Meet the founders who are making HERstory at Pennovation Works
As part of Women's History Month, we are recognizing some of the inspiring founders and leaders from the Pennovation Works ecosystem. Women have long held pivotal roles in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers and Pennovation Works is proud to work with, and support numerous women-led companies. Learn more about the all the women making HERstory at Pennovation Works in the interviews below.
Jessie Garcia is the Founder & CEO of Tozuda, a company that makes impact indicators for head injury awareness and helmet damage indication.
How has a female mentor impacted your career?
My mentor Melissa Withers (RevUp Capital) likes to say, “I’m like a bowling ball and she is like the “guard rails” at the bowling alley.” I’m a first time founder and everything can seem like a dangerous gutter if I make the wrong decision. I feel lucky to have someone on my side who has so much expertise, having worked with over 150 companies, to call up when I need some guidance. It makes taking aim at big goals and hard decisions that much easier. She has taken me to the next level in my career and I can’t thank her enough for her mentorship!
What advice would you give to women who want to become an entrepreneur or pursue a career in STEM ?
Don’t let the statistics or outside noise prevent you from starting your business and aiming high! So many articles are regurgitated in the media regarding how hard it is to raise capital as a female founder and the gender discrimination still seen in STEM. It can be really intimidating to get past even though you’re ready. The toughest battle you will face every day as an entrepreneur is with yourself and your mindset. There is no one better than you to create the business or technology you imagine. Make it your goal to prove them wrong. You have to believe, to succeed!
Do you have a favorite inspirational quote?
"Speak your mind - even if your voice shakes."
- Maggie Kuhn
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Gabriela Cano, Sophie Ishiwari, and Gabriella Daltoso, co-founders of Sonura, and winners of the 2023 President’s Innovation Prize, are developing a device that promotes the cognitive and socioemotional development of newborns in the NICU.
How has a female mentor impacted your career?
My high school Design Engineering teacher is the reason I became an engineer. When I started her class, I had very little confidence in my ability to build and design. Her encouragement and teaching helped me to grow in both my skills and confidence.
How can women be better supported or uplifted in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)?
Encouraging women to pursue STEM fields should begin early, ideally in elementary school, where foundational identities around learning are established. As women progress through their education and early careers in STEM, it's crucial to offer them consistent mentorship and support. At each stage, from school to professional life, access to female mentors who can offer guidance, share experiences, and provide encouragement is invaluable. Unfortunately, in entrepreneurial settings, female mentorship remains scarce. However, prioritizing the presence of women in networking and mentorship initiatives can help level the playing field, ensuring that women have equal opportunities for growth and advancement.
Do you have a favorite inspirational quote?
"What lies behind you and what lies in front of you, pales in comparison to what lies inside of you."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Ellie Weinstein, Founder and CEO of Cocoa Press, has been a Pennovation Works member since 2019. She and her team have broken the mold by creating customizable chocolates through 3D printing.
How can women be better supported or uplifted in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)?
Companies, and specifically men who run companies, need to actively work to support women and to create environments for everyone to thrive. They need to do the uncomfortable work and step in to check others, both within their companies and externally.
How do you support women’s empowerment and gender equality?
As someone who runs a company, I am afforded a lot of privilege. When vetting every business decision, I take into account their commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion. In practice this means only attending events in areas safe for queer and trans folks. It means using our relationships with event organizers to change policies and create more supportive environments for everyone. And it means intentionally expanding our network to mentor women in STEM.
Do you have a favorite inspirational quote?
I love Broadway Musicals. In the musical Hadestown, Orpheus says "To the world we dream about, and, the one we live in now."
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Katherine Sizov is the Founder and CEO of Strella, a Pennovation Works member company, working to reduce food waste one piece of fruit at a time.
Who is the most influential woman you know, and how does she inspire you?
I have been lucky to be surrounded by many powerful female figures. My stepmother, Gargi Varma, is one of those people. Her curiosity and thirst for knowledge inspires me greatly – she is always up for a deep dive conversation and reads the most books out of anyone I know!
What advice would you give to women who want to become an entrepreneur or pursue a career in STEM ?
Follow your gut because the only thing you’ll regret is not having made the attempt.
Do you have a favorite inspirational quote?
"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment."
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Simone Ammons is the Founder and CEO of QuneUp™, a data-driven software tool that reduces equipment down time by enabling access to critical data. QuneUp™ gets to the root of the issue by empowering all members of your team with accurate data in a snap.
How do you support women’s empowerment and gender equality?
For me, women’s empowerment and gender equality starts with how I personally treat the women I come across. I remember personally advocating for a fellow female engineer at my last role to fill a new position that had recently opened up. Like had been done for me when first starting out my career as an engineer, I jumped at the opportunity to pay it forward and advocate for another woman as well. I wish I could just snap my fingers and change the world and have everyone value women’s contributions the same as anyone else’s. In the meantime, I try to focus on impacting my little corner of the world one interaction at a time.
What advice would you give to women who want to become an entrepreneur or pursue a career in STEM?
STEM careers are very rewarding, yet very challenging all at the same time. You get to see the real life application of fundamental concepts that you mastered in college or through real world experiences. On the other hand, you also have to deal with the biases of the people you work with who may not “expect” you to hold a STEM degree or pursue a STEM career. It’s a sad reality that’s best dealt with in a supportive environment.
For me that meant joining student organizations in college such as NSBE (National Society of Black Engineers), SWE (Society of Women Engineers), and SHPE (Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers). In corporate, I sought out Employee Resource Groups that provided a safe space for me to hear from other women, especially Black women, how they navigated through daily microaggressions and other blocks to career progression. At the end of the day, it truly takes a village to have a successful career in STEM.
Do you have a favorite inspirational quote?
“Our greatness has never, ever come from sitting back and feeling entitled to what we have. It’s never come from folks who climb the ladder of success, or who happen to be born near the top and then pull that ladder up after themselves. No, our greatness has always come from people who expect nothing and take nothing for granted – folks who work hard for what they have then reach back and help others after them.”
– Michelle Obama, City College of New York commencement, 2016
