Lavanya Jawaharlal: I often hear people telling entrepreneurs to plan everything out. But when I actually talk to small business owners, and when I think about my own experience, one of the best pieces of advice that emerges is if you have an idea you are passionate about, you should go ahead and do it. Don't wait for everything to fall perfectly in place, because it never will.

Lavanya Jawaharlal: I hope that she has equitable access to education. I remember in engineering classes in college, I would look around and see a room full of men, very few women, and even fewer women of color. And that has roots in experiences that happen way before students are in college. So I hope students in the 22nd century encounter a system built on core values of equitable education for all and education that looks responsive to their needs.

Just like Lavanya forged a unique path after getting her degree in order to start STEM Center USA, Nadia Fischer changed directions after university to apply artificial intelligence to the problem of achieving inclusive language in professional organizations.

Nadia Fischer: Not really a specific person, but at the third company where I worked, everyone was very supportive. At that time, because I had switched careers, I was less far along than most people my age, but everyone I worked with said, "It doesn't matter. You're a pragmatic person, and you're trying to solve problems, and this is the right place for you." So they were very supportive. I think I gained the confidence that I can succeed in the tech industry during my time at that company. Before, I was always a little bit unsure, "Am I at the right place? Am I doing this right?" Also, they had a lot of women in technical professions and that helped. We were not this big exception, we were just professionals like everyone else.

Nadia Fischer: Creativity. Because there are so many complex problems out there, and our school systems in many cases place too much emphasis on rote memorization instead of making the solutions. Also, self-confidence.

Lavanya and Nadia are leading the charge toward a future where STEM education is freely available and STEM professions harness the combined power of diverse minds.

To read the full interview with Lavanya and Nadia, go here.

Connect with Lavanya on LinkedIn and Instagram to learn more about how she’s transforming STEM education for K-12 students. Find Nadia on LinkedIn and Twitter to stay informed as she works to broaden STEM opportunities through language.

Women Who Master puts a spotlight on women who have made outstanding contributions to STEM fields. The goal of the series is to celebrate those contributions, inspire future leaders, and help close the gender gap in technology.