Tag Archives: women

Women in Media CAN Get Ahead

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by Barbara Kasoff, WIPP President 

I like to kick off my mornings reading Kristen Bellstrom’s The Broadsheet, a daily published dish on the world’s most powerful women. The articles give you timely and thought provoking insight into what powerful women are doing to shape the world. Recently one in particular caught my eye that I thought would be worth sharing – although most of them are worth reading. This one offers tips women in the media – however the tips really extend far beyond the media industry sector: “A Message to Women in Media”.  First, the bad news: We women who work in the media make 83% of what our male counterparts earn. The good news? The author of the article and Morning Joe co-host, Mika Brzezinski has some tips on how to get ahead.
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June 2015 WIPP National Partner of the Month

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Ann Rama

Anjali “Ann” Ramakumaran

Founder and CEO of Ampcus Inc

Website Address- www.ampcus.com

Company was founded – 2004

WIPP sat down with Ann to hear a little bit more about her business and relationship with WIPP:

Tell us a little about your company and its mission.

  • Ampcus is a Business and a Technology consulting and a staff augmentation company headquartered in Chantilly VA 25 miles West of Washington DC. For a decade we have been supporting various fortune 1000 corporations and federal agencies on various mission critical projects of theirs.
  • Our mission is todevelop and deliver innovative  and effective workforce solutions that make a difference in the life of our customers and employees.

Ampcus is one of the very few women and minority owned company who has all the process certifications required in this field. Ampcus is an ISO 9001:2008; ISO 27001:2005; ISO 20000:2005; and SEI CMMi Level 3 certified Company. Ampcus has been growing at a rate of 40% and maintain high employee retention of over 94%.

Have you always been an entrepreneur?  If not, what, or who, inspired you to take this leap? I think Entrepreneurship is imbedded in me. I did work with a small women owned business and as an employee I would work as though it was my own company. I was also recognized by my employer for that.

How are you engaged in your community (or state or national scene) in philanthropic or political causes? 

Philanthropic activities:

  • Contributions to American Cancer Society
  • Contributions made for pediatric cancer research
  • Providing Scholarship to Underprivileged student through USPAACC Education foundation for college education
  • Supporting various non profit organizations like WBENC, WPEO, USPAACC , CRMSDC( Co-chairs and Presenting Sponsors) and sponsoring various events of theirs to promote other Women owned business , small business and minority owned business.

Boards/Leadership Committee:

  • Advisory Board Member- MBE Advisor MBN USA
  • Brain trust and Leadership Committee Member- USPAACC

What value/resources has WIPP brought you (training or education, member or political connections/access, awareness of policies that affect your business and its growth, etc.) that have been helpful to you? WIPP has helped us a lot as we get access to lot of training material, get access to political members, webinars have always helped us.

Ann’s Bio

Ann is the Founder and CEO of Ampcus Inc, a technology savvy entrepreneur with more than 10 years of contribution towards the design and development of software services and delivery of Information Technology services. Under her leadership she has grown Ampcus Inc into a fast growing consulting and professional services firm.

She has been awarded as the top Asian American owned businesses by USPAACC for 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 and 50 fastest growing women owned businesses in the CONUS by the Women Presidents Organization for the years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, 2015. Ampcus Inc made the Inc500/5000 list for the years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. Ampcus Inc has also been recognized as the Top diversity business for the years 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

She has helped fortune 2000 companies with their enterprise-wide customized solutions. She reports to the board and drives the company to attain its vision of being one of the largest Professional services companies globally. She has been involved in executing a consultative methodology to define, qualify, and quantify the clients’ targeted and strategic IT and business objectives and from this developed solutions to proactively address current and evolving needs and projects.

In 2014 Ann was awarded Women in Technology Entrepreneur of the year by Women in Technology and in 2015 Ampcus was awarded the growth award by Astra WBENC. They were also awarded Washington Technology Fast 50.

Ann holds her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in business and commercial management from India. She has also completed an executive management program from Robins School of Business, University of Richmond.

Growing Women’s Representation in the STEM Fields

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By Louisa Brown, WIPP Intern

STEM

Science, Engineering, Technology and Mathematics, known collectively as the STEM fields, are some of the fastest accelerating areas in the U.S economy today. Innovations seem to be springing up all around us, and with them new career opportunities that offer high wages and ample areas of growth. When we look to who are filling these jobs, however, the results are troubling. According to the new report from the American Association of University Women, titled Solving the Equation: The Variables for Women’s Success in Engineering and Computing, only 12% of engineers are women, and women make up only 30% of computing professionals.  Although women are gaining ground in the science and mathematics fields, they are still falling behind in engineering and technology, the fields which have the highest number of opportunities and offer the highest return on investments.

So, why is this happening, and what can we do about it? In a virtual Town Hall meeting today, hosted by the AAUW and STEMconnector®, experts from higher education, industry and nonprofits had the chance to engage with the results of this important report, and discuss the many ways that organizations are already working to advance women in the STEM fields. Christianne Corbett of the AAUW and co-author of the report, started the discussion by advocating for an intersectional perspective which recognizes the ways in which women of color are even more underrepresented in the engineering and computing fields than their white counterparts. Women of all ethnicities, however, are subjected to gender biases and stereotypes that inhibit their ability to obtain and retain jobs in engineering and technology. Such biases and stereotypes are often implicit and culturally ingrained, making them that much harder to confront.

Acknowledging these biases is an essential first step towards equality, for both educators and employers. Rob Denson, of Des Moines Area Community College, highlighted some important ways that colleges and universities are already working with the STEM Higher Ed Council to address biases and better align educational and industry goals. Emphasizing workplace-learning through paid internships and early research experiences are important to retaining women in computer science and engineering majors, while underlining the social impact of such fields helps women commit to these majors and gain access to the career opportunities that come with them.

The virtual Town Hall meeting also included important input from women in the manufacturing, telecommunications and defense industries. Esra Ozer of the Alcoa Foundation, Anne Wintroub of AT&T Aspire and Betty Smith of Lockheed Martin all emphasized the importance of diversity and partnerships in the workplace. A range of educational pathways is essential to creating a representative work force, and strong mentorships give women the professional support they need to succeed in their careers.

Finally, Linda Hallman, the executive director of AAUW provided insight into the Million Women Mentors program which aims to provide women entering the STEM fields with meaningful mentor relationships. This program is just one of the many ways in which organizations across the country are taking tangible steps to improve representation from women in the technology and engineering industries. What are some solutions that you believe can help attract more girls and women into STEM careers?