Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Aisha Martin . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Aisha thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

When I think about my adolescence, aside from wanting to be an actress starring in television shows, movies, and plays on Broadway (yes, I had a vivid imagination) there was nothing I wanted to do just as much, other than science. If anyone asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would tell them very emphatically that I wanted to be an actress and a pediatrician! I have always been an analytical problem solver, a STEM (science, tech, engineering, math) girl. I loved experiments, solving puzzles, playing the board game Clue, and watching television shows like Unsolved Mysteries, Matlock, and Murder She Wrote. I just loved figuring things out. Not much has changed in adulthood. The ID Channel is my fave! So it was no surprise to anyone that I chose to pursue a STEM degree and major in Biology (Pre-Med).

While Biology (Pre-Med) proved itself to be everything that I thought it was going to be, what I didn’t know was all of the endless career opportunities a STEM major offered. I had no mentor, no one in the industry, especially one who looked like me that took the time to reach back, take me under their wing and offer words of wisdom or guidance. So all I knew as a Biology major was that I could teach, become a nurse or attend med school and become that pediatrician I had always desired to be. By the time I graduated, I learned that I could utilize my degree and have a career in the lab which is exactly what I did. After graduation, I started working at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as a molecular biologist. Years later, I discovered that I could utilize my BS in Biology and become a forensic biologist. So, I decided to forgo medical school in favor of graduate school and pursue a degree in forensic science.

The lack of mentorship and guidance that I received during my matriculation, my experiences as a female and one of colour in the STEM industry as well as the interactions I’ve had with students, as a mentor and educator are my reasons for starting my STEM business. One of my main entrepreneurial goals is for my businesses to be the catalyst girls need to pursue STEM degrees and careers. I want them to have tangible proof that their goals and aspirations are possible.

Aisha, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a nurturer by nature, a STEMinist, and a cultured, creative powerhouse with a youthful spirit and personable demeanor. I have a certain je ne sais quoi that people can’t put their finger on until I tell them that I was raised and educated primarily in Europe. This has afforded me the unique ability to be comfortable in any room that I enter and engage in conversations on a wide range of subjects and with a diverse group of people because I was raised among so many different cultures and ethnicities. I am a scientist, entrepreneur, and author and my mantra is “girls can’t be what they don’t see, so representation matters!” Through my various businesses and my platform, I inspire and empower females to be authentic, confident, competent STEM leaders.

I hold a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biology and a Master of Science in Forensic Science (MSFS). My STEM journey spans more than a decade and began at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, GA as a Molecular Biologist. I’ve also held positions at Emory University Medical School, the Georgia Public Health Lab, and Baylor-Miraca Genetics Lab. As a certified Girls Empowerment Coach, my vision is to close the “gender gap to innovation,” by engaging girls from underserved and historically underrepresented communities through early exposure to STEM education and specialized mentoring.

My experiences as a female scientist in this male-dominated industry and the void that needed to be filled in terms of mentorship were the inspiration behind my STEM organization Fems4STEM™ which I founded in 2015. I am the CEO of The STEMinist Brand, (founded in 2020), the umbrella which houses the businesses I’ve launched such as my e-commerce store where I sell STEM-inspired products. Ten percent of each sale goes toward STEM education programs and a scholarship fund. I am also the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Fems4STEM™ Magazine, the newest addition to the STEMinist Brand family which launched in 2022. I am very proud to say that it is the first STEM publication to exclusively feature and celebrate the “hidden figures” (black females) in the STEM / STEM-adjacent industry. My magazine has received amazing reviews and overwhelming gratitude from both readers and those featured. Statements such as “Thank you Aisha Martin for creating a STEM magazine that represents women of color,” “That moment when your daughter thinks you’re cool for being a mathematician,” and “Representation is real and it matters! Our little black and brown girls can resonate with real-life superheroes,” and “Since we are often overlooked, we have to celebrate and support us,” let me know that I’ve found my niche, my purpose. There was a serious void that needed to be filled and I did just that! I’m still building my brand, so there’s more to come but I’m proud of what my businesses have accomplished in a short amount of time. They are thriving and making a global impact. In the words of Farr’s Best CEO, André Farr, “Thriving is when you’re building something big enough to assist others!”

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

As a scientist, working in the lab I’ve not only had to put my analytical skills to use but also be very meticulous to lessen the chances of error and have a higher chance of a successful outcome. As long as I had things in order for whatever experiment I was running, I was usually in charge of the outcome. So, every day I was striving for perfection which I achieved 90-95% of the time. This mindset trickled into my entrepreneurial life which caused unnecessary stress. However, that’s not how things go in the business world. It doesn’t matter how meticulous you are and how much you want things to always be perfect. Having the expectation of perfection is something I’ve had to unlearn when it comes to business. You’ll have good days and bad days. When something can go wrong, it probably will. Things don’t always go as planned. I’ve had to pivot numerous times, especially during the pandemic. What I’ve come to realize and accept is that I should strive for excellence, not perfection. As long as that’s my goal, things will eventually work out.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I have learned that people buy people before they ever purchase a product or service. My business reputation has been built organically which is a blessing. Through workshops I’ve attended or facilitated, interviews I’ve done, my websites, books I’ve co-authored, conferences I’ve attended, or circles I’m in, most people know my background, and who I am or they are familiar with my work. I’m authentic. I’m the same in person and on social media which people respect. I’m also big on mutually beneficial, respectful collaborations and I support others, so it’s reciprocated. As I mentioned before, my life experiences and travels enable me to connect with people from various backgrounds which in turn attracts them. I can go from conversing with someone in German to doing a Tik Tok with students which makes me relatable. My authenticity and passion also come through in my businesses. People can see and feel it. So word of mouth, direct referrals to me and/or my websites (to include Etsy), and shout-outs from people I know and some I don’t, have blessed my endeavors tremendously. My name is always being mentioned in a room full of opportunities even without me knowing it and for that, I’m grateful.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.fems4stemmag.com, www.thesteministbrand.com, www.aishanicole.com
• Instagram: @fems4stemmag, @thesteministbrand @mrs.aishanicole
• Facebook: @fems4stemmag @thesteministbrand @MrsAishaNicole

Image Credits
Kevin Goolsby Photography
Camden Lane Creative Agency.