Nevertheless

Nevertheless, a series produced with Storythings, celebrates women both inside and outside of Pearson who are using technology to transform teaching and learning and improve outcomes for students.

We’ll look at the many issues women working in technology face, and we’ll tell the stories of those who persisted to create change. By shining a light on women from the past and present, we hope that in the future their stories will no longer be followed by the question “How did I not know her name?”

Subscribe to Nevertheless on iTunes

Episode 7

Finding Genius

Instagram wasn’t a success just because it was a good idea. Kevin Systrom wasn’t a lone genius. Neither was Albert Einstein or Ada Lovelace or Mark Zuckerberg. They were all part of a network and cultures that could help bring their ideas to life.

But what happens if you have no access to networks? No entrepreneurs to fund your startup, or alumni to lend a hand? Think of the great innovations that never happen. How many amazing innovations have been lost simply because no-one listened?

In this episode, we’re going to discuss lost potential, and how we identify and nurture talent in young people when the odds are stacked against them.

Episode 6

STEM Role Models

When Becky Rush was young, her aunt Liz would take her into the country during the school holidays and do experiments with her. The time spent with her aunt played a huge role in the education and career Becky eventually followed.

Not everyone has an aunt Liz. When it comes to finding inspiration for our career choices we tend to look in other places, such as the media. But what if people like us aren’t well represented in the fields we’d like to follow? If we can’t see people like us, then it’s hard to believe people like us belong there.

In this episode we discuss how science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) role models from all walks of life are essential for young people, and what needs to be done to ensure that those who want to be it, can see it.

Featured Guests

And a shout out to an unsung hero Janelle Shane. Go to aiweridness.com to find out more about her work with neural networks.

STEM Role Model Posters

For Nevertheless Season 2 we commissioned four female illustrators from Mexico, Portugal, France, and the United States to produce these beautiful images. The women featured serve as amazing role models in their fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (or STEM is it’s often referred to).  

We’d love you to download the images and print them out for your school or workplace. By taking part you’ll help raise the awareness of their achievements, and hopefully inspire a new generation of women working in STEM.

Download our STEM Role Models posters for your school or workplace

Episode 5

When good intentions aren’t enough

We look at a failed product that excited everyone — except the people who had to use it. We chat to women who are working closely with users and communities and analysing data to ensure their tech solutions solve real problems. And we discuss the difference between forcing change, and encouraging it; between assuming you know what people need and asking them in advance.

Episode 4

The Right to Learn

We speak with female researchers at Pearson as well as female founders of research-oriented ed-tech startups about the groundbreaking work they are doing.

Episode 3

How to build a tech company that enables career progression for all genders

We look at the gender barriers that halt career progression for many women working in tech and speak to innovators who are taking a more holistic approach in tech companies

Episode 2

The Future of Learning

We speak with female mobile developers and content specialists inside and outside of Pearson about how the innovation they’re driving in the field of mobile is rethinking how people learn.

  • Mickey Revenaugh— Director of New School Models for Pearson
  • Bethany Koby — Technology Will Save Us
  • Rafranz Davies— Executive Director of Professional and Digital Learning at Lufkin Independence School District in Ennis, Texas
  • Shwetal Shah— Erase All Kittens
  • Anjali Ramachandran— co-founder of Ada's List and hostes 30 Under 30 list
Episode 1

Garbage In. Garbage Out.

We look at how diversity in teams shapes the ethics of products and the challenges organisations face in erasing bias. We will speak to scientists, engineers and start-ups who are working to produce ethical tech products.

  • Dame Stephanie ‘Steve’ Shirley — Tech pioneer, businesswoman and philanthropist.
  • Dr Sue Black OBE — Computer scientist, social entrepreneur and author of Saving Bletchley Park
  • Joanna Bryson — Computer scientist at the University of Bath
  • Chuin Phang — Diversity and Inclusion, Pearson
  • Jan McSorley — VP Accessibility for School Assessments, Pearson
  • Carissa Romero —  Paradigm, co-founder of co-founded PERTS, Stanford’s applied research centre on mindsets and one of Forbes 30 Under 30 list

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