Jasmine Lawrence On How We Can Increase Girls’ Participation in Engineering and Robotics
An Interview With Vanessa Ogle
1. Increase access to STEM education
2. Offer hands-on workshops and competitions
3. Provide role models
4. Provide scholarships and funding
5. Participate in a program from the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE.com)
Despite the growing importance of engineering and robotics in shaping our future, women remain significantly underrepresented in these fields. This series aims to explore and address the barriers that discourage girls from pursuing careers in engineering and robotics. We are talking to educators, industry leaders, pioneering women engineers, and robotics experts who have made significant contributions to their fields, to discuss the strategies they believe can inspire and increase the participation of young girls in engineering and robotics. As part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Jasmine Lawrence.
Jasmine Lawrence is a Senior Technical Product Manager and Founder with a strong background in developing consumer and developer-focused products. Her impressive career includes roles at Cruise, Google’s Everyday Robots, Facebook, Softbank Robotics America, and Microsoft. She founded EDEN BodyWorks at age 13, a company that offers affordable, natural hair and body care products, which has grown into a global brand available at major retailers. Lawrence’s career success has led to recognition on platforms such as the Oprah Winfrey Show and Forbes 30 under 30 List, alongside her roles as a speaker, poet, STEM advocate, and board member at Open Door Legal.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”? What led you to this particular career path?
My passion for robotics ignited after watching the film “Bicentennial Man.” It instilled in me a desire to become a creator of a future where helpful robots are integrated into our daily lives. My journey as an inventor began unexpectedly with the creation of my own natural hair and body care products after a chemical relaxer caused significant hair loss. I attended a business camp by the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship, which taught me how to develop a business to address community needs. This experience built the foundation for my confidence and skills in pursuing a dual career in engineering and beauty, with a focus on solving human-centered problems.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
One of the proudest moments of my career in robotics was seeing the results of months of efforts in remote operations with humans in the loop. With this work, I was able to monitor and assist several robots doing different tasks across different locations. Each robot was able to ask for help when it got stuck and complete its task. This work gave me a glimpse of what the future of AI and robotics could hold. It also reinforced to me how critical collaboration between people and technology is in ensuring that the adoption of advanced technology is equitable and ethical.
What inspired you to pursue a career in engineering or robotics, and how can we replicate that inspiration for young girls?
It truly began with watching the film “Bicentennial Man” and attending a NFTE business camp — developing a focus on solving human-centered problems. This inspiration can be replicated for young girls by exposing them to media that positively represents women in STEM and enrolling them in a NFTE program so that they can gain the entrepreneurial mindset that is essential for solving some of the world’s biggest problems.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
My mother April Parker has been one of the most influential people in my life. From an early age, she instilled in me a belief that I could achieve anything if I worked hard and never gave up. She encouraged me to be bold, and curious, and to continue to seek opportunities to learn and connect with new people. She recommended the NFTE business camp to me that started my entrepreneurial journey, and she toured engineering universities with me to help find the best place for me to pursue robotics. Having such a supportive upbringing made me more resilient to the challenges I faced when I got to school and the workplace.
Can you share a story of a challenge you faced as a woman in engineering or robotics and how you overcame it?
It was difficult for me to find an opportunity to work in robotics after I graduated college. I overcame this challenge by finding a role in a closely related industry and developing useful skills that would make me an attractive candidate for a robotics company.
Is there a particular book that made a significant impact on you? Can you share a story or explain why it resonated with you so much?
The book “Living Forward” by Michael S. Hyatt has changed the way I live my life. It provided the structure and wisdom for me to create an effective plan for my life that I’ve leveraged and adapted for over 7 years. This life plan helps me clarify my priorities and undertake concrete actions to turn my current reality into the future I dream of. I recommend this book to everyone to live a more intentional life.
Do you have a favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Do you have a story about how that was relevant in your life or your work?
“Success is where preparation and opportunity meet.” We can’t control everything in life, but we often have more control than we think. I’ve turned challenging personal circumstances into a thriving business by putting in the effort, seeking support, and seizing opportunities. In my career, I concentrate on growth, making an impact on issues I care about, and using my influence to inspire others to do the same. This clarity of focus allows me to capitalize on new opportunities and build a reputation as someone who gets things done.
How have you used your success to make the world a better place?
Whether it’s through delivering affordable and effective hair and body care products to improve the health and well-being of women around the world or through the software and hardware I’ve shipped over the last decade that has connected or empowered people, I’ve devoted my life to positive social impact.
Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview. According to this report, only about 16% of engineering positions in the US are held by women. This reflects great historical progress, but it also shows that more work still has to be done to empower women. In your opinion and experience what is currently holding back women from Engineering and Robotics?
