Women in STEM: Teneika Askew

You can always tell who the strong women are. They're the ones building each other up instead of tearing each other down. I try to live my life like that. It’s what inspired me to create my own nonprofit to help expose girls to higher education, career paths, and networking opportunities. I founded Ribbons of Beauty in 2014. We take young women on college tours, help them write their resumes, apply for college, and practice interviewing. Mentoring other women and fostering that community is the way to ensure equality for women and minorities in the workplace.

I like to say that when you walk through a door, leave it open for the next woman to walk through. I try to pave the way for other women by sharing my story, and listening to women who have risen into leadership roles--hearing their stories. When I talk to young women back in Fayetteville, they're like: "Wow, you work in DC? You support the Pentagon? How did you get there?" It inspires me to think that one day they'll end up pushing others forward as well.

I think a lot of young women struggle with self-confidence. We worry about coming across as too assertive just because we have a strong opinion. I think we can help the next generation overcome those fears by getting them into leadership programs early on. That’s what I’m trying to do.