55

Mattel Inc. (NASDAQ:MAT) announced just that Barbie celebrates International Women’s Day by honoring the more than half a dozen women around the world who are leaders in STEM. With this in mind, Barbie developed unique role model dolls based on them. Barbie realized that seeing is believing. Demonstrating successful female role models in STEM is critical for children to develop and maintain an interest in the sector.

Women make up one third of the STEM workforce, and it has been shown that girls are systematically on a path away from STEM throughout their education. To show girls that they can be whatever they want, wear Barbie with pride female mentor and their careers in fields where women have historically been underrepresented in the spotlight.

“Barbie strives to showcase women of different backgrounds, professions and nationalities so girls around the world can see themselves in careers that don’t always seem accessible,” said Lisa McKnight, Executive Vice President and Global Head of Barbie & Dolls, Mattel. “STEM is a domain where women are severely underrepresented. By highlighting these seven leading women in science and technology, we hope to encourage girls to follow their passion in this field. We are proud to continue our work of closing the Dream Gap this International Women’s Day and to remind girls that there are no limits to their potential.”

Among the women Mattel has selected as female role models are three extraordinary sisters from the United States – Susan, Anne, and Janet Wojcicki – who can inspire various STEM fields for the next generation of women leaders. The full list of women honored for having a one-of-a-kind Barbie doll made like them includes:

• Susan Wojcicki (United States): YouTube’s former CEO
• Anne Wojcicki (United States): Co-Founder and CEO of 23andME
• Janet Wojcicki (United States): Professor of Pediatrics and Epidemiology at the University of California, San Francisco
• Katya Echazarret (Mexico): Electrical engineer and science event speaker
• Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock (United Kingdom): aerospace scientist and science teacher
• prof. dr. Antje Boetius (DE): marine researcher and microbiologist
• Li Yinuo (China): co-founder of ETU Education

“It seemed unrealistic that there would be any interest in my family’s stories and this could have an impact on the lives of girls around the world. Growing up, my sister was one of my strongest role models because we all built our careers around our passion for STEM. Our parents encouraged independence and gave us the message that we can be whatever we want as adults, but the most important thing is to follow our passions,” said Anne Wojcicki, CEO, 23andME. “I am honored to celebrate International Women’s Day this year with Barbie and with my family and the other impressive women in STEM leadership roles. I hope sharing our stories encourages young girls to try something new that they might be a little scared of, and see challenges as exciting opportunities.”

“I know from experience that role models for young girls are very important to see what is possible. When I started my career, I came across some inspiring stories from other women who excelled in STEM — and especially in epidemiology,” said Janet Wojcicki, professor of pediatrics and epidemiology, UCSF. “I am impressed by the growing importance of Barbie for children from all types of communities. In my work, I see with my own eyes how important Barbie is to girls in Sub-Saharan Africa and South America. I am honored to be chosen as this year’s Barbie role model and to be able to help children around the world see women where they might want to be one day.”

“Growing up, I couldn’t imagine having a career in technology,” said Susan Wojcicki, Special Advisor to Google and Alphabet. “My sister and I found jobs we love and discovered how creative and fulfilling careers in STEM can be for women. I worked at Google for nearly 25 years and was CEO of YouTube for nine. What an experience! I really hope that the celebration of International Women’s Day by Barbie girls around the world reminds them that they can be whatever they want.”

Barbie is working on a special YouTube video with Susan Wojcicki. In this video, Susan answers questions about empowerment and shares the learning experiences she got on her journey to becoming a CEO at a well-known technology company.

Plus, Barbie will showcase all of these global role models through special episodes Barbie You Can Be Anything series – a series of inspiring digital conversations with female role models – with Anne Wojcicki, in which she shares the joys of science, genetics and DNA with kids from the Boys and Girls Club.

In an effort to level the playing field for girls around the world, Barbie founded the Barbie Dream Gap Project in 2018, a multi-year global initiative to raise awareness of the limiting factors that prevent girls from reaching their full potential. Since its inception, the brand has given more than $1.5 million through the Barbie Dream Gap Project to nonprofit partners whose mission is equity by enhancing girls’ education, leadership skills, and mentoring opportunities.