Strategic use of social media for visibility and networking for women in STEM

You built your success by dedicating yourself to your science, following degree paths and syllabi, and going where the research led, often with long weekends and late nights.

However, isolating yourself in these past achievements will prevent you from achieving the success you have earned.

The next achievements…papers, grants, researchers to join your group, promotions for yourself, or startup funding, aren’t on the other side of a degree path, or a syllabus, or working harder. They are going to come from other people seeing your technical identity. This realization is often terrifying.

LinkedIn is the absolute best gift the universe has given to scientists to connect with others and realize their success!

In this session, led by Stephanie Ford (bio below), you’ll understand the role of LinkedIn in presenting your technical identity to the gatekeepers of the goals on your list and learn to embrace the tool and not fear the unknown.

You’ll learn how LinkedIn fits the needs of scientists maybe better than any other group.

Key Takeaways:

• Don’t believe everything you think/hear about LinkedIn.

• You will learn to present your technical identity, not become a “LinkedIn influencer”.

• You will use different “modes” of LinkedIn for different goals.

• “Posting every day” will probably never be the right mode for you.

Speaker Bio

Stephanie Ford-Weems is an engineer, researcher, national sales leader, and founder of a successful data-driven real estate practice. Stephanie partners with Universities, Government Agencies, Private Agencies, National Labs, and companies ranging from individual founders/startups to the Fortune 10 to develop strategic relationship strategies around enabling technologies. Through 30+ years of working with the frontiers of science, partnering with the organizations that move science forward, and using sales and marketing to connect stakeholders, Stephanie coaches and mentors institutions and individuals to present their best selves and connect with the right partners…around deep science/tech. Stephanie teaches advanced technical people to identify, establish, and maintain relationships in their field through corporate and institutional trainings, cohorts developing skills and strategies together, and individuals in courses or one-on-one coaching.

For AWIS members joining this workshop, or signing up through, Stephanie will offer 1 year of complimentary access to training materials and 2 one-hour coaching sessions for your personal LinkedIn strategy!

Registration Deadline: Tuesday, 22nd April 2025, 11:30 PM EDT