A Career Pivot Program for Women of Color

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in training and development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Shawna Curran, Founder, and CEO of STEM ENRG, located in Worcester, MA, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

STEM ENRG offers a career pivot program to help women of color break down the social and emotional barriers keeping them out of careers in tech. Participants learn to become effective software developers through culturally relevant, project-based learning combined with immersive professional development and financial wellness training.

Tell us about yourself

I'm a woman of color who spent over 20 years in the tech industry as the only person in the room who looked like me. Even though I managed global teams, they were often the sum total of diversity in my past companies. On the US side, it was just me in a sea of homogeneity. I went through a lot of falling down along the way to eventually find success. That first-hand, lived experience drove how I managed my teams. I did so much work fighting systemic bias for myself and for the people who were under my care. I showed them their value and helped them see what they were actually bringing to the table. Most importantly, I helped them to find their voices and to understand that they deserved a seat at the table. After watching those who I coached get promoted and go on to do amazing things, and the companies I worked at experience explosive engagement and innovation when I FINALLY got them to break through their own bias, I decided I wanted to do this in a way that would create a bigger impact. I don't want women of color to just break into tech; I want them to thrive there. It's not enough for them to be in the industry. They have to be able to fully claim that space, own their voice, innovate and create real change and impact. After all of my own falling down, I'm incredibly motivated to help other women of color do it without so many bumps and bruises.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishments come from the women who come through the program. One woman was a teacher transitioning into tech. She had already completed a coding boot camp when she joined us and was spending four days a week interviewing to try to break into tech. She used to struggle with me referring to her as a natural leader when she started the program, but she really was! I put her in the position of being a team lead on her project and encouraged her to put that out there on her LinkedIn and resume. She told me that this started to be a topic of interest in her interviews. Even though she was uncomfortable with it at first, I continued to support and coach her. She eventually started to lean into that strength. Finally, after months of intense interviewing, she landed her first job in tech! She even went on to get a better job after that one and is now firmly in the software industry. She recently got an award from her peers for going above and beyond in her role as a Solutions Engineer. It's not like we did that for her; it's that our programming and coaching helped her to see the awesome she was already putting out there and OWNING it. Stories like these will always make me proud of this business and the work that my team and I are doing.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

Understand that in order for success to come, I have to invest in myself, I have to make some mistakes and adjust, I have to plant seeds and take care to nurture them so they can take root, grow, and bloom. It's just not a simple road or as straightforward as going to work and getting a paycheck in return. When you're also trying to create a positive social impact while also growing your business, it can be very frustrating to go through these ups and downs.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

Get your support system firmly in place. This is a lot of work with a lot of ups and downs. You're going to need people who will encourage you, tell you the truth rather than what you want to hear, remind you of your wins when you're having a crisis of confidence, and sometimes just be a cheerleader when you do something amazing and need to act like it.
Find your community. Are you a woman of color business owner? A veteran? A new college grad trying something different? Find a community of your peers to share experiences, resources, and support.
Money is often an issue, and there are a lot of resources out there for small business owners to help you do things that would normally cost a ton of money. In Massachusetts, where I'm based, I've used the help of an organization called Lawyers for Civil Rights to help for-profit organizations owned by underrepresented groups get pro bono legal services. I've been able to get scholarships for workshops or classes put on by the Center for Women and Enterprises. If you're doing something that requires technology, there are low code or no code options out there. Never assume there is only one way (that costs way too much money) to get something done.

For anyone considering starting a business, that first leap of faith just might be the hardest, but it's worth it. For what you'll experience and learn and how you'll stretch and grow, it's worth it. Bet on yourself for the win.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://stemenrg.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stemenrg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stem_enrg/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/stemenrg
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stem-enrg/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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