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LEARNING

Fortune 1000 Executives


LEARNING
New president must fix the U.S. education gap
More than half give pre-college system a failing grade and are experiencing a shortage
in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) talent. Two-thirds are
concerned other countries’ increased access to STEM talent is impacting competitiveness.
Just before the U.S. extent to which the Fortune their companies are already
elections last year, the executives speak with one experiencing such a shortage.
presidential candidates unequivocal voice on these When it comes to rising
were warned by CEOs and issues,” said Dr. Attila international competition,
other C-suite executives Molnar, president and CEO of fully two-thirds (68 percent)
at America’s Fortune 1000 Bayer Corporation. are concerned that other
STEM companies that the “Almost without countries’ increasing access
new president should be exception, they to STEM talent is giving
very concerned about the overwhelmingly recognize rival companies based in
country’s ability to attract and
retain science, technology, One way to counter this talent crisis, they said,
engineering and mathematics
workers. is to build a diverse STEM pipeline beginning at
That is needed in order to the earliest educational level.
maintain its global leadership
in science and technology.
this country’s great need these countries a competitive
While they believe they
to tap the potential of the advantage over them, with
and other STEM companies
entire STEM talent pool, one-fifth (20 percent) saying
have a responsibility to
and the importance of doing they are “very concerned.”
support a diverse pipeline,
so at every point on the
they also say the current
development continuum The Seed: Growing a Diverse
American pre-college
beginning in elementary American STEM Pipeline
education system is failing to
school with high-quality, Not surprisingly, almost
engage girls and minorities to
hands-on, inquiry-based all the senior executives (98
pursue STEM careers.
science education, on through percent) say it is important
These are among the
college where STEM talent for girls and minorities to
findings of a new survey
is refined and recruited, and receive a strong science and
commissioned by Bayer
then into the workplace where math education beginning
Corporation as part of its
it must be further nurtured
Making Science Make Sense in elementary school
and encouraged.”
initiative. In the latest Bayer in order to reduce their
Facts of Science Education underrepresentation in
The Need: Current and
Survey XIII, Fortune 1000 STEM fields, with nine-in-10
Imminent STEM Workforce
STEM executives were polled (90 percent) saying it is very
Challenges
about a host of issues related important.
Almost all of the Fortune
to diversity and under- And, say the executives,
1000 STEM executives (95
representation of women, the most effective way for
percent) are concerned that
African Americans, Native these students to learn science
the U.S. is in danger of losing
Americans and Hispanics in is through a hands-on,
its global leadership position
STEM fields and their impact inquiry-based approach (87
in science and technology
on U.S. competitiveness. percent).
due to a shortage of STEM
“What is most dramatic However, they believe
talent, with more than
about this survey is the the U.S. education system is
half (55 percent) reporting

20 SMART PEOPLE
LEARNING
falling short here. Not one that traditionally serve women chemical engineer, renowned Bayer
of the executives surveyed and minorities. science educator and CEO of Corporation,
graded the U.S. an “A” when Still, recruiting women BioSentient Inc., an emerging headquartered
asked how good a job the U.S. and minorities can be medical devices company. in Pittsburgh,
pre-college system is doing challenging and frustrating, “For younger employees, Pennsylvania,
in engaging and nurturing according to the executives. seeing people who look like U.S., is a
girls and minorities to pursue Four out of five executives you achieving at the highest subsidiary of
STEM careers. In fact, almost (80 percent) report their levels in your chosen field is a Bayer AG, an
six-in-10 (55 percent) assigned companies face challenges strong signal that a company international
it a failing grade of D or F. in hiring adequate numbers is serious about diversity. health care,
The country’s higher of women and minorities for “Being actively mentored nutrition and
education system fares STEM positions. takes that seriousness of high-tech
somewhat better for its Of those, half (50 percent) purpose one step further and materials
ability to train women and say they are frustrated by their shows younger employees group based
minorities for STEM careers, companies’ inability to hire the company is committed to in Leverkusen,
with executives assigning it an adequate numbers of women developing their talent and Germany.
average grade of “C+.” and minority STEM workers. ensuring their success. It’s
Overall, the U.S. education The main sources of leading from the front.”
system gets a “C” from frustration include a limited
executives for providing U.S. number of women/minorities In September, Smart People
companies with diverse, qualified for STEM positions will examine the performance
talented and skilled STEM (44 percent); problems of President Obama in view
graduates. identifying/locating/ of the warning Fortune 1000
“To successfully develop recruiting qualified candidates delivered to candidate
a diverse STEM workforce, (29 percent); and, difficulty Obama last September.
we have to begin at the attracting/retaining them
beginning,” explained Dr. due to company location (19
Mae C. Jemison, the nation’s percent).
first African American female Once hired, most
astronaut and Bayer’s national executives (63 percent) report
Making Science Make Sense their companies have specific
(MSMS) spokesperson. programs designed to nurture
“After all, how can and retain women and
we expect to graduate minority STEM workers.
the necessary numbers of Programs are one thing; C-
scientists, engineers and suite role models are another.
mathematicians from college if While nearly all the
we don’t have enough students executives (96 percent)
coming out of high school recognize the importance
interested and prepared to of female and minority role
work and study in these models in senior management
subjects?” positions, they are split over
how well their companies do
The Feed: Nurturing in providing such role models
Women and Minority STEM to younger workers, with
Employees in the Workplace half (55 percent) assigning
In addition to supporting themselves an A/B grade and
STEM education programs half (45 percent) a C/D.
aimed at females and “The importance of role
minorities, the vast majority models and mentors cannot
of executives say they recruit be overstated,” explained
from colleges and universities Dr. Jemison, a physician,

SMART PEOPLE 21

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