FEATURE

By Holly Smithson

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, ATHENA

Athena, a premier women’s advocacy organization that fast tracks women in STEM, is partnering with Two Bear Capital to bring leadership resources, mentoring initiatives, and targeted networking opportunities to women of Montana leading in the fields of STEM (science, tech, engineering, and mathematics). By transforming scientists and technologists into corporate leaders, Athena’s goal is to widen the bridge to advance one million women in STEM by 2030.

“As market forces continue to generate strong demand for women leaders and greater social equity, we’re witnessing renewed focus on addressing disparities in pay, opportunity, and success,” said Holly Smithson, Athena CEO. “As the voice of women in STEM, we remain committed to advancing inclusive workforce values through our advocacy efforts with partners that share our values, like Two Bear Capital.”

As companies continue grappling with the pandemic-induced employee engagement crisis, Athena launched its state-of-the-art digital platform to serve its members with virtual leadership program content, mentoring services, and educational opportunities essential for a remote workforce intent on connecting, transforming, and leading.

Athena’s community of diversity champions can now access—without any geographical boundaries—its best-in-class women’s leadership development resources. At a time when our remote community is eager for cross-sector networking, re-entering the workforce opportunities, and elevating their corporate profile, Athena’s digital platform is invaluable.

In 2018, California’s legislature enacted public-company board diversity legislation that prompted a cascading effect in the financial markets. In 2020, Goldman Sachs announced its intentions at the World Economic Forum: “No IPOs for company with all bros.” Then it was NASDAQ, followed by State Street Global Advisors, mandating diverse boardroom requirements for their portfolio companies, effective 2021.

These global financial institutions are laying down the diversity gauntlet on modernizing boardrooms as the proven path to grow shareholder value, stock performance, and longterm value creation. With these strong tail winds, Athena on Boards Series is dedicated to preparing those women eager to lead from the boardroom.

This Annual Lifting While Climbing Summit (LWC) was born out of Athena’s Women in STEM Workforce 2020 Index that reveals STEM companies continue to struggle in achieving their equitable workforce goals with only one out of four STEM jobs held by women.

We recognize that stronger corporate leadership, culture, and commitment are paramount in this march towards correcting these pervasive inequities at scale. We join hands under the LWC banner to lift up those companies eager to access proven, enterprise-wide equitable action plans that ultimately attract diverse customers, markets, ideas, and talent. This Summit will publish a DE&I Playbook for those companies beginning their diversity journey or those looking for data-driven approaches that accelerate their equity action plans.

“STEM will be at the epicenter of innovation and wealth creation. Athena is the pioneer organization addressing the challenges to women being leaders and founders of cuttingedge companies,” said Liz Marchi, Two Bear Capital ‘s Head of Community Engagement. “We are thrilled to partner with Athena to bring new opportunities to the amazing women leaders in science. Two Bear Capital Partner Ida Khodami is a global leader in genomics and is a member of the board of Athena.” stop

Holly Smithson is Athena’s Chief Executive Officer. Before Athena, she served as Vice President, Business Strategy at the California Life Sciences Association, the nation’s largest statewide advocacy organization for the life sciences sector. Smithson previously served as President and Chief Operating Officer at Cleantech San Diego. Smithson worked in public policy for a decade as a Presidential Appointee at several federal agencies and as a registered lobbyist in Washington, D.C.