WOMEN WHO INSPIRE
The Leaders of Tomorrow Are Shaped by the Volunteers of Today W
hen it comes to leadership in STEM fields, there is more to making an impact than simply delivering at work every day. True leaders understand the importance of giving back and working toward building future leaders. We’ve acknowledged many women and minority leaders who go above and beyond when it comes to community service and charitable acts. While many people understand the importance of servitude, few know where to start or how to make an impact. We spent some time with previous Women of Color award winners to discuss the importance of volunteering in your community and giving back to the next generation of leaders. Jennifer Turner Global Procurement Environmental Strategic Sourcing and Operations Manager, IBM As the global procurement environmental strategic sourcing and operations manager at IBM, Jennifer Turner is responsible for securing cutting-edge technology for her research team. She leads her team by ensuring fluid communication across departments on a regular basis and ensuring that team members receive the support they need through training and technology. While she is a well-respected leader in the tech space, Turner shines brightest when in “give back” mode. Some of the organizations that she spends her time working with outside of her office job include Peekskills Girl Scouts, where she is a service unit manager and the leader of her daughter’s troop, IBM Volunteers, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Peekskill District Schools, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. It may come as a surprise that a woman oversees purchasing for one of the world’s largest technology companies, but the most intriguing piece of information is how Turner became involved with the Girl Scouts without ever growing up seeking a badge herself. “When I had my first daughter, I was looking at different activities that she might be interested in,” Turner reflects on her first experience with Girl Scouts. “There are so many different activities that you can do within Girl Scouts. My daughters became involved, and I volunteered as often as I could until their troop leader left, and I was
14 ‹
WOMENOFCOLOR | SPRING 2020
asked to step in. I was a reluctant leader because I really didn’t believe I had the time.” Her work with Girl Scouts quickly evolved and began to blend with her role at IBM as IBM Volunteers brought in engineers to help with community volunteer activities. This year, the joint partners, along with other surrounding programs and businesses, will come together for the 12th Annual Engineering is Fun Event in Peekskill, NY. Other STEM events that have evolved from community efforts that Turner is involved with include Girls & Boys TechKnow Camp, Family Science Saturdays, and Yorktown Research. Turner has seen with her own eyes the transformative experience that exposure to STEM education can have on our future leaders. “To encourage students to try science, technology, engineering, and math, volunteers from my organization go into schools. In one classroom, a girl came in late, and it was the last place that she wanted to be, based on her body language. By the end of the very interactive session, she was so excited and running out of the room to tell her friends all about her experience, she said, ‘I am going to become an engineer!’ And I bet she did!” When it comes to inspiring others to find ways to give back, Turner encourages others to find any way possible to need it. While organizations may have their leaders, the troopers on the ground helping are just as important as the leadership. Start with research and find out how you can go to a meeting or volunteer at an event. Tina Terrell Acting Associate Deputy Chief for National Forest System, USDA Forest Service Tina Terrell began her journey with natural resources and forestry 35 years ago, and she is still just as passionate about her projects as she was the day that she started. Her day-to-day activities at the Forest Service involve coordinating information and people on issues that cover the very land we see and touch every day. She has witnessed how education and regulation can not only shape our landscape but also impact the lives of people everywhere. Volunteering has always been something that Terrell focused on, inside and outside of her job. As someone
www.womenofcolor.online
