Today we’d like to introduce you to Nyamekye Wilson.
Hi Nyamekye, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I am on a mission to build the largest talent pipeline of Black women in STEM careers globally.
As a first-generation low-income student, I had the weight of my family’s future on my shoulders. My only hope was to obtain a six-figure career upon graduation.
I had the opportunity to make this dream a reality when I was accepted to the University of Virginia as a finance major. But I struggled because I was alone. I went from a star student to a failing. So I dropped out.
Luckily for me, a community of Black women lifted me up. Their support helped me secure prestigious internships and ultimately land at Google.
My story shouldn’t be the exception.
Nearly 50% of Black women in STEM majors drop out by sophomore year.
Black women struggle at every stage of the STEM pipeline.
It’s not due to a lack of desire or capacity, but a lack of support.
Black Sisters in STEM is clearing the path for women who look like me.
I started Black SiS as an in-person training program, transforming the lives of 4,000 Black college women from 16 countries. Most of our students are shifting from generational poverty to high-earning careers in tech.
Like Tamisha. She dreamed of being a computer scientist. But after being mocked by her teachers, she gave up on those dreams.
We helped Tamisha reignite those dreams through:
Hands on learning experience through tech projects
A network of peers & industry mentors
A scholarship from Google
Ultimately, she got a job as an IoT researcher and is headed to John Hopkins for her master’s in biomedical engineering.
To serve the millions of Black women like Tamisha who are hungry for this type of guidance, we pivoted to a tech-first model.
Our web-based platform reimagines our initial offerings at scale. Powered by AI
We build networks, empowering our users to uplift one another. We deliver culturally relevant professional content designed specifically for Black women, from job interview strategies to professional styles for natural hair. We curate career opportunities in partnership with tech companies.
Our platform ensures Black women like Tamisha manifest their career dreams. Our platform is truly built for us by us.
We have a big goal. Build the largest global network of 1M Black women in STEM by 2026.
To get there, we’re raising $750,000. We’re seeking your support to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with us. If you believe that we should tap into the global brilliance of Black women, join us.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Leading a black-owned nonprofit can come with unique challenges that other nonprofits may not face. One significant challenge is the lack of funding and resources available to black-owned nonprofits. Due to systemic racism and biases, these nonprofits may not receive the same level of financial support as their white-owned counterparts. This can make it challenging to provide the necessary services and support to the community they serve.
Another obstacle that black-owned nonprofits may face is the lack of representation and diversity in leadership positions. Many nonprofits, regardless of ownership, struggle with creating a diverse and inclusive environment. However, for black-owned nonprofits, this can be particularly challenging. Finding qualified individuals from diverse backgrounds who are willing to work for the organization and help lead it can be difficult.
Additionally, black-owned nonprofits may face cultural barriers and biases when seeking to collaborate or partner with other organizations. Many organizations may not fully understand the unique challenges and perspectives of black-owned nonprofits, which can lead to a lack of collaboration and missed opportunities.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Black Sisters in STEM (Black SiS) is on a mission to unleash the global brilliance of Gen Z Black Women by reinventing their journey toward STEM-based careers. We are building and upskilling the largest talent marketplace of Black Gen Z women to systematically address the racial wealth gap and create generational socio-economic growth. In short, we help Black Gen Z women breaking into STEM careers share, learn, and get hired. We have the potential to not only be the largest talent network and skills database of Black women in STEM globally. We have built an empire of ~8k Black women from 33 countries and 200+ schools. Growing membership at 75% YoY. Most importantly, earning our fellows $4M+ in compensation packages. From Lagos, Nigeria to Atlanta, GA we are building a career community the world has never seen.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.blacksis.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blacksistersinstem/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Blacksistersinstem/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/black-sisters-in-stem/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UC7sw_gl2EcnnIqQPTZppy_Q
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pg4Min-9W8o&t=64s
Image Credits
Jeffrey Adoosey
