my closest friends and family when they are stuck in a rut. I think a big part of life (career included) is our mental game and how we as individuals respond to what life, or work, throws our way. It’s important to allow ourselves the time and space to process what we’re feeling, and then learn and grow from it. This is something that I passed down to my team during my time as a coach.
I remember one season in particular - the team had endless potential and great chemistry. However, they kept getting tripped up on the field when they would make a mistake - it would have a snowball effect. I brought in my mom, an incredibly talented and multi-faceted woman, to teach them the same breathwork and visualization that she had taught my brother and me. We went on to make the finals, the first time in nearly a decade.
PLAG: At puberty, girls’ confidence plummets. A national survey revealed that 70% of girls feel paralyzed by the fear of failure during puberty. This fear is so intense that many girls opt out of important growth opportunities during this time, like taking on challenges and trying new things.
How has a growth mindset contributed to your success? Are there any lessons you learned from failure in sport?
SP: Playing sports between middle school and high school definitely taught me how to not only deal with failure (as well as mistakes) in the moment, but learn from it after the fact. You don’t have time to dwell on a bad pass in the middle of a game, otherwise you just end up in your head and often end up playing worse. As an athlete, I had to learn how to shake things off, learn from my mistakes or a loss and make the necessary changes to improve for the next time.
As I got older this skill set me up for success in the workplace. I was better equipped to handle failure on the job, or even setbacks that required a change in strategy, as well as receive and process constructive criticism. Out of the many positive impacts that playing sports has on people I think this is one of the most important ones. Especially for women.
PLAG: What advice would you give to women who aspire to leave an impact in the world for the next generation?
SP: Lead from both your head and your heart. Embrace the concept of compassionate leadership and learn how to be both masculine (analytical, action-oriented, driven) and feminine (intuitive, creative, vulnerable) in your approach. Be the female leader that you want to see more of in the world.
It’s also worth mentioning one of my favorite phrases that I often think about, which is, “When you empower women, you empower the world.” I genuinely believe that if we continue to empower women with access to education, capital, and opportunity — with no strings attached — then we will experience tremendous benefits across the board, with a massive trickle-down effect.
Want more of this? Follow Sarah online.
On the ‘gram, you can find her @sarahrosesrp and @branwynofficial. On the web, visit Sarah at westonrose.com and branwyn.com.
Because of Sarah and her co-founders Katie Sadle and Shawna Lauringson, BRANWYN exists to create a foundation of confidence upon which women athletes can perform their best and be the best version of themselves every. single. day. Because of them, we are.
Impact Story: Emma Grace Clonan
Emma Grace Clonan graduates from the International Baccalaureate Program at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tennessee this spring, but the young golfer has even bigger plans.
She made history last month as the first Play Like a Girl alumna to sign a letter of intent to continue her athletic career while pursuing a degree in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) next year at Maryville College in the Great Smoky Mountains.
“Knowing what you want and going for it takes courage, but it is so worth it to reach for the stars,” Clonan said at the 3rd annual Women’s Leadership Summit, a women’s empowerment event commemorating Women’s History Month.
See more of Emma and the event here.
The aspiring neuroscientist shared her aspirations during a keynote conversation with television sports reporter, Samaria Terry, at GEODIS Park — home to Major League Soccer’s Nashville SC which hosted the event as part of its International Women’s Day celebration.
Emma also received the 2023 Play Like a Girl Honors award for her scholarship, service, sportspersonship, and spirit. Emma told the crowd that she wants to continue to inspire other girls and young women.
For the past 15 years, Play Like a Girl has recognized amazing individuals including the legendary Louisiana State University women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey and 2017 US Open finalist Madison Keys, who are making a difference in our mission to level the playing field for girls and women.
Each honoree receives a personalized, hand-carved award crafted using sustainable wood that won’t harm the environment. Details describing the honoree’s exceptional contributions are etched into the wood. On one side, a quote or personal characteristic that embodies their mission. On the other side, the Play Like a Girl mission is included as a reminder of the honoree’s connection to our work. Each award, like Emma and her fellow Play Like a Girl Honorees, is one of a kind.
At graduation, Emma will receive honors as a member of the National Honor Society—finishing in the top 10% of her class. This academic distinction is determined by the cumulative grade point average earned at Oakland. She is the recipient of the Dan and Melanie Mays McGill Fellowship, the most prestigious academic award available to incoming first-year and transfer students who enroll at Maryville College.
With support from our dedicated and passionate network of monthly donors whom we call our SQUAD, Emma’s Play Like a Girl Honors award included a $2,500 scholarship to cover book expenses left over after the McGill scholarship is applied. It is our hope that this modest scholarship will remove any remaining barrier to Emma successfully completing her first year of college, keeping her in the game and winning for years to come.
Emma has been an elite golfer throughout her time at Oakland. She has played varsity for four years, and ended her final season as the 2022 Regional Golf Champion. But, of course, that’s only the beginning of this young woman’s story.
In addition to being a stellar student-athlete, Emma is serving and shaping the world as a leader in the classroom, on campus and in her community. She led her team in her final season of golf. She is also an active member and leader of several student organizations including Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Best Buddies.
The past several years, Emma has taught golf basics to Play Like a Girl participants and recently joined our team as an intern supporting our girls and staff in incredible ways.
“I love teaching golf to other girls, and I'm so honored whenever I get to introduce beginners to the sport,” she said. “I feel great knowing that I can play a part in other young ladies’ journeys to fall in love with golf—just like I have.”
