The STEM Demystified Digital Portal is now live, a new home for real STEM stories made for teachers, educators, and curious young learners. Built to make STEM feel closer, friendlier, and genuinely possible, the portal brings together global role‑model stories, interactive exploration, and classroom‑ready inspiration. It’s a growing resource designed to help children see themselves in STEM, and to give educators an easy way to bring real‑world representation into lessons. Explore the portal at stemdemystified.com.
Welcome to another edition of STEM Demystified, a project to tackle women under-representation in STEM. This weekly Newsletter showcases how women are conquering science, technology, engineering, and mathematics worldwide. Today, Ayse Yaman is our STEM role model. Born in Türkiye, at school she was a curious explorer. Her passion for Mathematics and admiration for Grace Hopper highly influenced her journey in STEM.
Ayse attained a BSc in Statistics and her passion for uncovering insights from complex datasets led her to specialise in advanced analytics, machine learning, and data visualisation. Ayse has extensive experience in both the retail and healthcare sectors and currently works as a Senior Data Scientist. She is an extremely skilled professional and continuously enhances her expertise, collaborate
with teams, and stay updated with current technologies. Besides having passion for STEM from early age and a successful career Ayse did face some challenges along the way. Let’s find out about her journey so far.
What was your trajectory from school to where you currently are professionally or academically?
Since my school days, I have always been open to exploration and learning. After graduating, I actively sought new knowledge and skills by participating in various training programmes and projects related to my career. I believe it’s important to inspire women to pursue their interests and seize opportunities for personal growth. To any women who are considering entering the industry, I encourage you to follow your passions and push your boundaries. Believe in yourself and never give up on your dreams!
What motivated you to get into STEM? Did you have a female role model or anyone who inspired you? If so, who?
Yes, absolutely. My childhood fascination with mathematics, coupled with the inspiring presence of Grace Hopper as a role model, greatly influenced my journey into STEM. Her ground-breaking contributions to computer science and her encouraging demeanour inspired me to follow a similar path. Thus, the combination of her influence and my passion for mathematics served as the primary motivation behind my decision to pursue STEM.
What’s your most important professional or academic achievement?
Working on a project within the retail sector, I developed a recommendation engine aimed at increasing customer loyalty. In this project, we analysed data such as customer purchase history, preferences, and behaviour to create a system that provides personalized product recommendations for each customer. This recommendation engine boosted sales and customer satisfaction by increasing the likelihood of purchases for customers. Additionally, my innovative ideas and solution-oriented approach contributed significantly to teamwork in various projects.
Did you face any challenge throughout your professional or academic journey? How did you overcome it?
Yes, I have encountered many challenges throughout my professional and academic journey, particularly struggling with time management during busy periods.
Additionally, I have faced unfair situations in the workplace. To overcome these challenges, I first
assessed the situation objectively and then adopted a solution-oriented approach. I prioritized tasks and created plans to improve time management. When confronted with inequalities, I sought to understand the situation and questioned its reasons. Subsequently, I addressed the issue by advocating for necessary changes through appropriate channels. Developing my self-confidence and professional network has helped me effectively deal with such situations.
In your opinion, what needs to be done to attract more women into STEM?
Highlighting successful female role models, organizing free seminars and events, and establishing mentorship programs can attract more women to STEM. These initiatives can help women feel more confident in this field and empower them to realize their potential. Additionally, it’s important to encourage individuals to believe in their own abilities and aspirations because everyone has the potential to succeed when they are determined.
What advice would you give to anyone looking into a career in STEM (or those who do not consider it)?
For those interested in pursuing a career in STEM, my advice is to explore various fields within STEM to discover what truly ignites your passion. Embrace challenges as opportunities for personal and professional growth, and actively seek out mentorship to guide you along the way.
Remember, setbacks are a natural part of the learning process, so view them as opportunities for learning and improvement. Surround yourself with supportive mentors and peers who can provide guidance and encouragement as you navigate your journey. And above all, maintain a curious mindset and continuously
seek out opportunities for knowledge and skill development. If you’re uncertain about pursuing a STEM career, I encourage you to keep an open mind and explore the diverse impact and applications of STEM fields. The interdisciplinary nature of STEM allows for valuable problem-solving skills and critical thinking abilities that can enhance your personal and professional development, regardless of your chosen field.
Ayse dedication to her career and commitment to continuously learning are admirable. She highlighted how believing in our own abilities is important for our personal and professional development. It serves as the foundation for success and growth.
When individuals have confidence in their own capacity, they are more likely to take on challenges, pursue goals, and bounce back from failures and setbacks. What are you doing to encourage self-belief in your team, or maybe in your class? Our support is crucial to encourage and inspire the next generation of STEM professionals.
