As a Black woman forging a career in the male-dominated engineering field, Joya Joseph has faced overt discrimination, insidious biases and countless obstacles that threatened to derail her dreams at every turn.
From having a professor cruelly suggest she should “do what her people are good for” and be a janitor instead of an engineer, to colleagues dismissing her ideas until a white male coworker repeated them, to job candidates openly disrespecting her during interviews she conducted as a hiring manager – Joya pulls no punches in recounting the ugly truths.
Persevering with Resilience and Resolve
Yet through it all, Joya persevered with incredible determination, resilience and self-belief. In a candid conversation, she offers invaluable insights to empower the next generation of women of color in STEM.
“Be the change you want to see. Create those safe spaces for yourself because sometimes you’ll be the only one…Make it easier for just one other woman to come up that ladder too.”
Building Your Supportive Tribe
Joya stresses the importance of finding your allies and building your tribe – those who truly understand what you’re going through and have your back.
“Find your people. Don’t lose yourself by wearing an inauthentic mask. Having allies is great, but you need your tribe too – those safe spaces even at work where you can take off that mask.”
Prioritizing Self-Care
She’s had to learn the hard way about prioritizing self-care and work-life balance after experiencing burnout.
“Take breaks, find a therapist, have your soundboard. Bottle it up and it’ll just drag you down…Our mental health is impacted just trying to thrive daily with all this aggression constantly coming at us.”
Uplifting Through Mentorship
Moreover, Joya uplifts others by mentoring and creating spaces for women to support one another.
“I make sure I try to do the work, especially as a manager…Log off, you have a life! Whatever you think needs to be done can wait.”
A Pioneering Voice Fostering Change
Joya’s pioneering voice, featured in publications and on stages, motivates audiences to boldly create more inclusive cultures.
“If each one of us supports and mentors just one other woman, it’ll create change…We need women in STEM to not just be here, but flourish.”
Her courageous storytelling underscores there is still much more progress to be made in achieving true equity for women of color in STEM. But Joya’s empowering wisdom will inspire you whether you’ve faced similar challenges or simply want to be a better ally.
Tap into her powerful perspective by listening to the full interview, “The Ugly, The Bad and The Good: A Conversation with Joya Joseph” on the Podcast. Share this candid discussion to spark change.
About Joya:
Joya Joseph is a forward-thinking engineering leader with over a decade of experience driving technological excellence in software development, team scaling, and process optimization. As a seasoned expert, she has successfully spearheaded high-performing engineering teams that deliver innovative, high-quality solutions.
Joya’s strategic vision, technical depth, and commitment to continuous improvement have allowed her to navigate complex challenges and streamline operations to achieve maximum productivity. Her ability to foster cultures of innovation has propelled teams towards achieving both short and long-term objectives.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Joya is deeply involved in community service. She has volunteered with organizations like the Caribbean Community Theater, 4-H, school boards, and senior citizen communities.
A pioneering voice for diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM, Joya has been featured in influential publications and continues to inspire the next generation of engineers through mentorship.
Follow Joya on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joya-joseph/