In my opinion, girls are often discouraged at an early age from engaging with math and science which would raise their interest and skills for a future in engineering/robotics. Instead, they often are directed to fields that focus more on caregiving, creativity or social work. In my experience being one of few women in engineering/robotics at school or in the workplace can be an isolating experience and one where you must work hard to overcome people’s negative biases or perceptions of you. These biases often increase if you are older, differently abled, or a person of color.
This might be intuitive to you but I think it will be helpful to spell this out. Can you share a few reasons why more women should enter the Engineering and Robotics fields?
More women should enter the engineering/robotics fields because diverse perspectives can enhance creativity and innovation. There are so many world-changing and -saving problems left to solve, and we need more great engineers with different backgrounds to help solve them.
Can you please share “5 Things We Need To Increase Girls’ Participation in Engineering and Robotics?”
I offer examples in this video, but here are the five things we need:
1. Increase access to STEM education
2. Offer hands-on workshops and competitions
3. Provide role models
4. Provide scholarships and funding
5. Participate in a program from the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE.com)
In your opinion, what are the most effective ways to introduce girls to engineering and robotics at an early age?
The most effective ways to introduce girls to engineering and robotics at an early age are:
- Increase access to STEM education, so more girls around the world have an opportunity to be exposed to and engage with engineering and robotics in their communities before college.
- Offer hands-on workshops and competitions, so girls can get first-hand experience and exposure to applying math and science to real-world problems. This takes them from theory to practice and lets them decide for themselves if engineering and robotics are something they enjoy.
- Participate in a program from NFTE. These programs teach girls to think like an entrepreneur and to find life-changing solutions to real problems that can transform communities. Careers in engineering and robotics can bring many of those solutions to life. These skills are incredibly useful, even if you don’t start a company.
How do you think the portrayal of women in STEM fields by media and educational materials impacts girls’ interest in engineering and robotics?
Media and educational resources play a significant role in shaping girls’ interest in engineering and robotics. My passion for robotics was ignited after watching the movie “Bicentennial Man.” It wasn’t until my high school introduced a program showcasing various engineering disciplines that I recognized engineering as a potential career path. Such media and educational programs are crucial in informing students about the diverse opportunities available for making a difference in the world through their careers. Media representations that highlight stories of women leading in engineering and technology can be particularly inspiring. Additionally, educational curricula that incorporate the varied and significant contributions of women to science and engineering can broaden students’ understanding and appreciation of the field.
What advice would you give to girls who are interested in engineering and robotics but are hesitant to take the first step?
My advice would be to try some engineering/robotics projects at home with a supportive group of friends. There are many kits and tutorials available online where you can engage with projects that help you explore engineering/robotics. These projects allow you to progress at your own pace, often with the backing of welcoming communities of fellow enthusiasts who are ready to assist with any hurdles. With this initial taste of engineering/robotics, I hope that any doubt in yourself or your skills can be dispelled.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good for the greatest number of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
That’s a deep and meaningful question. It’s one I’m pondering more and more. I know that I don’t want any other woman to experience that isolating feeling that comes with being one of few women in engineering and robotics. There can be and should be more of us in this space.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
You can learn more about me and my work at www.jasminelawrence.com, connect with me on LinkedIn, or follow me on Instagram or X at edensjasmine.
Thank you for these fantastic insights. We greatly appreciate the time you spent on this.
About The Interviewer: Vanessa Ogle is a mom, entrepreneur, inventor, writer, and singer/songwriter. Vanessa’s talent in building world-class leadership teams focused on diversity, a culture of service, and innovation through inclusion allowed her to be one of the most acclaimed Latina CEO’s in the last 30 years. She collaborated with the world’s leading technology and content companies such as Netflix, Amazon, HBO, and Broadcom to bring innovative solutions to travelers and hotels around the world. Vanessa is the lead inventor on 120+ U.S. Patents. Accolades include: FAST 100, Entrepreneur 360 Best Companies, Inc. 500 and then another six times on the Inc. 5000. Vanessa was personally honored with Inc. 100 Female Founder’s Award, Ernst and Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and Enterprising Women of the Year among others. Vanessa now spends her time sharing stories to inspire and give hope through articles, speaking engagements and music. In her spare time she writes and plays music in the Amazon best selling new band HigherHill, teaches surfing clinics, trains dogs, and cheers on her children.
Please connect with Vanessa here on linkedin and subscribe to her newsletter Unplugged as well as follow her on Substack, Instagram, Facebook, and X and of course on her website VanessaOgle.
