Episode 72 – Start Where You Are
Hosts: Dr. Jeremy Waisome & Dr. Kyla McMullen
Guest: Dr. Valamere Mikler
www.sherantech.org www.cyberpsychcode.com
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Dissertation: Career Motivation in Millennials and Generation Z as Predictors of Turnover Intention and Organizational Commitment
Episode Description:
Dr. Valamere Mikler, an advocate for equitable spaces in DEI, shares her journey from criminal justice to industrial organizational psychology. She discusses her work with Girls Who Code and her initiative, SheRanTech, which educates and empowers girls and women on internet safety and securing STEM careers. Dr. Mikler also explores the motivations of millennials and Gen Z in the workforce and the importance of technology in advocating for women in tech.
Key Takeaways:
- Dr. Mikler’s non-traditional path into technology highlights the importance of exposure and access to tech programs for young girls, especially those from underrepresented communities.
- The motivations of millennials and Gen Z in the workforce differ from previous generations, with a focus on personal fulfillment, social change, and entrepreneurship.
- Organizational psychology plays a crucial role in understanding and improving employee engagement, retention, and overall workplace culture.
- The online environment presents unique challenges for women, including increased harassment and vulnerability to oversharing personal information.
- Building equitable spaces in technology requires intentional efforts to address diversity, equity, and inclusion, and to provide opportunities for underrepresented groups.
Valamere’s Bio:-::
Valamere Mikler (she/her) holds a PhD in industrial organizational psychology, a specialization in organizational diversity / social change, and teaches college-level courses in the social sciences, business, and general education. She is the founder of She Ran Tech, Inc, a digital privacy and technology education initiative, educating and empowering girls and women on internet safety and securing STEM careers, especially for those who identify as a person of color. Dr. Mikler is no stranger to being a change agent. Her work has been developed through social sciences research, advocacy/volunteerism, creating activist digital toolkits, calls to action, and curating resources. Over the past few years, she has been participating in social and civic engagement initiatives. With these opportunities, she has applied equitable solutions that advances racial, economic, gender, climate change, and social justice. Also, she serves as the principal investigator for the CyberPsych and Code Research Project, where the mission is to recruit minority women students into cyberpsychology programs and increase representation in STEM. When she is not advocating for equitable spaces, you will find her working on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging committees, enjoying family and friends, outdoor activities, or trying out the newest bakery, café, and Boba tea shops.