(Lauren Neal: New York) -- Programs that encourage female students to study STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) subjects, and hiring initiatives that compel companies to boost their women in the workforce are all well and good. But until businesses do a better job of addressing what happens to women after they land STEM positions, nothing will really change, posits Lauren Neal, a female engineer turned project manager who has worked in the energy sector for 18 years.

“You can have the most confident and competent women coming into these organizations, but if they are not included and they are not feeling valued, they are either going to walk right out that door or, for whatever reason, if they need to stay, they are going to be soul-destroyed,” Neal said in a recent interview.

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