Play Like a Girl congratulates Emma and her family on this historic and well-deserved opportunity. We were excited to witness her final season as an Oakland Patriot and are eager to support her on her new journey as a Maryville Scot!
About Play Like a Girl Impact Stories
Play Like a Girl is at the forefront of the drive to level the playing field for girls because we envision a world where all girls have the confidence and opportunity to become unstoppable women. Towards that end, we endeavor to leverage the skills girls gain from sport to help propel young women into competitive, male-dominated careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
Our impact stories series illustrates the human impact of Play Like a Girl’s work across the United States and the world, often highlighting the donors and partnerships that make this work possible. These stories share how we and our many supporters are working to realize a better world for girls and women—one of equity and empowerment because that is what we do and who we are, as a leader, connector, and provider of programs.
Cheers to Another Successful Women's Leadership Summit
On Tuesday, March 8th, the Play Like a Girl Women's Leadership Summit returned to Ozari Nashville for a spirited celebration. Women and girls, both virtually and in person, joined an impressive event all about spotlighting and celebrating women role models.
This year, the summit featured three interactive panel discussions including a hands-on science and engineering demonstration "Hack with Hadley" named for one of our favorite girls Hadley Hall who recently helped to create the 2022 Women's History Patch as part of Nashville Soccer Club's ongoing commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
The special edition patch depicts the unity of womanhood for a common goal in both sport and life. The design shows diversity in each individual woman and player, simultaneously uniting as members of a team with the traditional team huddle before going into a game to play as one. All proceeds from the purchase of the patch throughout Women's History Month will benefit Play Like a Girl.
We also debuted Ready for Any Field, a five-part speaker series elevating the next generation of rising stars in STEM+. Ready for Any Field is a year-round platform conceptualized by pro bono professionals from the talent management agency Wasserman and its advertising agency, Laundry Service, to highlight the journey of accomplished women in STEM+ and sports careers. Throughout the spring and summer, we will talk to talented women from diverse backgrounds about what drives them to succeed and how they continue to push themselves to new heights, challenges they face in a male-dominated industry and other women who inspire them along the way.
Over 60 virtual attendees joined throughout the afternoon including middle school students being mentored by college students from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). Twelve VCU students and staff ran Play Like a Girl's inaugural spring break camp for girls in Mount Juliet, Tennessee. Each year, VCU Alternative Break (Alt Breaks) organizes service trips during school breaks that send more than one hundred VCU students to various sites around the country and beyond, amounting to more than 5,000 community service hours each year. Students began coordinating their Play Like a Girl service trip back in November 2021. Several student mentors battled COVID-19 before being cleared to mentor, leaving the trip coordinator behind as she took the virus on just days before the trip.
Masked up but excited to celebrate together, local guests were treated to a free copy of keynote speaker Emily Pilliton-Lam's book, informal mentoring opportunities with summit speakers, professional headshot photographs and 360-degree photo booth, a happy hour style reception, and the opportunity to purchase Play Like a Girl branded merchandise.
Most importantly, a portion of event proceeds went to benefit the Play Like a Girl Scholarship Fund, making this year's celebration of International Women's Day a worthy cause. Scholarship applications are due May 15, and will be presented to 2022 scholars at the On the Green Charity Golf Scramble at Brentwood Country Club on June 27.
Credits for this event:
- Event Producer: Social Bliss Events
- Floral Design: Echoes of Eden Florals
- Balloon Arches: Balloons and Confetti 615
- Audio-Visual: Darius Kidd of DK Event Solutions
- Headshots: James Isaac Jones Photography
- Event Photography: Cassidy Jo Photo on behalf of Southern Social Co & Nathan Zucker
- Social Media/Content Creation: Asia Ware
- 360 Photo Booth: DJ Who
- Hair & Makeup: AMUA students Laura, Molly & Skylar
- Music: DJ Alanna Royale
- Specialty Cocktail: Walker Feed Co, Tito's Vodka
- Grazing Table: A Tasty Tray
- Beverage Service: ABC Freelancers Kara Dixon & Kate DeSha
See photos from the event below.
If She Can See It, She Can Be It
Girl Scout Shane Woods believes girls need to see brilliant women being brilliant, so they can imagine themselves being and doing brilliant things too. Shane is one of the mentors at our Women’s Leadership Summit March 8th in Nashville!
Visit the website to register and tune in☝️for our special International Women’s Day celebration. Check out our interview with Shane????below!
PLAY LIKE A GIRL: Please introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about what you do.
SHANE WOODS: I serve as the Senior Director of the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas STEM Center of Excellence, which is a 92-acre living laboratory where girls of all ages can explore and develop their competence and confidence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. My job allows me to play an integral part in helping Girl Scouts know that they can change the workforce pipeline in STEM through their voice, engagement, and leadership in the fastest growing sector of the U.S. economy. I am also involved in advancing the efforts of the STEM community as an active member of several local, state, and national education groups.
PLAG: Share a recent interaction with another woman or girl that you found inspiring.
SW: I recently sat on a diversity in camp staffing panel with Kyrah Altman who founded a social enterprise at the age of 16 and, while in college, won a venture competition that allowed her to formally establish her organization LEAD as a 501(c)3 nonprofit. Kyrah’s dedication and determination to make the world a better place reminded me that no one is ever too young to make a difference and my work with youth is critical. As a Girl Scout employee, my work at The STEM Center of Excellence helps spark girls’ curiosity and gives them the courage, confidence, and character to be an agent of change.
