Donna Otchere: Role Models, Confidence, and STEM
What happens when you combine engineering, lived experience, and a belief that one role model can change a life? On this episode of Six Degrees of Innovation, we hear from Donna Otchere, an engineer and PhD researcher whose work focuses on gender equity in STEM—specifically, how role models influence girls’ desire to pursue engineering.
A Leap into Academia
Donna didn’t set out to do a PhD. Early on, “academic” felt like a label for other people. That changed when she found a program exploring inclusivity in engineering and realised she could bring her passion for people into rigorous research. Supported by a community that saw her potential, she applied at the last minute—and got in. Today, her project centers on Black girls’ experiences in engineering, including those from Brixton, with research methods that co-create rather than extract.
SiSTEM: From Page to Platform
Launched with her sister during lockdown, SiSTEM began as a simple Instagram page to highlight Black women in STEM. It snowballed—thousands of members, internships, and a schools outreach program across London that revealed the magic: relatable role models make success feel attainable.
Designing With, Not For
Donna’s PhD builds on this ethos. She’s testing the impact of role models through gamification, inviting girls to act as co-researchers. The research itself becomes a confidence-building experience: participants practice decision-making, reflect on identity, and see themselves as capable changemakers.
Leadership in the Making
As SiSTEM grew, Donna shifted from doing everything herself to building systems—brand guidelines, intern onboarding, and program specialisation. She also shares the vulnerable side: discovering dyslexia during her thesis reframed past challenges and unlocked the right support. The outcome is a new kind of confidence—pairing lived experience with evidence.
What’s Next
Donna is leaving doors open: teaching in academia, expanding SiSTEM internationally, partnering with corporates through mission-aligned programmes, and creating impact.
Innovation Spotlight
Donna spotlights LIT Lab London by Abi Fafolu, which turns science experiments into cocktail experiences—bringing playful wonder back to STEM for adults.
Closing Thoughts
Purpose, persistence, and practical design—this conversation shows how one person’s voice, used well, can ripple into a system of opportunity for many.