Maggie Philbin - Empowering Women in STEM: The Tomorrow's World Legacy
To get a real sense of how accessible STEM subjects are for women we need to talk to those that have experience working to create change in the industry.
There is no-one more experienced and more influential both historically and presently than my guest in this episode, Maggie Philbin OBE.
Maggie was the host of Tomorrow’s World, a hugely popular show on the BBC for decades showcasing innovations occurring in tech and science. As a female presenter she inspired generations of young, female scientists, including myself.
Maggie shares her experiences hosting Tomorrow’s World and the opportunity it gave her to follow her passion for the sciences.
In 2008 she founded Teen Tech, a charity addressing social mobility and gender diversity in tech.
We explore the systemic barriers to diversity in tech and education, the importance of confidence and exposure for young people, and the need for a more inclusive approach to learning and career development.
Maggie was a joy to talk to, with so much she wants to give to create a more balanced STEM system for all.
“The systems are preventing diversity in tech.”- Maggie Philbin
You’ll hear about:
00:00 – The legacy of Tomorrow's World for women
00:56 - An introduction to Maggie Philbin
03:27 - The human failures shown on Tomorrow's World
06:29 - Maggie's journey with the sciences
13:53 - Curating the stories on Tomorrow's World
18:56 - The inspiration behind Maggie's charity
24:37 - The perceptions in tech companies
25:29 - The challenge of balancing motherhood and career
27:27 - The barriers underrepresented populations face
32:45 - The challenges with school curriculums
41:06 - Giving schools and students a network for the future
42:18 - Maggie's on the number of girls in the program
48:40 - How to get involved in team tech
Maggie’s resources:
LinkedIn: - https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggiephilbin/
Teen Tech - https://teentech.com/
My resources:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/martina-n/