Purcell: Read my book. Unlocking Your Brilliance specifically provides common hurdles that women face in a STEM career and suggests strategies to overcome those hurdles.

PCWorld: What should companies do to attract and retain more women?

Purcell: Offer mentoring programs. A can make transitions into a new position or company smoother. Mentors can also be a long-lasting resource of information. Finding a mentor early can do wonders for the amount of satisfaction that anyone, male or female, finds on the job.

Also, it's important for a company to listen to its employees' needs and offer flexibility. At my company, we try to be as flexible as possible to everyones needs, not just women. I think having a fair workplace regardless of gender is also important.

PCWorld: Finally, it's not uncommon to hear the retort that no one should get special treatment or be treated differently at all by employers or peers simply because of something like their gender; some, in fact, would argue that that's just another form of discrimination. What's your answer to such charges?