PLAG: What difference would it have made for you to have had Play Like a Girl in your life as a girl or young woman?
SW: Play Like a Girl's programs would have exposed me to more career options than I had in the mid-1980s and 90s. To see women as founders, CEOs, and leaders in STEM makes a lasting impression on young minds. Had Play Like a Girl been in my life as a young girl, I’m certain I may have made different choices when selecting classes taken in high school and college as I would have had a much better understanding of the limitless possibilities for women in STEM.
PLAG: What does "ready for any field" mean to you?
SW: Ready for Any Field means having confidence in your own knowledge and skills and possessing a growth mindset which is necessary to perform at your highest capacity regardless of the assignment given to you.
PLAG: Why is sisterhood (or women supporting women) important to you?
SW: There is nothing like living life and sharing experiences with your sisterhood. It is all about quality and not quantity. Your sisters will be your loudest champions, they will walk with you during difficult times, listen when you have something on your mind to share, and they will sit in silence when you just need someone near. The humans you choose to bring into your sisterhood make every experience richer.
PLAG: How does mentorship from and collaboration with other women help you grow and learn?
SW: Gaining wisdom from those who have experienced what you are heading into or going through reinforces that life lessons are worth the effort. Getting their perspective can build your own confidence as well. Learning from others’ experiences allows you to avoid pitfalls they may have encountered. Sharing space with other women allows you to walk in confidence knowing you have women cheering you on as you reach new goals.
PLAG: What is the best piece of advice you've received from a woman role model, mentor or colleague?
SW: My executive coach recently told me to stop waiting for perfection, take the risk and focus on the progress I am making towards the goal I have set for myself. I do tend to wait for everything to be in order, which can lead to missed opportunities. I am doing better about trusting myself and having the courage to take that first step even if I don't have the complete plan. I can ask for help as needed and enjoy the lessons learned along the way.
PLAG: What is one piece of advice you would give your younger self?
SW: Just about every answer you have thought of in class after the teacher said the question was correct. You are brilliant, but no one knows that except you and that little voice in your head. Trust your gut and raise your hand.
PLAG: What advice do you have for younger girls who want to follow in your footsteps but may be afraid to ask for help (mentorship or guidance)?
SW: Explore academically. Take classes that interest you. Finding out what you do not like is just as important as learning what makes you want to know more. Seek out STEM women in careers you are interested in and follow them on social media. Ask what they did to get where they are. If you see it, you can be it. It is possible.
Connect with Shane on LinkedIn and join Play Like a Girl in our mission to build a diverse pipeline of women in STEM by encouraging girls that they can do anything and be #ReadyforAnyField. ⚡️
Win a chance to be mentored by game changing women in Nashville! Tell us how sport has prepared you to succeed in any field by submitting your original photos, videos or art via Instagram or Twitter using #ReadyforAnyField. No purchase necessary. Void in AK & HI and where prohibited. Open to legal residents of 48 contiguous US & DC. Starts 2/21/22; ends 2/28/22.
Hustle Until Your Haters Ask If You’re Hiring
Take that career advice from Samaira Mehta — one of the youngest mentors at our Women’s Leadership Summit March 8th in Nashville!
Here’s how to tune in☝️for our special International Women’s Day celebration. Meanwhile, check out our interview with Samaira????below!
PLAY LIKE A GIRL: Please introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about what you do?
SAMAIRA MEHTA: I’m Samaira, the creator of CoderBunnyz. When I was six years old, my dad introduced me to coding through a prank project that included a button that read "Press this if you're beautiful," but would disappear each time I pressed it. I was immediately curious about how he got the button to do that. Eager to create similar projects, I learned how to code myself. I often spent time coding and even creating my own "flappy bird" game (and, as a 7-year-old, that was something to be proud of!). However, after finding out that my friends thought coding was tedious and complicated, I became determined to develop a way to make coding fun for my friends. I worked long days learning how to better my coding and then transferred my knowledge onto a board game. Since my friends loved board games, I decided to use a board game to introduce them to coding - hoping they would eventually like coding too. And that’s how CoderBunnyz was created. The game helped to change my friends’ minds and made them love coding. That was a hugely rewarding experience. It was a challenging journey, but today my games (plural because I have now expanded to multiple games) sell on Amazon and Walmart. CoderBunnyz has even trended at #1 out of all of the best sellers on Amazon. Because of my work, I’ve gotten to work platforms like Vogue, United Nations, and have even received a letter of praise from former First Lady Michelle Obama.
PLAG: Share a recent interaction with another woman or girl that you found inspiring.
SM: Often I speak with my grandmother over the phone. I have grown to find her one of the most inspiring women in my life. My grandma is the most compassionate and caring person I know. She never fails to help others, especially those in need. Her heart is bigger than the entire universe, reflected in her donations of food and money and her assistance to the less privileged. Grandma was also one of the first women in our family to go to college; she was the only girl in her business and economics class and the only woman on her university’s cross country team. Her efforts inspire me to continue to work hard and be a benevolent person. She undoubtedly embodies the spirit of what I like to call a "girl boss" - the mindset of a fearless woman leader who doesn't shy away from breaking boundaries.
PLAG: What difference would it have made for you to have had Play Like a Girl in your life as a girl or young woman?
