Keynote Address: Dr. Cornelia Gillyard

Women are Becoming a Greater Force in the Scientific Arena

Borrowing the famous phrase, "We’ve come a long way, baby," WIST keynote speaker Cornelia Gillyard, associate professor of chemistry at Spelman College in Atlanta, said she was encouraged by the strides women have made in the scientific and technical labor market. But she also added, "We have a long way to go."

Speaking to an auditorium full of college and high school women interested in careers in the sciences, Gillyard discussed the shifts in the labor market that have created new opportunities for women. Women are a vital resource, she said, and are forging new career paths in all areas. Still, she added, women need to look at what they can do collectively in order to ensure future successes. She offered the students several suggestions for doing just that.

Help Others to Grow.

Accept new challenges, merge resources, form partnerships, and encourage others to share their knowledge are a few of the suggestions Gillyard had for the audience.

"Be a role model, and talk about the reality of the workforce," she said. "Try to lower the barriers and ensure equal access to education programs. Make science exciting, and challenge others to excellence. Be inquisitive."

Gillyard noted that the students need to expend extra energy to reach their goals.

"Even though undergraduate enrollment is up, there is not sufficient mentoring for women," she said. "We need to do everything we can to ensure that women are successful."

Know Yourself.

Accept and manage yourself, Gillyard advised. Compare yourself only to yourself, and analyze your peak performance. Be goal oriented, and be open and receptive to innovation, she added.

Gillyard also encouraged the students to raise their sights and seek untraditional avenues in their work lives. "You must have a passion for change," she said. "Imagine, dream, and dare, and have a high tolerance for failure. Failure doesn’t mean you are a failure as a person."

Learn the Dynamics of Leadership.

One of the best ways to enable others to act is by promoting collaboration and cooperation, Gillyard said. She encouraged the audience to focus on communication, because it is such a vital tool. "Be able to state the problem—whatever it is—clearly. Actively listen to others, and remember that your actions speak louder than words," she said. Maintain a positive attitude, and learn to relate to others, Gillyard added.

Tap Into Your Potential.

How do you tap into your potential? What are the tools you need to succeed? First of all, Gillyard says, you need to believe in yourself. Prepare yourself through education, and establish goals. She added that it is important for women to balance their time and resources, and to not become isolated.

"Don’t take things personally," Gillyard advised. "Keep a positive attitude, and work through the down periods. Find your center, and then focus on your growth and self-development."

Gillyard closed her presentation by providing her own answer to the question, "What is success?"

"It is not perfection," she emphasized. "It may be slightly above average. It is being stupendous. Focus on building your personal inner skills. And then celebrate, celebrate, celebrate your achievements!"

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