Lydia Vermeyden

DIGITAL GIRL LYDIA VERMEYDEN is STEM the Gap Academy’s Educator for the month of March and it’s very easy to see why, once you learn a little bit more about her. Passionate about inspiring and empowering girls into STEM, we wanted to delve a little bit deeper into what made Lydia into the powerful woman in tech that she is today. In this interview, Lydia reflects on her struggles with math when she was younger and later on in university, when she sustained a brain injury that forced her to relearn a lot of skills and impacted the way that she processed information.

In addition to her incredible fortitude and confidence, Lydia is also a mother and enjoys making and doing things by hand. She encourages all adults to stay up to date and to continue to learn with their children about this new digital world, so that no one is left behind as the world rapidly develops in that direction.

1. What inspired you to pursue a career in tech and how did you get started in the field?

As a kid, I always loved tools, technology, machines, crafts, and any activity that involved building something. However, it wasn't until later in high school that I considered a career in science or engineering because I struggled so much in math. When I was 15, I picked up a grade 11 physics textbook, and I didn’t want to put it down. My dad helped me figure out the math and the units, and everything just clicked. He had two engineering degrees and worked in cybersecurity. He was always excited to talk about technology and always made himself available if I needed help understanding something. I know he was a big part of helping me develop the skills I needed to succeed in STEM.

2. What do you think are some of the biggest challenges facing women in tech today?

I think two of the big skills you need to succeed in STEM are math and programming, and historically, both of these skills are more nurtured in men and boys. Now, I think more work has been done on the math side, but I think there is still a long way to go to ensure women have equal opportunities to develop programming skills.

3. What do you think can be done to encourage more girls and women to pursue careers in STEM?

We can provide more opportunities for girls and young women to learn programming, and we can have a required technology course in high school that teaches programming, networking, and cybersecurity. In terms of the existing workplace in STEM, particularly technology, there needs to be a shift towards recognizing complementary skills (organization, public speaking, communication, relationship building, strategic thinking) in technical positions, not just technical experience alone.

4. Can you share an experience where you overcame a difficult challenge or obstacle in your career, and what did you learn from it?

In my second year of university, I sustained a brain injury. I was 3-4 weeks away from final exams and had to drop out. The concussion affected my speech, hearing, sight, memory, emotional regulation, and ability to learn new things. Over a decade later, I am still experiencing what is likely permanent damage to my hearing and memory. During my recovery, I had to re- teach myself how to learn, how to remember, and how to emotionally regulate myself. All things that had been effortless for me before. I managed to finish off all my courses from that semester, writing exams over the summer and throughout the next school year, graduated with honors at the end of my fourth year, and continued on to grad school. I realized that given enough time and effort - I can learn anything. Even if my memory, and visual and auditory processing stop working, no matter what – I can still learn. I think that experience and realization changed my life and planted the seed of confidence that I enjoy today.

5. What advice would you give to young girls or women who are interested in pursuing a career in tech?

Build your skills, start learning, and don’t stop, even if it's uncomfortable or challenging. Try to find workshops and online modules that teach you, not just throw information at you and expect you to make sense of it. Secondly, find a mentor. There are amazing women in STEM everywhere, and advice from someone who has navigated this path before you is invaluable. Thirdly, learn to control your imposter syndrome. Every woman in STEM that I have gotten to know well has shared that they have had to deal with imposter syndrome at some point. If you don’t control it, it can absolutely cripple you.

6. Have you ever had a mentor or role model who helped you in your career, and how did they impact your professional development?

I had a mentor at a point in my career when I had fully developed a lot of technical skills, but was experiencing some growing pains as I figured out management and other people-skills. They were exceedingly helpful in my soft skills development, which ultimately led me to pursue a role in management. I often wish I had had a similar mentor years before when I was trying to develop my technical skills.

7. What are you most proud of in either your personal or professional life?

I have never been afraid to do hard things, to face challenges, and to learn, and I am proud of that. But I have a little one at home who stretches my creative abilities, critical thinking, physical stamina, and emotional regulation more than any job or degree ever has. She is brilliant in so many ways, but also has a lot of difficulties and challenges - and I am insanely proud of her.

8. What do you love to do in general away from your professional life?

I still love doing crafts and making things. I sew, knit, and help my partner with home renovations. Some weekends though, I love doing activities just with my daughter and getting to be a kid again. We do art, music, experiments, gardening, explore the woods, walk to the beach, and play make-believe – and I absolutely love it.

9. What advice would you give to parents with young girls as they navigate an increasingly digital world?

Competence is the antidote to fear. Give them as much opportunity as possible to learn digital skills. They may not want to pursue a career in STEM -which is totally okay-that is their choice. These digital skills are important regardless of the career track they pursue. Also, make sure you learn too. You are a team, and you need to be able to understand the technology together. You want your kid to know they can come to you, if they feel uncomfortable or unsafe online – so as a parent, you need to be competent in the digital world too.

10. What do the words ‘empowerment’ and ‘diversity’ mean to you in the context of tech?

To me, empowerment means providing the tools, resources, and opportunities for individuals to achieve their goals and reach their full potential. In tech, empowerment means giving everyone an equal opportunity to pursue a career in the field, regardless of their background or identity. Diversity means embracing and celebrating differences in backgrounds, experiences, perspectives, and identities. In tech, diversity means creating a workforce that reflects the diversity of our society and bringing together individuals with different backgrounds and experiences to collaborate and create innovative solutions. It also means creating an inclusive and welcoming environment where everyone can feel valued and respected.

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