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The Future of Work is Diverse, Inclusive, Just and Equitable

GlobalMindED closes the equity gap by creating a capable, diverse talent pipeline through connections to role models, mentors, internships for low-income students, returning adults, First Gen to college and inclusive leaders who teach them, work with them and hire them.
She Launched the First Commercial Global Digital Elevation Model of the Earth: Meet Gertrud Riegler

What is your personal story?

I grew up in Munich, Germany, and studied geography in combination with geology and remote sensing, not because I had a specific career aspiration but because I was impressed by nature and research. As a result, remote sensing became my passion. Seeing the Earth from high above in different wavelengths still excites me. I graduated from university with a Ph.D. in natural sciences with a thesis on the creation of elevation models from radar satellite data and have been fortunate that this topic has followed me throughout my professional life. This solid technical background has allowed me to work and lead diverse teams and bridge technology with business. Remote sensing is an excellent occupation enabling us to detect and analyze our planet. With today’s technology, we can make predictions, anticipate what will happen next, and assess the impact. This is a significant step toward improving many people’s emergency response and lives.

One of the highlights of my career was successfully launching the first commercial global Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of high-resolution data created from space using radar technology. This was the first time that a rich dataset of the Earth was available to scientists and analysis for even the most remote locations. The data continues to be used in countless applications such as disaster response, flood modeling, safety, etc. I had many mentors, and I was lucky always to have people around me who valued education and experience and were open to discussions. That makes a difference.

I’ve been fortunate to work in international teams in multiple countries on different continents. My colleagues’ diverse educational backgrounds, experiences, and situations have taught me much. And it’s lots of fun!

What makes you a remarkable global leader?

I wouldn’t describe myself as a leader in the traditional sense. I’m more of someone who leads by example. First, I like to work in teams, and I am not only interested in what and how my co-workers do but also in how they perceive their work and the compatibility of work and private life. Professional and personal exchange is critical to me and helps to make the team successful.

Secondly, I would say persistence. I like to set a goal and then work to get there. For example, I once set a goal of hiking across the Alps from Munich to Venice – over 550km. It took 28 days for me to reach my destination through rain, snow, and fog. However, I made it by focusing on one day at a time and taking one step at a time. For me, mentoring works in two ways: By discussing the subject matter with people, we discover different perspectives, which enriches the work and mutual respect. We must always support each other in our careers. It is exciting and rewarding, and I’m grateful to everyone who has taken the time to do it for me.

What advice do you have for other women who want to break through barriers?

I recommend continually seeking exchanges and good conversations (networking) in a respectful and open environment. Take time to listen to others, but never be afraid to contribute ideas or stand up for your work and achievements. Having the strength and the self-confidence to do it can be challenging. Everyone has to find their own way. Many times in my professional life, I hit challenges or roadblocks. My path is through knowing the subject, commitment to the team, and persistence.

How can GlobalMindED advance your goals as an inclusive leader?

GlobalMindED’s work is of utmost critical. It is not a new finding that education is of great importance for a person’s individual development as well as for the economy and society. Moreover, only education can permanently break the cycle of poverty. It must therefore be in the interest of all of us to ensure that everyone has equal opportunities for education and access to work and entrepreneurship.

I would love to become a more active part of GlobalMindED’s networking activities and participate in mentoring programs to learn more about inclusive culture and foster an open-minded, creative work environment, as I see them as fundamental elements in mentoring.
Join us for the next
"Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable" Event

STEM Stars: Stellar Success Stories

April 18 4:00 ET
Register here
If you missed the last one, Female College Presidents: Breaking Barriers in Higher Education, you can view it here.

Dynamic, inspirational college presidents who have led the way for women in higher education share their lived experiences, innovative practices, and vision for higher education

Female College Presidents: Breaking Barriers in Higher Education, a Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable presentation Click HERE
Dr. Ryan Ross; Assoc. V. Chancellor Student Affairs, Equity, & Inclusion, Colorado Community College System
with:
Dr. Colleen Simpson, President
Front Range Community College
Dr. Cynthia Lindquist, President
Cankdeska Cikana Community College
Dr. Rochelle Ford, President
Dillard University
Sandra J. Doran, JD, President
Bay Path University
Join us in Denver June 7-9 for GlobalMindED 2023

Register here

GlobalMindED 2023 June 7-9 Denver Sheraton



To get a feel for the conference experience, please see this brief video by The PhD Project from the 2022 GlobalMindED Conference, and the Complete 2022 Program

The 2022 Conference:
  • 800+ attendees
  • 140 students from 41 universities/colleges
  • 300+ speakers from 65 universities/colleges and 47 businesses
  • 130 universities/colleges represented
  • Majority of panels featured at least one student
  • 74 % diverse speakers
The GlobalMindED Inclusive Success NetworkTM had another banner year of growth, impact, and outcomes for First Generation, poverty-affected and minoritized students. Here are some of the highlights: 
 
  • Return of in-person GlobalMindED conference with record attendance and the largest First Gen Leadership Class ever of 122 student leaders. See PhD Project brief video of the event. 
  • Our fourth annual Inclusive Leader Awards recognized 15 DEIB leaders across sectors.
  • Almost all our 100+ panels and sessions of 2022 featured a student. 
  • Of the 300+ speakers, 73% were diverse leaders sharing their thoughts. 
  • We held our first Industry Marketplace Career Exploration Arena at GlobalMindED 2022 with 40 companies, giving K-12, college students, educators, and leaders a way to learn about emerging fields and careers. Join us for the next one at GlobalMindED 2023. 
  • Our first satellite event at Georgia Institute of Tech was livestreamed via the Atlanta PBS affiliate. 
  • We became an official initiative of the Foundation for the Support the United Nations (FSUN) and will hold our first UN event on March 22, 2023. 
  • ·We served ten colleges with the GlobalMindED Success Collaborative connecting students at each HBCU, MSI, HIS and Tribal College with role models, mentors, internships, and jobs. 
  • We had partners/volunteers from Microsoft, Salesforce, Rubrik, HP, Stanford MBA and more. 
  • We spoke at the White House Initiative for HBCUs with sponsor Hewlett Packard. 
  • Our team, Board, Colorado Board and Executive Leadership Council are all majority diverse serving a majority diverse population of emerging leaders. 
  • We continued to publish our daily newsletter and conduct monthly virtual Equity events, led by people of color with majority diverse panelists and students. These are the role models for our students.
  • Our annual operating budget increased by 67% emerging COVID strong. 
  • We doubled our staff from four to eight as we grow to scale our impact. 
  • Our Young Professionals grew to 40 strong, with a ten-person leadership cabinet made up of, but not limited to, graduates of our programs who are now working professionals.  
  • Since 2015, we have successfully connected 1,200+ students to internships and jobs. 
  • Our founder, Carol Carter, was recognized as one of the Most Powerful Women in Denver by the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce and one of the Most Admired CEOs by the Denver Business Journal. 
 
We are grateful for the support, inclusive leadership, and financial contributions of our community and sponsors who work tirelessly to open doors for the students we serve, the institutions who support them, and the businesses and non-profits who are committed to hiring a capable, diverse talent pipeline.  We look forward to seeing all of you June 7-9 at our best event yet, GlobalMindED 2023 - Transforming Boundaries: Creating Systemic Access and Equity. The Inclusive Leaders Awards Dinner is June 7, followed by the conference June 8- 9 at the Denver Downtown Sheraton.  
GlobalMindED | 303-327-5688 | contact@globalminded.org | www.globalminded.org
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