SM: If I had Play Like a Girl in my life during my early years, it would have made a profound impact on my life. I would have grown up and thrived with the support of many other girls, just like myself. I would have built meaningful, lifelong friendships and connections that would guide me throughout my journey. That’s what sport and community does for girls and women. Luckily, I’ve had the opportunity to work with Play Like a Girl since 2018. We’ve teamed up to inspire the next generation of coders, scientists, artists and mathematicians, and I know we’re making a real different toward leveling the playing field and building a diverse pipeline of women in STEM.
PLAG: What does "ready for any field" mean to you?
SM: Ready for Any Field means being ready to not just survive but thrive in any situation you find yourself. Opportunities are important but not enough. Girls need to be prepared for the opportunities, and the only way to bridge this gap is to start while we’re young. This way, as women, we can fully prepare to embrace, work and compete in technology and any field with equity, not privilege.
PLAG: Why is sisterhood (or women supporting women) important to you?
SM: Personally, I have been a huge feminist since a young age. When I noticed few girls were attending the coding workshops I was teaching, I began to hold workshops dedicated to girls only to make them feel more welcome. Now, I have been named a “champion for girls in technology” by the United Nations. Through first-hand experience, I am convinced that when girls see themselves in a room filled with other girls doing the same things, they are all motivated and lifted, believing they can achieve greatness too. This "girls supporting girls" ethos is crucial for girls to have faith in themselves and believe in their own capabilities.
PLAG: How does mentorship from and collaboration with other women help you grow and learn?
SM: Mentorship is key to success in any endeavor. Mentors are like a torch that helps you find your way through a dark tunnel. I am lucky to have three amazing individuals as mentors in my company and in my life. My mom and dad are also supportive and I’m really really grateful for that. When I did the research to find out what board game creation involved, I learned about the iterative process of sketching, prototyping, design, playtesting and, finally, mass production. My family has helped me every step of the way. My dad has always been there to guide me on the technology side of things. He’s been an advisor whenever I’ve needed it. My mom helps with the finances, production and marketing. My external mentors have a huge impact in my life and business too. One of my mentors is a teacher here in California who bought some of my games for his classroom. He became a friend to our family and, now, mentors me. All of these people have helped me grow and become a better individual and business owner over the years.
PLAG: What is the best piece of advice you've received from a woman role model, mentor or colleague?
SM: [bctt tweet="The best piece of advice I’ve received is to “work while they sleep, learn when they party, save like they spend, and live like they dream.” —says young tech prodigy, Samaira Mehta. Her work is CoderBunnyz, a coding game aimed at closing the digital divide." username="iplaylikeagirl"]
While everyone is out partying or having a good time, I’ve learned to work hard because I know that I will reap the rewards of my hard work later. Dedication and persistence guarantees that I get to live the life others dream of living - IRL :)
PLAG: What is one piece of advice you would give your younger self?
SM: What’s really important for youth today is that we don’t see barriers. We don’t see limits to things that we can create. We have a whole other mindset that lets us dream big and dream of things adults can’t even imagine possible. All of these crazy ideas deserve to be heard. I would advise my younger self to not listen to the naysayers or those who say my dreams aren’t possible, but rather dream big and work hard towards achieving those dreams.
PLAG: What advice do you have for younger girls who want to follow in your footsteps but may be afraid to ask for help (mentorship or guidance)?
SM: I’ve learned a lot during my journey, so I’d tell girls who have big ambitions to start that business, launch that movement, and create that product. To full realize your potential, I suggest you:
- Explore, observe, and find what you are truly passionate about. That problem, idea, or thing that you are passionate about is what you should work towards
- It's OK to dream. It starts with a dream, a very big dream, but you have to work extraordinary amounts to achieve that dream.
- Throughout that process ask for help! You don't have to do it alone. In fact, you normally can't do it alone!
- Stop. Breath. Think. Make a plan. If you just start without a path and a plan, you're more likely to crash along the way.
- Go for it...and have patience and persevere. It might take longer than you think. You may have to change your path. You may have to modify or change the goal. But you don't have to give up.
Finally, I think one of the major things I have learned and want to share with all my sisters is that time expands to accommodate your passions and priorities. I go to school, do homework, I am a dancer, I run a company, hold workshops, I’m a teacher/educational content creator, professional motivational speaker. I’m constantly traveling to different places. I’m working on an AI research project. And I’m still a 13-year-old who hangs out with her friends and goes to the beach. But I love all of it! I love everything I do. And I truly believe if you are passionate about anything, time will expand to accommodate all our passions and priorities.
Connect with Samaira on Instagram and join Play Like a Girl in our mission to build a diverse pipeline of women in STEM by encouraging girls that they can do anything and be #ReadyforAnyField. ⚡️
Win a chance to be mentored by game changing women in Nashville! Tell us how sport has prepared you to succeed in any field by submitting your original photos, videos or art via Instagram or Twitter using #ReadyforAnyField. No purchase necessary. Void in AK & HI and where prohibited. Open to legal residents of 48 contiguous US & DC. Starts 2/21/22; ends 2/28/22.
A Girl Scout Who Hacks? It's a Thing!
Meet Medha Aiyah — one of the mentors at our Women’s Leadership Summit March 8th in Nashville!
Medha Aiyah is a 20-something graduate student in Computer Science at the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD). Her goal is to bridge the gender gap in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), with a focus on computing. She created the weeklong STEM camp, EMP-WR, for girls in her hometown of Sacramento, California, earning her the coveted Girl Scouts Gold Award.
