STEMAZING Reflections: March 2026 – A Month of Community, Collective Action and Lasting Impact

As I sit watching my kids play on a beach in Barcelona I’m reflecting on what a milestone month March was in so many ways.

It has been nothing short of extraordinary for STEMAZING and for me personally.

A month defined by energy, collaboration and purpose - where the power of community truly came to life.

If there is one reflection that stands above all others, it is this: meaningful progress in equality and inclusion is never achieved in isolation. It is built collectively, through the courage of individuals and the commitment of allies working together to create visible, lasting change.

At STEMAZING, we often say, “Let’s be the change we need to see”. But March reminded us of something equally important - you also can’t drive transformaction alone. It takes a movement of people, stepping forward as role models and allies, to shift perceptions, open doors and inspire the next generation.

This spirit of collective action was powerfully demonstrated through our very first STEMAZING Community Challenge, launched as part of British Science Week in early March. This milestone moment brought our community together in a new and impactful way. We delivered online training to support individuals in our Community to deliver an engaging and inspiring STEM workshop in their local primary schools, equipping them with the confidence and tools to step into their role as visible STEM role models.

As part of this we also hosted a full week of online STEM workshops for primary schools across the country led by our STEMAZING role models. The result? Over 4,000 children actively engaged in hands-on experiments, all led live by women in STEM on the theme of Curiosity. These weren’t passive experiences - each child was doing their own experiment, exploring, questioning and discovering, connecting classroom learning to the real world. This is where inspiration begins: not with telling, but with doing.

March also held the global moment of International Women’s Day, with this year’s theme of Rights, Justice, Action and I’m proud to say that at STEMAZING, we embraced this theme wholeheartedly - as a call to do what we do best - create spaces for empowerment and tangible action. Our own IWD online conference brought together a diverse and inspiring range of speakers, each contributing their voice, experience and insight to a shared mission: to move beyond conversation and into meaningful progress.

Outside of our own events, it was a privilege to continue working with organisations committed to inclusion. I had the opportunity to speak at the IWD event for the Inclusive Companies network, who lead the National Diversity Awards, and ran an in-person workshop at Heathrow Airport, where Ann and I delivered a Women’s Network Empowerment workshop focused on Strengths, Influence and Impact. These March moments matter. They are where individuals begin to recognise their own power to influence change within their organisations and beyond.

Behind the scenes, March was also a pivotal month for our core programmes - the engine room of our mission. We proudly kicked off the 11th round of the award-winning STEMAZING Inspiration Academy programme, welcoming a new cohort of women in STEM who are already on their journey to levelling-up as visible role models. At the same time, we launched the next round of our CPD-certified STEMAZING Mentor Training Programme, preparing our 2026 mentors for the start of their six-month journey supporting women across the sector.

These programmes are not just training - they are transformation. They are where confidence is built, voices are strengthened and ripple effects begin. The dedication of the STEMAZING team to ensure these experiences are impactful, supportive and empowering cannot be overstated. I’m so grateful to our team and all our 2026 participants and Partners as they are central to our mission: inspiring the next generation while actively shaping a more inclusive STEM workforce today.

And on a personal note, March held a moment I will carry with me forever. I had the incredible honour of attending Windsor Castle with my family to receive my MBE for services to diversity and inclusion in engineering from HRH Prince William. It was a deeply meaningful occasion - not just as an individual recognition, but as a celebration of a shared mission. Wearing a dress that paid tribute to historic women in engineering, I felt as though I was carrying their legacy with me - women who paved the way, often without recognition, so that we could continue the journey today.

March was truly a month of Community, Collectiveness and Celebration. But more than that, it has been a powerful reminder that progress happens when we come together - when we as role models step forward, when we as allies take action, and when we all recognise our part in shaping a more inclusive future.

To everyone who has been part of this journey - our team, our partners, our role models, our mentors, and our wider community - thank you. Your contribution matters more than you realise. Together, we are not just imagining a better future for STEM - we are actively building it.

When I watch my kids playing and have this moment of rest, peace and reflection I know this is a mission worth continuing for their future and all children everywhere as well as all of us today.

March may now be behind us but the mission continues and I feel the collective strength and passion of everyone who is in this continued work together.

Let’s keep pushing for positive progress.