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What WiSTEM²D is—and why it matters

Johnson & Johnson has been championing women and giving them the tools, resources and opportunities to succeed at work and at home since our founding more than 135 years ago, when eight of our first 14 employees were women.

Furthering that commitment, in 2015 we launched our WiSTEM2D initiative. WiSTEM2D stands for Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, Manufacturing and Design. We believe women can be catalysts for creating healthier people, healthier communities and a healthier world.

As the leading healthcare company, we are taking groundbreaking action that drives positive change for women of all ages in the STEM2D ecosystem around the world. Johnson & Johnson values and harnesses the power of diversity for our company and our customers.

We wake up every day inspired to empower women and girls in the six vital STEM2D fields so they have limitless opportunities to change the trajectory of health for humanity. We support and inspire girls and women in their pursuit of STEM2D studies and careers, no matter where they are located around the world.
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Supporting youth

Johnson & Johnson seeks to cultivate girls’ STEM2D interests at an early age and help them continue to grow and develop in these areas, preparing and positioning them to pursue higher education and careers in STEM2D. Through creative problem-solving and play, we aim to spark enchantment with STEM2D subjects in girls around the globe.

Igniting the power of women & girls through mentorship

Hear advice from the next generation of women leaders.

Supporting scholars

We seek to engage and encourage young women at the collegiate and university level, from undergrads to professors. We strive to remove gender barriers, advance bold, life-changing programs, and create a sustainable movement for the advancement of women in STEM2D degrees, research and beyond.

The Johnson & Johnson Scholars Award Program aims to fuel the development of female women leaders in STEM2D leaders and feed the STEM2D talent pipeline by awarding and sponsoring women at critical points in their careers in each of the STEM2D disciplines: Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, Manufacturing and Design.

Johnson & Johnson Announces Six Global Winners for the 2021 Women in STEM2D Scholar Awards

Garnering more than 650 applications from 40 countries, the Company recognizes female researchers for their groundbreaking work in Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, Manufacturing and Design (STEM2D). Each recipient will receive $150,000 in funding and three years of mentorship from Johnson & Johnson to investigate optimizing cancer immunotherapy, reducing health and climate impacts of plastic, promoting off-grid production of fresh water, advancing urogynecological health, and improving hand function through assistive technologies.

The future of STEM is female: Meet 5 university scientists working on breakthrough healthcare ideas

A foldable, 3-D printed robot that can serve as a heart stent. Using artificial intelligence to help detect cancer. Seeking out life on other planets. These are just some of the areas of fascinating research that this year’s winners of the Johnson & Johnson WiSTEM2D Scholars Award are focused on in their labs across the country.

Supporting professionals

At Johnson & Johnson, we believe diversity broadens viewpoints, allowing greater potential for new discoveries and innovations. To that end, we are focusing on growing the careers of women and accelerating the female pipeline in STEM2D with the goal of achieving equal representation of women.
  • The WiSTEM2D program is continuing to blend our heart, science and ingenuity to profoundly change the trajectory of health for humanity for the next generation of leaders. We do so by building partnerships to open new doors, creating inspiring moments to honor women in STEM2D, playing the part of role models and mentoring women throughout the fundamental stages of their lives.
    Kathy Wengel
    Executive Vice President & Chief Global Supply Chain Officer
  • Through partnerships with esteemed institutions and organizations, we at Johnson & Johnson use our scale, breadth and depth of our STEM2D expertise to be an advocate for women pursuing degrees in these fields. We want to help women excel at the university level by funding research, connecting students to successful professionals and increasing demand to include women in academic research collaboration.
    Cat Oyler
    Vice President, Global Public Health
  • In pooling our collective influence and resources through our powerful partnerships with educators and employers, the possibilities are endless to reach our vision for sustainable development. Our impact will be long-lasting. Our future is diverse.
    Michael Bzdak
    Global Director, Employee Engagement, GCI

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This scientist couldn’t save his father from lung cancer—but the targeted treatments Robert Zhao, Ph.D., has since developed have helped countless others

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After their husbands were diagnosed with multiple myeloma, these 3 care partners became health equity activists

Kimberly Alexander, Michelle Ware-Ivy and Marsha Calloway-Campbell learned firsthand that Black individuals develop multiple myeloma at higher rates. That’s why they joined Johnson & Johnson’s That’s My Word® health equity campaign, which builds awareness about the disparities surrounding this rare blood cancer.

Meet the medical engineer behind the innovative heart pump that revolutionized cardiac health

Drawing on his fascination with airplane technology, Thorsten Siess, Ph.D., came up with an idea that became the Impella heart pump. Now, 25 years since it entered the market, this groundbreaking device has helped more than 330,000 patients recover from heart injuries.