Career Connect: Inspiring Young Women to Innovate with STEM Skills

Since Career Connect was launched in Singapore in 2022, it has supported more than 200 teenage girls from underserved communities. The programme, a partnership between leading global financial institution J.P. Morgan and the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), aims to inspire the next generation of women to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

The first cohort of the third edition of the programme, which ended a six-week run in mid-August, involved more than 40 J.P. Morgan mentors and 25 volunteers, and SUTD trainers who taught the 40 Secondary Two students to innovate using STEM skills when tackling real-life challenges found in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

"Career Connect, through the partnership with J.P. Morgan, is all about opening doors and impacting the lives of our amazing young ladies in Singapore," said Professor Kristin Wood, Director of Design Innovation and Design Odyssey at DesignZ, SUTD. "Life-long relationships are fostered and grown through the programme, where the participants obtain skills and experiences that will live and grow in their hearts, their minds, and their souls. The next generation of Singaporean leaders in STEM fields and beyond will undoubtedly emerge from these relationships and experiences."

By introducing STEM to girls at an early age, the programme aims to help address the under-representation of women in the industry. Women currently account for about one-third of the STEM workforce in Singapore, up from 28.8 per cent in 2013, a report by the Ministry of Social and Family Development earlier this year showed.

"As a part of J.P. Morgan's global philanthropic initiatives, Career Connect is a commitment by the firm to drive more inclusive and sustainable economies by providing opportunities to those who may not have them," said Mr Ong Wei Han, J.P. Morgan's Chief Administrative Officer for Asia Pacific. "We believe that the exposure to STEM-related fields and the opportunity to interact with mentors through the programme will allow the students to gain different perspectives that can positively impact their career options."

Through a series of workshops, hands-on design challenges and mentoring sessions, the students learned a variety of STEM skills, including 3D printing, computer-aided drawing, coding and robotics. They were also provided with prototyping kits, enabling them to practice and hone their skills outside of the workshop environment. These experiences led to the creation of innovative prototypes, with some students producing digital wireframes and others developing 3D-printed models.

At the heart of the programme was the Design Innovation Challenge, which guided students through a structured design sprint using SUTD's Design Innovation 4D (Discover, Define, Develop, and Deliver) framework. This user-centric approach allowed the students to identify real-world challenges, formulate opportunity statements and develop creative solutions. The challenge culminated in a showcase, where students presented their projects to a panel of judges from J.P. Morgan.

One student from Beatty Secondary School, 14-year-old Mika Low, said that the experience has helped her listen to other people's ideas. Her team was one of the winning teams. They designed an automated irrigation system for a farmer that was able to monitor in real-time the water distribution.

"I've learned lots of new skills, and to think of different perspectives when tackling a problem," Mika said. "More importantly, I've made lots of new friends, and learned a lot from the mentors."

With a close 1:1 student-to-mentor ratio, the mentors were able to offer personalised feedback and guidance, allowing them to co-create with the students and together refine their ideas and prototypes.

"I was really excited to join as a mentor for this year's programme," said Ms Li Rong Rong, an operations manager at J.P. Morgan. Ms Li, once a rebellious teen, credits the mentorship of a secondary school teacher for helping her stay on the straight and narrow.

"Thinking back, without my teacher, I would not be here, working at J.P. Morgan and as a mentor to these girls," Ms Li said. "I see myself in some of them, and it's great to see how they've developed over these few weeks. It's wonderful to know you've had an impact on someone else's life. At the same time, I also learned and reflected a lot, and I am very grateful that I was able to develop my professional skills by working with the students."

"Overseeing the Career Connect programme has been an incredibly rewarding experience. It has been inspiring to witness the programme's growth and the remarkable creativity students bring to their engagement with STEM equipment and their design journeys," said Mr Vaughn Langen, Lead Innovation Designer at DesignZ.

"The essence of our programme has always been to provide a supportive environment where students can explore STEM tools, apply their skills effectively, and amplify their impact to create meaningful experiences for others," Mr Langen said. "Collaborating with J.P. Morgan mentors has further enriched this experience, fostering a mutual learning process between students and mentors. The genuine enthusiasm and excitement of the students are a testament to the programme's significance and success."

The second cohort of the programme will take place next year.

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