At Hitachi Rail we understand the value of community involvement and recognise our responsibility to inspire the next generation. Investing in today's young minds is investing in tomorrow's innovators.
Hear from Cara Mazzei, Communications & Public Engagement Lead in Honolulu, as she discusses just one of the projects the team have been working on to help foster an early interest in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).
After identifying an opportunity for Hitachi Rail in Honolulu to participate in the 2023 Girl Scouts of Hawaii STEM Fest, I knew this was something our team had to support.
The initiative saw over 400 Girl Scouts across the island of Oahu participate, from kindergarten through 12th grade, and our mighty team of six employee volunteers were excited to spend a morning leading STEM activities with these young minds.
STEM Fest is one of the largest programmes of the year, providing Girl Scouts with wonderful opportunities to learn from and network with some of the most successful STEM leaders and companies both locally and nationally.
Although many of the supporters came from different industries, one thing that really stood out to me was our shared goal to want to inspire the next generation of engineers, scientists, and technology leaders who may lead our businesses someday. With women holding just 25 percent of STEM jobs in the U.S., Girl Scouts of Hawaii has expanded its programming to encourage girls to pursue careers in this rapidly growing industry. It is just one of the initiatives that seek to fulfil Hawaii’s current and future need for STEM professionals - it is estimated that 80 percent of jobs that will exist in five years do not exist today.
"STEM Fest is inspiring because of organisations like Hitachi Rail who recognise the importance of female youth development. We are grateful that Hitachi wants to see more women engineers who will make the world a better place"
Molly Schmidt, Chief Operating Officer, Girl Scouts of Hawaii
My Hitachi colleagues led the learning activities, with the Girl Scouts choosing a STEM robot kit to build at the event and take home. I found the Girl Scouts intelligent, curious, and enthusiastic learners. Observing my coworkers building robots with participants was also entertaining as they asked our engineers challenging questions – curiosity is key!
In addition to acquiring knowledge of STEM concepts, we worked with the participants to also improve their soft skills. While building their robots, they displayed excellent teamwork, experimenting with new approaches and finding solutions while embodying Hitachi's core value of "Pioneering Spirit."
"We never know our impact on someone. I recall a girl who was excited to take the robot kit home to complete it with her family. Who knows, maybe Hitachi inspired a future engineer!"
Michael Wiedecker, Operations & Maintenance Deputy Director, Hitachi Rail Honolulu
At Hitachi, we understand that investing in people is vital for meeting society's evolving needs and improving the world. Enriching people’s lives and strengthening the places where we do business is fundamental to our Hitachi Group Identity.
"Investing one’s time and sharing knowledge with the next generation is at the root of social responsibility. I am grateful that my company and colleagues share these same values and step forward when others step back"
Jason Lurz, Head of Operations and Maintenance, Hitachi North America
I am thankful for participating in outreach events like this because they benefit both the community and the participants. Creating opportunities for Hitachi employees to engage where they work and live is meaningful and enhances employee collaboration and a positive workplace.
Learn more about current vacancies with our project in Hawaii on our careers site.