Medha helped create the mobile STEM MakerSpace with the Central Heart of California branch of Girl Scouts. This platform has helped over 1000 girls in remote areas of the state access hands-on STEM education. Medha is also co-founder of WEHack Women Engineers Hack), the first-ever gender-based hackathon uniting women and non-binary hackers across eight countries around the globe in a supportive environment where they can build their technological skills together.
Medha was recently recognized as a Top 50 Hacker by Major League Hacking, an organization of thousands of hackers in North America and Europe. When this Girl Scout isn’t organizing or raising funds to support women in STEM, she loves experimenting in the kitchen and hiking new trails with her friends.
Like Deana Hyde, Dr. Teresa Vasquez and young'un Hadley Hall, Medha will be a mentor at our Women’s Leadership Summit. Together, we will teach girls the steps they can take to ensure they are #ReadyforAnyField. Enter to win Executive Access tickets to the Women’s Leadership Summit to be mentored by Medha and other game changing women — see details below to learn how — and check out our interview with her????.
PLAY LIKE A GIRL: Please introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about what you do?
MEDHA AIYAH: My name is Medha and I am currently a graduate Computer Science student specializing in Intelligence Systems at UTD. My proudest body of work is the creation of WEHack (Women Engineers Hack), the first-ever all-women/non-binary hackathon in UTD’s history. WEHack was formed to promote women hackers globally. Today, we positively impact women in eight countries. As a critical voice for girls and women, I leverage my skills and influence to break centuries-old gender stereotypes to make a difference in the tech world.
PLAG: Share a recent interaction with another woman or girl that you found inspiring.
MA: A recent interaction that I found inspiring was when I met the President of the National Society of Women Engineers, Rachel Morford, during the WE 22 conference. I found her advice about ways to manage and balance professional growth and personal life especially inspiring. It was such an honor to talk to someone who has played a huge role in promoting women engineers and learning new ways to grow.
PLAG: What difference would it have made for you to have had Play Like a Girl in your life as a girl or young woman?
MA: Play Like a Girl would have helped me understand the benefits sports can provide in a young woman’s academic and career pursuits. It would have also opened doors to critical mentorship from a broader, larger community of women. I believe that balance of physical and emotional well-being is very important. You have to be physically fit to think positively. In my case, the dance has helped me find balance in my own life. Through dance, I am able to unleash my inner G.I.R.L. (go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, leader) and understand the importance of leadership, resilience, accountability, and being a team player. These skills have transformed my academic work.
PLAG: What does "ready for any field" mean to you?
MA: Ready for Any Field means that you are able to channel your inner G.I.R.L. (go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, and leader) and apply these skills and personal traits in every aspect of life, whether being a mom, an artist, a skilled athlete, or a professional working in a STEM field.
PLAG: Why is sisterhood (or women supporting women) important to you?
MA: According to Melinda Gates, it will take 208 years to reach gender equality and women comprise 29% of the STEM workspace. From this, we can see that we form a minuscule segment of the STEM industry. It is crucial that every G.I.R.L. who is part of this segment feel a sense of belonging so her cutting-edge ideas are heard and actualized. Every woman is unique, and we need to appreciate each other's differences to formulate world-altering products. We need to ensure that women share access to an equal playing field with men. We must have the chance for our ideas to be taken seriously, for our work to be recognized, and for our contributions and value to the workplace be reflected in our salary. Women must unite and support each other no matter the circumstance. We are not alone and, together, we can do anything.
PLAG: How does mentorship from and collaboration with other women help you grow and learn?
MA: Mentorship from and collaboration with other women is a blessing because the feeling of sisterhood forms and the urge to support and uplift women is ignited. Working together, we can make an even greater impact towards reaching equality--perhaps sooner than estimated.
PLAG: What is the best piece of advice you've received from a woman role model, mentor, or colleague?
MA: My mentor, Lisa Depew, always advises me to never doubt myself although I’m often the only woman in rooms filled with males who dominate my field. She stresses that though our thought processes, ideas, and actions are different, this difference is needed to further the growth of innovation in STEM. In this same spirit, I would advise girls and young women to avoid imposter syndrome and embrace a fresh perspective: Know and believe in your worth. Present your work and share your ideas confidently.
Lisa also touts that EQ (emotional quotient) is more important than IQ (intellectual quotient). As a leader in the STEM industry, it is crucial to understand how to be a team player and ways to put yourself in the shoes of others in the effort to better understand their point of view. You can be extremely smart, but it is equally as important to be understanding and relatable.
PLAG: What is one piece of advice you would give your younger self?
MA: Make time management a priority. With so much passion and innovation to bring to life and make a difference in my community, I must be able to plan time wisely. Juggling academics, sports, arts, and community work simultaneously is hard. Time management is very important to achieve everything, and this is something I would advise my younger self.
PLAG: What advice do you have for younger girls who want to follow in your footsteps but may be afraid to ask for help (mentorship or guidance)?
MA: Reach out for mentorship and collaboration. Express your ideas that you are passionate about, the gap that you have noticed and want to mend. Always remember that your potential mentors and guides may have also experienced a similar situation, hence they can understand your perspective. These are all foundations to put your best foot forward and achieve your dreams and goals and make an impact in the world. Start small and before you know it you will be influencing millions of lives.
