Posted: March 10, 2025
By: Sarah Merriam
Photo (left to right): Crystal Parker,聽third-year Bachelor of Science student and聽host Eshaa Amer, Doris Grant, and Denise Pothier.
The Women in STEM event,聽intended to build connections among women breaking barriers in these fields, included three Dal alumni: Crystal Parker (BCSc'24), Doris Grant (BScAgr鈥94, MScAgr鈥97), and Denise Pothier (BEng'93).
鈥淭he only footwear that was available to me, as a female working in a refinery, were steel toe high heels,鈥 shared Dal Engineering alum Denise Pothier, a 2020 Aurum Award recipient and chief operating officer at the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business when recalling the early stages in her engineering career. 鈥淚 had to buy the smallest pair of men鈥檚 steel toe boots that I could find and wear three pairs of socks, so I could actually just do my job.鈥
Denise Pothier (BEng'93) speaking at the podium.
In another instance, Pothier explained when she needed to tailor her fire-retardant work clothing鈥攄esigned to fit men鈥 to fit her properly, and the time she was the only female out of 200 employees on an offshore installation and was forced to sleep in the infirmary.
Pothier emphasized the difference between a challenge and a barrier, explaining how often being the only female in a working environment naturally poses many challenges. 鈥淚f it鈥檚 just difficult, you鈥檝e got this,鈥 she said. 鈥淏ut when it comes to barriers, they must be broken.鈥
Denise Pothier (centre) with event organizers, Christine Baker (left) and Alisha Johnson (right).
Forge your own path
Doris Grant, CEO of Life Sciences Nova Scotia and director of Nova Scotia Health Innovation Hub, explained that we have never needed strong women in STEM as much as we do now.
Agriculture alum Doris Grant (BScAgr鈥94, MScAgr鈥97) mingling with students and alumni.
After graduating from 麻豆传媒鈥檚 Faculty of Agriculture in 1994 and securing a Masters of Physiology in 1997, Grant moved to New York to work for a large biotech company, leveraging her science-based skills related to technique, philosophy, and practice.
She would eventually work in the pharmaceutical industry next to graduates of Harvard and Stanford. 鈥淚 was very proud of the work and education I received at 麻豆传媒 to be able to contribute to a global pharmaceutical company.鈥
Grant described her career timeline as 鈥渘ot a linear journey, but one that expands,鈥 encouraging attendees to embrace curiosity, remain open to new opportunities, and strive for tangible outcomes that have real impact.
Doris Grant addressed attendees, encouraging women pursuing careers in STEM.
Advice for new grads
From homeschooling her four daughters to becoming a software engineer at Level Access, Dal Computer Science alum Crystal Parker encouraged women thinking about a career in STEM to believe in themselves and achieve their ambitions, and offered four key tips:
Feel the fear and do it anyway
鈥淟ife is going to be hard so you may as well do the scary things.鈥Embrace the difficult
鈥淟earning new things is hard for everyone.鈥Ask for help
鈥淎ssume the best of people, they want to help you.鈥Network
鈥淓very time I said yes to something, it took me somewhere great.鈥
Crystal Parker (BCSc鈥24) offered advice based on what she's learned along the way.
鈥淲omen belong in STEM,鈥 said Parker. 鈥淎nd if I can take my passion, leap into the unknown, and build a career that I love, then so can you!鈥
Computer Science alum Crystal Parker (BCSc鈥24) with friends and colleagues.
The impact
Event attendees were inspired by the speakers鈥 determination to overcome adversity and embrace change throughout their careers. 鈥淵ou can start on one path and end up somewhere completely different,鈥 said Celine Opitz (BSc鈥24).
Science alum Celine Opitz (BSc鈥24) networking at the event.
For others, like Simran Chopra (BCSc鈥24), these events are a great way to connect with like-minded individuals. 鈥淚f there is a room full of women in STEM, that is the best chance to meet people in my industry,鈥 she said, adding that you never know when you may use that connection down the road.
