Njairé McKoy learned about perseverance from her mother, Marion, a physician whose family immigrated from Guyana to England. More than once, a patient assumed her mother was a nurse. Another got up and left when she walked into the exam room, apparently shocked to learn that Dr. Bobb-McKoy was a 6-foot-1-inch-tall Black woman.

Despite it all, her mother’s experiences only strengthened Njairé’s resolve to become an engineer. Today, she works for Medtronic within the neuroscience portfolio, where she’s seen a commitment to advance diverse women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) roles.

“Watching my mom never give up gave me strength to put myself out there and show up in the world as my best authentic self, which Medtronic champions for all employees,” McKoy said.

Today, Medtronic is celebrating women like McKoy as part of International Women’s Day, a global day honoring the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. This year’s theme, Choose To Challenge, recognizes that a challenged world is an alert world. And from challenge comes change. 

Women across Medtronic challenge gender norms and stereotypes every day, particularly those in historically male-dominated STEM fields. Women play pivotal roles in all aspects of our business including developing some of the company’s most innovative products such as an award-winning insulin pump and the world’s smallest pacemaker.

Medtronic has several efforts to help women challenge the status quo. Here are a few:

  1. Medtronic Women’s Network (MWN): With more than 17,600 employee-members across 71 countries, MWN offers a full suite of professional development, networking, and mentoring programs. The Network also serves as a key advisor in policymaking.
     
  2. Women in Science and Engineering (WISE): Women in Science and Engineering is a ground-breaking initiative aimed at increasing the number of women in STEM functions.
     
  3. Women in IT: A hub within MWN, Women in IT is focused on creating opportunities for women in the information and technology field, which plays a significant role in supporting the company’s global operations.

Check out the stories of women at Medtronic who #ChooseToChallenge.

Bre Jacobs, Senior Research Program Manager

This International Women’s Day,
I #ChooseToChallenge gender and racial inequality. I choose to challenge the notion that bold, confident women are aggressive.

Angela Throm, Sr. Research Manager

This year for International Women’s Day,
I #ChooseToChallenge the stereotype of female technical leaders.

Herinaina Rabarimanantsoa, Principle R&D Engineer

This International Women’s Day,
I #ChooseToChallenge inequity and gender bias because I want everyone to be comfortable sharing their voice.

Kelly Yang, IT Business Systems Analyst

Happy International Women’s Day! Along with women all over the world,
I #ChooseToChallenge gender and race biases within STEM.

Kim Chaffin, Sr. Distinguished Scientist

On International Women’s Day,
I #ChooseToChallenge the stereotypes associated with being a woman, a mother, a wife, a daughter, AND an engineer.

Priscilla Rojas-Ventura, Sr Engineering Manager, Neuromodulation Pre-Market Quality

We cannot succeed if half of us don’t have a voice.

Jessica Weber, Sr. Continuous Improvement Engineer

In honor of International Women’s Day, I’d like to share how I #ChooseToChallenge gender bias and inequity in STEM fields.

Njairé McKoy, Design Integrity Supplier Quality Engineer II

This International Women’s Day,
I #ChooseToChallenge gender and racial norms in STEM, and to strive for a more equitable workplace.

Ruth Klepfer, CRM R&T Director

This International Women’s Day,
I #ChooseToChallenge the stereotypes associated with being a woman in a male-dominated role.