The WLI vision is to “Apply the spirit of Moore’s Law, which catapulted innovation by doubling the performance of electronics to significantly increase the number of women in leadership roles in the industry, the capital dedicated to women-led start-ups and the number of STEM-focused female candidates joining the industry.”
The GSA has established its Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI), seeking to elevate women’s participation on both boards and leadership positions. The Initiative is led by GSA’s Women’s Leadership Council that harnesses the leadership of women who have risen to the top ranks of the semiconductor industry. Utilizing their experiences, these women provide inspiration for and sponsorship of the next generation of female leaders.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES:
- Ensure that the semiconductor industry gets its fair share of STEM-focused female candidates by enhancing the image of the industry and promoting it to young women.
- Ensure that women are an integral part of the leadership of the semiconductor industry.
- Understand why women who have joined the industry are leaving or not rising within their companies and establish best practices for companies to better nurture, network, mentor and promote women.
- Create programs to highlight and support female entrepreneurs.
- Lead efforts for an enhanced image campaign for the industry through internship programs, conferences, universities.
- Establish a base-line for measuring YoY progress of the industry based on the research being conducted through the WLI Research Committee.
- Establish best practices for companies and programs and projects to help women succeed within their companies and with their own companies.
- Continue recognizing women through the Rising Women of Influence Award submission and evaluation process. This Award recognizes and profiles this next generation of women leaders in the semiconductor industry. The inaugural award was presented at the GSA Annual Awards Dinner in 2018 and will be presented each year.
“The WLI Council is committed to moving the needle and making a measurable impact on an industry that requires a highly talented, diverse and educated workforce. In order to attract women to the industry there must be role models and an understanding of the societal contribution. We will benchmark our progress each year. We have the full commitment of the GSA leadership including the Board of Directors, which is a who’s who of semiconductor leaders.”
Jodi Shelton, CEO, GSA
Jodi Shelton, CEO, GSA