Connect with Mehda on LinkedIn and join Play Like a Girl in our mission to build a diverse pipeline of women in STEM by encouraging girls that they can do anything and be #ReadyforAnyField. ⚡️
Win a chance to be mentored by game changing women in Nashville! Tell us how sport has prepared you to succeed in any field by submitting your original photos, videos or art via Instagram or Twitter using #ReadyforAnyField. No purchase necessary. Void in AK & HI and where prohibited. Open to legal residents of 48 contiguous US & DC. Starts 2/21/22; ends 2/28/22.
Girls (and Women) Can Do Anything
US Bank VP of Private Wealth Management Deana Hyde will join us as a mentor at the Women’s Leadership Summit March 8th in Nashville!
Play Like a Girl is launching its new #ReadyforAnyField campaign to prepare young women for competitive, male-dominated careers, whether in science, technology, sports or the arts. Enter to win Executive Access tickets to the Women’s Leadership Summit to be mentored by a group of game changing women — see details below to learn how — and check out our interview with Deana????.
PLAY LIKE A GIRL: Please introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about what you do?
DEANNA HYDE: I have over twenty five years of experience in banking, finance, and wealth management. I’ve worked with the “Big Three” of banking (Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and JP Morgan Chase) in the establishment of new markets, new divisions, new technology, and (most importantly) customer relationships. In addition to the mathematics involved in managing investments, stocks, etc., my work requires a high level of technological innovation to securely manage portfolios, transactions, and the like. The financial and banking industries are cornerstones of every other industry so my work intersects STEM at multiple levels. For example, I help doctors, engineers, inventors and scientists with a wide array of financial services throughout their business life cycle.
PLAG: Share a recent interaction with another woman or girl that you found inspiring.
DH: Inspiration is something you have to be open to. That being said, I deliberately look for inspiration in every relationship I form. Be it with a client, a friend, or a complete stranger. Women are amazing. Human beings are amazing. We have such diverse and unique journeys. I think when I meet someone who approaches problem solving or addressing challenges in a way that is new or different to me, it inspires me to witness their process and learn from their experience. In this regard, I’ve been truly inspired by Dr. Kimberly Clay.
PLAG: What difference would it have made for you to have had Play Like a Girl in your life as a girl or young woman?
DH: That is opening up a huge can of worms! I grew up in the deep rural South. I was taught to cook and clean and care for younger children as a young girl, because these were the skills the adults (and the greater community around me) felt were best suited for “girls.” I rejected the expectation that I was to find a husband in high school, settle down on a farm nearby, and be a mother and wife. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but this was not the path in life I wanted for myself. I did not have any support or assistance. Being active in sports like softball was an outlet for me, so Play Like a Girl would have been an incredible resource. This is why I feel so strongly about what this organization does and how it can help improve the lives of girls as they face the difficult challenges of their transition into adulthood.
PLAG: What does being "ready for any field" mean to you?
DH: Ready for Any Field means having the education, confidence and aptitude to engage and succeed in any professional endeavor. It means knowing that your gender is not a weakness, or a liability, but a unique gift from which flows an invaluable source of strength. Ready for Any Field means that as a girl, or woman, we can enter any profession and through our contributions provide insight that, though different from that of a male perspective, is no less meaningful or valuable. It means that we are always part of the bigger, better solution, and it is time we believe in ourselves!
PLAG: Why is sisterhood (or women supporting women) important to you?
DH: Another can of worms… because too often I’ve had direct experiences of the exact opposite. There’s a combination of things I’ve seen, a sort of insecurity that women are sometimes made to feel. It happens most often in high-level corporate positions but can also be seen in any industry. It can be a sense of “I’ve had to work to get here so why should I help you?” or it is a form of insecurity: “If the men in charge like you better, or think you have more to offer, there’s only so many seats at the table for women.” I reject the “it’s us against them” mentality. Instead, it should be “it’s us helping each other for the betterment of everyone.” In my prior role as a district manager, I supervised hundreds of employees. I never discriminated or thought about any form of “identifier” when considering positions or promotions. I looked at each individual as just that, individuals. I have strived to help young women starting their careers to feel secure, protected and empowered so that as they move forward, they too should reject the insecurities that force us into working alone when we should be working to lift each other up.
PLAG: How does mentorship and collaboration with other women help you grow and learn?
DH: For me, having mentors has meant being able to lean on and learn from women who have earned their success and therefore embody a wealth of knowledge. Being able to discuss a difficult situation, or ask for advice when I’m unsure of something, has been a vital component to my own growth and success. What I look for in a mentor is the willingness to listen. Ego is a powerful and (often) dangerous thing. If you are unwilling to trust and be vulnerable with your mentors and therefore be honest, you will not be open to learning and truly capitalizing on the opportunities before you. We have to be open to sharing, communicating and laying the foundations for trust to have any chance of true collaboration and joint success.
PLAG: What is the best piece of advice you've received from a woman role model, mentor or colleague?
DH: “Be present in the moment and listen.” If you are NOT listening, you cannot possibly communicate effectively. The MOST important part of ANY conversation is listening, truly listening, to what the other person is saying. This includes their body language, their tone and the words they choose. If you are already thinking about your response, you’re missing the point. Listening and comprehending the intent and message of what another person is sharing is a vitally important skill required for success in anything… everything…
PLAG: What is one piece of advice you would give your younger self?
