This November, Global Ties San Francisco was honored to host the Empowering Women Leaders in STEM in the Quad delegation for a U.S. Department of State International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) project administered in partnership with Meridian International Center. The group consisted of ten exceptional women leaders from Australia, India, and Japan representing diverse sectors united by a drive to advance women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.

During their three weeks in the United States, the International Visitors explored strategies to expand women’s roles in STEM innovation ecosystems and how they can institutionalize opportunities for women in their respective countries. From November 19 to 23, their journey culminated in Silicon Valley and Oakland, where Global Ties San Francisco organized notable meetings with industry leaders dedicated to driving equity and innovation.

Arrival Day

After an early arrival, the delegation enjoyed a late lunch in downtown San Francisco before walking to San Francisco City Hall, affectionately known as the People’s Palace. Its majestic beauty left the visitors in awe. The evening continued with a classic San Francisco experience: a cable car ride to Fisherman’s Wharf, where the group took in the twinkling lights of the City.

Meeting Highlights

SEMI: Advancing Women in the Microelectronics Industry

The delegation’s first stop was in Milpitas at SEMI, a global microelectronics industry association with programs, communities, initiatives, products, and advocacy to help members grow their business and address top challenges worldwide. Serving as the voice of the sector, SEMI represents the collective interests on a variety of public policy issues ranging from trade and tax to workforce development and R&D funding.

One such membership offering are SEMI’s Women in Semiconductors (WiS) programs that unpack what constitutes an inclusive workplace and why fostering greater inclusion leads to greater innovation, sense of belonging, and employee success.

The group engaged with three key SEMI leaders:

• Ajit Manocha, President and Chief Executive Officer, who has driven SEMI to fuel industry growth and foster collaboration on challenges such as geopolitical and sustainability concerns, the talent gap, and supply chain disruptions.
• Bettina Weiss, Chief of Staff and Corporate Strategy, who advances global strategic initiatives and facilitates thought leadership activities in key strategic areas.
• Shari Liss, Vice President of Global Workforce Development and Initiatives and Executive Director of the SEMI Foundation, who leads workforce development programs and fosters Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) initiatives that attract more women, people of color, and veterans to the microelectronics industry.

The discussion centered on the importance of women’s involvement in critical and emerging technologies (CETs) such as semiconductors and microelectronics; efforts to advance DEIB and close the gender gap in the industry, especially at leadership levels; and the role of allyship and language in these efforts.

Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E): Equitable Access and Inclusive Economies

In Oakland, the group met with Tina Lee, Principal Product Manager of Utility Partnerships and Innovation at Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), one of the largest combination natural gas and electric utilities in the United States.

In this role, Tina’s work is rooted in advancing solutions to accelerate the clean energy transition while ensuring equitable access for disadvantaged communities. Moreover, as the founder of MotherCoders, Tina has been a trailblazer in helping women with children enter tech careers by providing training, workshops, and events with onsite childcare.

Through heartfelt exchanges, the meeting focused on advancing women’s equity in STEM fields and efforts to build inclusive economies. Visitors also shared their own experiences of fostering equity and related challenges and opportunities.

Cultural Experiences

Beyond professional meetings, the delegation further enriched their understanding of the U.S. by immersing themselves in San Francisco’s vibrant culture and entertainment.

The visitors arrived at Chinatown’s Dragon Gate via a self-driving Waymo — making them one of our first groups to try this exciting new experience.

They visited the Fortune Cookie Factory.

On their final night before returning to their home countries, the visitors enjoyed Red and White Fleet’s San Francisco City Lights Cruise. Despite the cold and rain, the group embraced the experience, capturing selfies, sharing laughter, and playing Heads Up to make the most of their time together.

Later that evening, back at the hotel, two visitors organized an informal awards ceremony with miniature trophies — a sentimental and memorable closure to their program and an apt reflection of the cohesive, adaptable, and dynamic spirit of this group.

Why Exchanges Matter

The Empowering Women Leaders in STEM in the Quad project underscores the profound impact of international exchanges in fostering cross-cultural collaboration and addressing global challenges. By facilitating dialogue between global leaders and local innovators, we contribute to a more inclusive, equitable, and interconnected world.

We are proud to have supported this delegation’s journey — one that directly aligns with our own commitment to expanding access to citizen diplomacy right here in the San Francisco Bay Area.