Founder Story

WHY STEMpower HER AND THE LEADERSHIP LABS.

When you’ve had to figure things out entirely on your own, you never forget what that feels like. As a first-generation student pursuing a career in STEM, I’ve experienced the confusion, the self-doubt, and the isolation that often come with navigating academic spaces, especially as a woman in a male-dominated field. I had no roadmap. No mentor. Just instinct, persistence, and a lot of trial and error.

Currently, I am a dual-title PhD student in Geosciences and Climate Science at The Pennsylvania State University, where my research explores groundwater contamination and remediation, hydrologic modeling, and the impacts of climate change on water systems. With a background in environmental and water resources science, combined with teaching and mentoring experience, I’ve become passionate about using science not just for discovery, but for collaboration, education, and practical solutions. I’m particularly interested in how research can support sustainable water management and address real environmental challenges, especially in underserved communities. These experiences continue to shape how I view opportunity, equity, and the role of science in community transformation.

So when I finally began to find my footing, I knew I didn’t want others coming after me to go through the same thing alone.

That’s what led me to start mentoring young women in STEM, particularly those from my undergraduate alma mater in Nigeria, offering support as they prepared for graduate school. With encouragement from my former advisor, I began guiding them through everything from building a strong application to finding funding and identifying programs that aligned with their goals.

But mentorship wasn’t new to me. Before I ever left Nigeria for graduate school, I had already been teaching and mentoring high school students, young boys and girls who needed both academic support and someone to believe in them. It wasn’t a formal program back then, but I was helping however I could: tutoring, giving career advice, and encouraging them to imagine themselves in spaces they had never seen someone like them occupy.

Those early experiences showed me how powerful mentorship can be. And as I continued to support students, both informally and through structured programs like Geosciences Education and Mentorship Support (GEMS), On To The Future GSA initiatives and other professional development programs here in the U.S., I began to see a pattern, a critical need for mentorship, representation, and field-specific guidance, especially for African students aiming to enter global STEM spaces.

That’s the foundation on which STEMpower Her and The Leadership Labs were built.

THE WHY BEHIND THE INITIATIVES

STEMpower Her

The more I mentored young women, the more I saw the gap, and it went far beyond just needing help with applications. Many of them had never had a mentor before. Some had never met an emerging scholar they could relate to someone who had successfully navigated the path they were just beginning. Others were constantly second-guessing themselves, not because they lacked potential, but because they hadn’t seen clear, relatable examples of success in the spaces they aspired to reach.

There was a deeper issue: a lack of guidance, community, and representation, especially for African women navigating STEM pathways. It wasn’t just about information; it was about building belief. That’s what led me to create STEMpower Her.

I wanted to build something that offered more than answers. I wanted young women to feel seen, supported, and capable. Through structured mentorship, STEMpower Her connects students and early-career professionals with mentors who understand their context, people who can walk alongside them, offer practical guidance, and remind them that they belong.

The name came naturally. “STEMpower Her” is about empowerment in every sense: academic, professional, emotional, and personal. It’s about giving young women the tools, encouragement, and community they need to thrive; not just enter the field but lead in it.

The Leadership Labs

While working to broaden the impact of STEMpower Her, I began reflecting more deeply on my journey, and I recognized another layer of the problem that goes beyond mentorship and guidance: a lack of technical and analytical skills.

Even the most brilliant students I mentored often lacked exposure to tools and training considered standard in global STEM spaces. I experienced this firsthand. When I transitioned to graduate school in the U.S., I realized that although I was academically prepared, I didn’t have enough hands-on experience with many of the tools used in water science and environmental research. And I wasn’t alone; this challenge was common among many African students I spoke with.

That realization led to the launch of The Leadership Labs.

I created The Leadership Labs to help students build field-specific skills that are relevant to their areas of interest: Geosciences, Engineering, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. It’s not about overwhelming them with theory; it’s about focused, monthly sessions led by scholars/professionals who teach practical, real-world skills that can make a tangible difference in both academic and industry settings.

The goal is simple: bridge the knowledge gap and equip students with the tools they need to compete globally. When paired with mentorship, this creates a powerful foundation, support, and skill, together.

At the core of both initiatives is a shared belief:
Students from underrepresented backgrounds don’t need to be rescued; they need to be resourced.

LOOKING AHEAD - A VISION FOR THE FUTURE

As I look ahead, I see STEMpower Her and The Leadership Labs evolving into more than mentorship and skills training platforms; they’re the foundation for long-term impact. Platforms that not only equip underrepresented students with the tools to succeed, but also encourage them to lead, collaborate, and give back.

My long-term vision is to build a continent-wide network of STEM professionals, educators, and aspiring scholars who share knowledge, collaborate across borders, and support one another through every stage of their academic and professional journeys. I want to see more African women in labs, leading research projects, launching companies, influencing policy, and shaping the future of science and technology. And through The Leadership Labs, I also hope to support a broader community of underrepresented students, regardless of gender, who are eager to grow, lead, and make meaningful contributions in STEM fields across the continent.

But meaningful impact doesn’t stop in the classroom or the lab. A core part of our mission is also science outreach and environmental volunteerism. I believe science should never be isolated from the communities it’s meant to serve. That’s why we plan to engage mentees and participants in community-based projects that promote environmental awareness, sustainability, and science literacy from school visits and clean-up campaigns to STEM clubs and workshops in underserved areas.

By empowering young people with both knowledge and a sense of responsibility, we’re not just building scientists, we’re cultivating educators, advocates, and future changemakers.

This work is still unfolding, and we’re only at the beginning. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that you don’t need to have everything figured out to start; you just need to care deeply, stay committed, and bring others along with you.

That’s exactly what we’re doing.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. STEMpower Her and The Leadership Labs were born from a personal journey, but they are meant to serve many. I hope you’ll join me in building a future where mentorship, access, and impact are not limited by geography, gender, or background.