DH: Trust your gut more. We all, as women, have a gift for intuition. Yet we often are taught to second-guess or question our instincts. Too many times I’ve allowed the comments or the actions of those around me to “get inside my head” and make me question if my instincts are good. In time, in every situation, I eventually learn that my “gut” was correct. It is an important part of our individual journey, and it takes time to learn how to read other people. Eventually, with experience, you start seeing recognizable patterns. In my journey, I would have recognized these patterns much sooner if I had not spent so much time and energy second-guessing what my instincts told me.
PLAG: What advice do you have for younger girls who want to follow in your footsteps but may be afraid to ask for help (mentorship or guidance)?
DH: Trust YOUR instincts and don’t be afraid to ask questions and seek answers. Communication is so important. You will never learn the answer to any given question if you do not ask it. Don’t think about “is this okay because I’m a girl” and never be embarrassed to be yourself. You can be anything you choose, so long as you are willing to put the time, effort and dedication into succeeding.
Connect with Deana on LinkedIn and join Play Like a Girl in our mission to build a diverse pipeline of women in STEM by encouraging girls that they can do anything and be #ReadyforAnyField. ⚡️
Win a chance to be mentored by game changing women in Nashville! Tell us how sport has prepared you to succeed in any field by submitting your original photos, videos or art via Instagram or Twitter using #ReadyforAnyField. No purchase necessary. Void in AK & HI and where prohibited. Open to legal residents of 48 contiguous US & DC. Starts 2/21/22; ends 2/28/22.
Failure As Fuel for Success
Meet software engineer Dr. Teresa Vasquez — one of the mentors at our 2022 Women's Leadership Summit!
Dr. Teresa Vasquez, affectionately known as "Dr. T," was born to a Guatemalan immigrant and Creole woman from Louisiana. Her father always said that he “wanted a football player, but what he got instead was the best blessing in the world…a daughter.” Actually, he actually got both -- Dr. T played women’s professional football too!
Her mother died when she was five years old, leaving her father to raise three young children. Dr. T's dad ignited her passion for problem solving as a child, helping her with electrical and mechanical engineering projects. She credits these experiences as the start to her passion for technology and software engineering.
Dr. T is one of very few doctoral level educators who are exploring the intersection of assistive technology and adult education in Nashville. She is active in the tech community, serving on various boards that promote diversity in the field with a specific emphasis on neurodivergent and Black software engineers.
Dr. T will be a mentor at our Women's Leadership Summit, March 8th in Nashville. She believes that failure should not paralyze girls and women, keeping them from realizing their full potential. Instead failure should fuel their success. With her help, we will launch a year-long campaign, Ready for Any Field, to inspire middle school girls to pursue their passions - whether it's science, technology, sports or the arts.
Enter to win Executive Access tickets to the Women's Leadership Summit to be mentored by a group of game changing women — see details below to learn how— and check out our interview with Dr. Teresa Vasquez. ????✨
PLAY LIKE A GIRL: Please introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about what you do? How does your work intersect science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)?
DR. TERESA VASQUEZ: Hi, I am Dr. Teresa Vasquez, but you can call me Dr. T. I lead technical teams to success by being myself and helping people feel valuable. A lot of what I do as a technical leader depends on how I can encourage and support other engineers to be their best selves. We all need someone to believe in us and I do that by using my technical skills and passion to build things. I use math and science to build logic and engineering and technology to help people meet their goals. There is no better feeling than getting to help someone, which in turn helps me.
PLAG: Share a recent interaction with another woman or girl that you found inspiring.
TV: I was questioning my purpose and one of my mentees became my mentor. She spoke life into me and encouraged my journey by reminding me of my success and impact. It helped me to get out of my slump and to refocus my vision and goals.
PLAG: What difference would it have made for you to have had Play Like a Girl in your life as a girl or young woman?
TV: If I had a resource like this, I would have been able to achieve my calling more quickly with fewer mistakes. As a girl, I did not have many, if any, women mentors in my life and Play Like a Girl would have been a huge part of learning and sharing my real self earlier in my career.
PLAG: What does "ready for any field" mean to you?
TV: 'Ready for Any Field' means seeing the beauty in the abstract and knowing that no matter where you end up, your journey and experiences are important and that STEM is the foundation for every professional career you’ll ever pursue.
PLAG: Why is sisterhood (or women supporting women) important to you?
TV: We know each other’s pain and fears especially in STEM careers. When we share information, we grow more confident and can support others more. Sisterhood brings a level of intimacy and knowledge that can propel us toward our goals - together.
PLAG: What is the best piece of advice you've received from a woman role model, mentor or colleague?
TV: "You can do anything because anything you love and touch will turn to gold."
PLAG: What is one piece of advice you would give your younger self?
TV: I'd tell little T to not shrink to fit in. Take up all the space you need because your courage will inspire others once you find it.
PLAG: What advice do you have for younger girls who want to follow in your footsteps but may be afraid to ask for help (mentorship or guidance)?
TV: [bctt tweet="Fear is the killer of creativity and innovation. Failure is the path to success. Beyoncé said it best: “I see it, I want it, I stunt, yellow-bone it. I dream it, I work hard, I grind 'til I own it...” --says Dr. Teresa Vasquez" username="iplaylikeagirl"]
The grind is your journey and if you want it, you can have it. All you have to do is grab it. You can accomplish it, but you need to “get in formation” and get support for what you want so you can get there faster. Don’t be afraid of rejection and use your youth as an advantage because someone will always want to help you along your journey.
Believe that you are valuable because you are. WE NEED YOU more than you’ll ever know. You are a part of OUR story too and by allowing fear to keep you from getting in the game, you’re impacting us all because we need your unique self so that we all can win. Help us by asking for help.
