FORMULA FOR SUCCESS.

• Position: ROUND TABLE: WOMEN IN SCIENCE

The numbers reveal the hard fact: Women were 48% of U.S. workers but filled only 27% of science, technology, engineering and math--STEM--jobs in 2019, according to the U.S. Census. While that's up from 38% and 8%, respectively in 1970, the relatively low participation shouldn't diminish the importance of the role that women, particularly those in leadership positions, play in science. Business North Carolina magazine, with the help of Raleigh-based Merz Aesthetics, the world's largest dedicated medical aesthetics business, recently gathered a panel of experts to discuss the state of women in science, why it's important, how it's changing and what needs to be done to expand it.

The discussion was held at the new global headquarters for Merz Aesthetics and moderated by Business North Carolina Associate Editor Colin Campbell. It was edited for brevity and clarity.

WHEN DID YOU REALIZE THAT YOU WANTED TO PURSUE A CAREER IN SCIENCE? HOW HAS YOUR PASSION FOR SCIENCE EVOLVED BETWEEN THEN AND NOW?

KERR: It was my curiosity. I want to understand how and why things work. That takes you down a path to research. It's how I started and how I remain.

POWELL: I went to where my natural talents worked best. I loved chemistry because once I learned a concept, I could apply it more broadly. It made sense to me. It's that insatiable curiosity that continues today.

SHAFFER: I attribute my scientific curiosity to a middle school teacher. She was an excellent teacher. And I was very curious. She gave me a lot of extra-credit work. That got me hooked on it.

GUNTER: A teacher in middle school and my high school chemistry professor, who was a Ph.D. chemist and had worked in industry before choosing to teach, sparked my interest in math, science and chemistry. They all made sense to me. I ended up being a laboratory aide for a couple years in high school. That really spurred my interest.

TAYLOR: I love math and chemistry. My high school chemistry teacher, who also taught my father, took me under his wing. I was his lab assistant. He encouraged me to study engineering, not chemistry. I'm a chemical engineer. My curiosity continues today. How can I turn something scientific into a practical application?

PHILLIPS: I'm the child of health care practitioners--a dentist and a nurse. There were many medical books at home, and I got into them all the time. I love being a student. It's my favorite profession. So, medicine was a natural choice, because you never stop learning. I considered becoming a lawyer because I had this vision that they mostly worked in law libraries. I thought that constantly being around books would be great. Then I discovered that's not what lawyers do. That's what law clerks do. So, science and medicine became my inspiration.

VANNAIS: I've always loved nature, being outdoors and camping. That came from my family. I had an aunt who ran a laboratory. As a child, I would pick plants and make tinctures. I was curious about the environment and its creatures. That kept me in science. But I'm not a scientist. I'm a safety professional and lead an organization. It's a different path but under the same umbrella. Leading an organization that makes products that help people gives me joy and satisfaction. Even on the horrible days, I feel like I'm adding value. That keeps me going.

HOW AND WHY DID YOU TRANSITION TO A LEADERSHIP ROLE?

GUNTER: I earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry then worked on independent projects in labs. But I was more social than that. So, I decided to switch to the business side of science. Early on, I translated science for the lay person. That's helped me over the years in different roles, including at NCBIO. I talk to legislators about complicated issues. They can't be broken into simple soundbites.

TAYLOR: After spending time on the shop floor and implementing ideas, I began working with a plethora of people. Coaching, mentoring and developing them is inspiring to me. I enjoy watching them go from struggling with an issue to understanding it then growing and prospering. That's the reason I moved into a leadership role. It drives me and makes me want to stay in my current career. Pharma and biopharma have a noble mission, and I love knowing that my daily contributions help make a huge impact on humanity. You certainly can develop leadership skills, but it starts as an innate ability to connect with and help people.

VANNAIS: It happened over time. I didn't say today I'm going to be a leader. It took time to discover the joy and value in being a...