A Conversation with SUSAN HUBBARD ON WSEC

Since its founding in 2008 by Physics Division Director Natalie Roe, Nancy Brown of the Energy Technologies Area, and former Chief Human Resources and Diversity Officer Vera Potapenko, the Women Scientists and Engineers Council (WSEC) has worked with Berkeley Lab’s Human Resources Department to make the Lab a more family-friendly environment.

The WSEC is different from a traditional employee resource group because it is made up of members who are both Division-appointed as well as volunteers. There are three subcommittees that meet separately to work on WSEC goals: policy, networking, and empowerment.

With this year marking the Lab’s 90th anniversary, WSEC Executive Co-Sponsor Susan Hubbard discusses the group’s priorities and partnerships.

How does the WSEC support the Lab’s mission?

Meeting our ambitious mission of ‘bringing science solutions to the world’ requires an incredibly talented, creative, and diverse scientific and engineering workforce. As the oldest and largest Berkeley Lab ERG, the Women Scientists and Engineers Council (WSEC) plays a key role in contributing to this need by providing support and training intended to help women thrive at Berkeley Lab.

WSEC’s objectives focus on improving retention and development of women employees at the Lab, providing networking opportunities to engage with other scientists and engineers, celebrating their achievements, and partnering with HR to consider relevant policies. The WSEC executive committee and its members are incredibly dedicated, and have supported changes that have had wide and important impacts on individuals across the Lab.

What are the WSEC’s top three priorities today?

Through its three subcommittees, WSEC focuses on policy, networking and empowerment.

Working closely with HR, the Policy Subcommittee is focused on raising awareness of and providing training associated with microaggression and psychological safety, as well as data analysis related to retention and impacts of COVID-19 on WSEC members.

While COVID-19 has hindered the ability to physically network, the desire to connect has remained strong. As such, the Networking Subcommittee has pivoted to virtually hosting events such as a seminar series that spotlights past Women @ the Lab awardees and other engagements with Bay Area federal laboratories.

The Empowerment Subcommittee organizes career and personal development opportunities that strive to increase the visibility, funding potential, and recognition of talented women at Berkeley lab.

The Empowerment and Networking committees will host a virtual 2021 Women @ the Lab event to celebrate the accomplishments of fifteen honorees along with networking panel sessions. Planning for this March 2021 event is well underway – I look forward to it and am hopeful that there will be broad Laboratory participation!

Who do you partner with at the Lab to be successful?

Executive co-sponsor Horst Simon and I have partnered with many across the Directorate and Scientific Areas to explore issues of joint importance to WSEC and the Lab. Director Mike Witherell and Deputy Director for Operations Michael Brandt have been champions for many policies and practices that are well-aligned with WSEC priorities.

Lady Idos’s partnership has been invaluable on many fronts, including codifying what constitutes an ERG at Berkeley Lab, the development of ERG charters that clearly define roles as well as annual goals, and the development of the Berkeley Lab IDEA framework, which of course provides an umbrella for many ERG priorities. Berkeley Lab’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Program manager Janie Pinterits has provided invaluable expertise and support for a number of WSEC priorities and activities.

Berkeley Lab’s Chief Human Resources Officer Michelle Lee and her team provide critical partnership on policies and practices important for the WSEC membership, including work-life balance, stop-the-clock, parental leave, and childcare issues. And Leticia Ericson of the Lab’s FAIR Office has enabled a data-driven approach to address WSEC concerns and prioritization of goals.