Follow Dr. T on Instagram and join Play Like a Girl in our mission to build a diverse pipeline of women in STEM by encouraging girls everywhere to embrace failure as fuel to build confidence and be #ReadyforAnyField. ⚡️
Win a chance to be mentored by game changing women in Nashville! Tell us how sport has prepared you to succeed in any field by submitting your original photos, videos or art via Instagram or Twitter using #ReadyforAnyField. No purchase necessary. Void in AK & HI and where prohibited. Open to legal residents of 48 contiguous US & DC. Starts 2/21/22; ends 2/28/22.
'Hack with Hadley' at the 2022 Women's Leadership Summit
Win a Chance to be Mentored by Game Changing Women!
Read below to learn how you and middle school girls in your life can be a part of the 2nd annual Play Like a Girl Women's Leadership Summit on March 8th.
This #InternationalWomensDay, inspiring women role models, mentors and more are coming together to launch Ready for Any Field, a new campaign inspiring girls to realize their full potential, whether it’s math, science, sports, or the arts.
Women make up half of the total college-educated workforce in the U.S., but constitute only 25 percent of the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) workforce. Ready for Any Field is Play Like a Girl's national campaign celebrating women who are leading the way in the world of STEM to encourage girls to pursue their passions in these competitive, male-dominated fields.
The 2022 Women’s Leadership Summit will bring together a community of inspiring and innovative visionaries whose ambitious actions are changing the world at unprecedented scale. Across industries and generations, the gathering spotlights how leading women are navigating monumental change by unlocking opportunities for women and girls in Nashville and beyond.
Featuring keynote conversations and dynamic panel discussions, the Women's Leadership Summit will convene a diverse range of female luminaries from the worlds of business, media, entertainment and education. The half-day event will unlock new thinking and expand perspectives while also creating an intimate community for women ascending within their careers and expanding their sphere of influence through intimate networking and mentoring moments.
We'll be taking the stage and chatting live with young innovators Samaira Mehta and Medha Aiyah about how they're using STEM in ways you'd never expect, and catching a bunch of behind-the-scenes moments gushing with girl power.
We love to design and build creative projects and see STEM at work! For this year's Summit, we've partnered with Play Like a Girl participant Hadley Hall (pictured here) and mother-daughter engineering duo Dr. Teresa & Trinity Vasquez to showcase how cool STEM can be. And we're getting crafty with a cool DIY project during a special Hack with Hadley segment!
To register for the hybrid experience, visit iplaylikeagirl.org/summit, and make sure you're following along on Instagram (@iplaylikeagirl) and YouTube (Play Like a Girl TV) to tag along for all the fun!
Win a chance to be mentored by game changing women in Nashville! Tell us how sport has prepared you to succeed in any field by submitting your original photos, videos or art via Instagram or Twitter using #ReadyforAnyField. No purchase necessary. Void in AK & HI and where prohibited. Open to legal residents of 48 contiguous US & DC. Starts 2/21/22; ends 2/28/22.
The Play Like a Girl Mission IRL
We think you’ll agree—this Minnesota teen is an embodiment of our mission
When Julia Chaffin decided she wanted to build a smart mirror for a summer project, she did what every 21st century teen would do—she turned to the internet. She was expecting to find clear, step-by-step instructions on how to use a computer monitor, some two-way mirror film and a Raspberry Pi kit to create a mirror that could display the date, time and current weather. But what she found was anything but beginner friendly.
So, what did she do? She took matters into her own hands, creating the nonprofit Smart View, which sells all-in-one mirror kits and provides easy-to-follow directions on how to program the software and assemble the mirror.
She knew she didn’t want to make money off the kits. That’s not in the spirit of Raspberry Pi’s open-source ecosystem. So, she again turned to the internet to find a worthy cause. This time, the internet didn’t let her down—it led her straight to Play Like a Girl!
“The whole tie-in with STEM for girls and sports and the belief that leadership comes from sports just really resonated with me,” she says.
You see, Julia also is an athlete. She plays both soccer and golf, which she describes as completely different in terms of what she’s gained from the sports. With soccer, it’s all about the confidence that she gets playing on a team.
“Soccer has taught me to be more outgoing and to believe in myself more,” she says. “That definitely rolls over to school and other parts of my life.”
When Julia’s family moved to Switzerland for her mom’s work when she was younger, it was soccer that helped her make fast friends.
With golf, it’s more about the puzzle. “You think more about every single move,” she says. “You hit the ball and you have two minutes or more to decide what you’re going to do next. There’s definitely a lot more thinking. At first it was hard, because it’s so easy to get in your own head. But I’ve learned that if I have a bad shot, that’s OK. It just means I have to figure out where to go from there.”
Julia is a junior in high school now and is on the cusp of getting to decide what’s next for her academically. Right now, she’s thinking about biomedical engineering. “Whether I go into medicine after that or design medical devices, those sound like super cool career paths,” she says.
And she already has built-in mentors—her mom, Kim, is a chemical engineer and a senior distinguished scientist for Medtronic, one of the biggest medical device companies in the world. Her brother is studying mechanical engineering at the University of Michigan (mom’s alma mater). “They were always saying to me,” she recounts. They said ‘Take an engineering class at some point to see if you like it.’”
Julia did take an engineering class (two, actually). But she doesn’t just like it—she loves engineering!