As Machine Design celebrates International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) on June 23, 2021, we’re joining communities across the globe to bring attention to the amazing career opportunities available for women in this industry.
INWED is an international awareness campaign that was first established as a national celebration in Great Britain by the Women’s Engineering Society in 2015. It was awarded UNESCO patronage in 2016.
The notion that a special day is needed to raise the profile of women in the field is reflective of the fact that the engineering industry continues to be portrayed as male-focused.
The statistics on women in the field remain chilling: In the U.S., women represent only 13% of the engineering workforce; only 30% of women who earn degrees in engineering are still working in their field 20 years later; and 30% of women who have left their engineering profession point to organizational climate as a reason for leaving.
These realities also drive Machine Design’s Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) initiative, as we explore what organizations can do better to promote systemic change and remove barriers that lead to the attrition of women in engineering.
As underrepresented as women are, celebrations like #INWED21 give us a chance to highlight the work of visionaries, advocates, allies and fighters who strive to make the industry more diverse and accessible to all.
What follows below is just a sampling of our WISE reportage and content from other industry leaders and manufacturing companies, showcasing women from a variety of positions and comparing notes on their career paths, ideas for success and leadership styles.
WISE Video Chats
WISE Practitioners: Two Engineers Explain How They Chose Their Engineering Specialties
How a pair of engineers use their dynamic qualifications to prove that potential and experience go hand in hand in carving their professional destiny.
WISE Practitioners: Female Leadership Traits
Angela Alban, president and CEO of SIMETRI, talks about current trends in workforce development, her experience as a leader, and what it would take to bring about change for women in the industry.
WISE Practitioners: Build Engineering Skills
Dr. Mansooreh Mollaghasemi, CEO of FleetZoo and Productivity Apex, Inc., talks about coping with work-life balance and offers advice for women who wish to follow in her shoes
Video Insights: The "New Collar" Workforce
This video chat on upskilling features Sarah Boisvert, founder of Fab Lab Hub. “The STEM field is a pretty good indicator that you are going to earn more money, but it has to be in a field that is in demand—that is economically viable,” she said.
Video Insights: Leading Through Uncertainty
Ellen Kullman, CEO of Carbon, talks about leading in difficult times and fostering opportunities for women.
Machine Design Partners Participate
A number of industry leaders and Machine Design partners also are recognizing International Women in Engineering Day with their own perspectives—and their own stories. Among those companies are:
SAP (Bonus interview with Christine Regitz)
Features
Breaking the Mold: Women in Additive Manufacturing
An all-female speaker lineup at the TIPE 3D Printing conference showcases how a collective effort inspires visionaries and hopefuls alike.
Reaching Gender Equity in STEM Professions
Organizations should pay attention to their process for identifying employees with leadership potential.
Women-led countries led the way in slowing the spread of COVID-19 at the height of the pandemic. What can we learn from them?
Getting more women in manufacturing solves the skills gap problem. That solution is hindered by perception issues on all sides.
Editor’s Note: Machine Design's Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) hub compiles our coverage of gender representation issues affecting the engineering field, in addition to contributions from equity seeking groups and subject matter experts within various subdisciplines. Click here for more.