RISE 2026: Featured Workshop
From Puddles to Pipelines: Building a Community to Empower Women in STEM
We are excited to share that this year's featured workshop will be led by Stephanie Thompson!
This talk reflects on the multigenerational journey of women in STEM and the persistent gaps in representation, emphasizing the importance of building community to foster support, mentorship, and resilience. Through personal stories and professional milestones—including the transformative success of a FIRST Robotics team and the founding of STEM by Steph—a social enterprise aimed at connecting women in STEM, the talk calls for collective action to support women at all stages of their STEM journey.
Stephanie Thompson
Stephanie Thompson is a passionate engineer, community leader, and advocate for STEM education. She is dedicated to creating innovative ways to promote science, technology, and learning in the Niagara region, particularly for women and underrepresented groups.
With a 24-year career at General Motors of Canada, Stephanie leads diverse manufacturing engineering teams, overseeing the launch of world-class production lines for engines and transmissions while managing capital investment projects for future programs. She has dedicated over 20 years to volunteering for FIRST Robotics mentoring teams, and was named a Woody Flowers Finalist Award recipient in 2010.
In 2018, Stephanie founded STEM by Steph, a social enterprise focused on breaking down barriers and making STEM subjects accessible to women. Since its launch, she has delivered 20 workshops impacting hundreds of women and inspiring new pathways for STEM passion to flourish.
Stephanie’s leadership and advocacy have earned her numerous accolades. In 2023, she was inducted into the Women’s Executive Network’s Hall of Fame as a four-time recipient of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women award. She also received the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce Business Award for Science and Technology and the Alumni Achievement Medal for Community Service from the University of Waterloo. In 2024, she was honored with the Women Make Leadership Award for her contributions to manufacturing at GM, and was honoured for the award in Washington, D.C by the Manufacturing Institute.
Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Waterloo, a Certificate of Professional Management from Brock University, and is a Professional Engineer in Ontario. She currently serves as a board member for Innovate Niagara, and the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce. Stephanie is an advisor for the Brock Engineering Dean’s Advisory Committee.
She and her husband are raising their daughter to embrace STEM by exploring the diverse ecosystems of Niagara.
Thank you to our 2026 sponsors!
