Virtual Schedule – Live Sessions

Wolfspeed is working to create a culture where inclusivity is real and active, rather than theoretical and static. As the introduction during every DE&I training session, we ask participants “What makes you nervous about discussing DEI&B at work?” The number one answer is “I’m afraid that I’m going to say something wrong or offensive.” In this interactive session, we will leverage intersectionality of participants to break down the walls of insecurity and defensiveness. We will show how inviting employees to self-reflect and understand intersectionality can develop them into being better team members to one another.

It is common knowledge that negotiating your salary is usually a good thing. The fact is nobody really wants to talk about salary and even fewer people feel they are good at it. Often people are so happy to have their first job offer, or even just to have a job, that negotiating salary is not a top priority. While the best time to negotiate is before you accept that new job or position, it is never too late to start. Preparation is key – What are the 3 key numbers you should know before negotiating your salary? Are you able to clearly communicate what you bring to the table? You will leave this session with specific activities to practice to increase your comfort talking about the uncomfortable topic of salary. You don’t have to practice until you are perfect, just enough to be your own best advocate!

Strong communication skills are key to gaining visibility as a leader and inspiring others to deliver on results. How one communicates influences perception of your leadership abilities. It is also a key to unlock opportunities, find the best work, and attain senior leadership roles that may seem out of reach. Most leadership roles are occupied by those with strong executive presence and communication skills. While it may seem intimidating to communicate as effectively as leaders we respect, it is entirely possible to learn to communicative confidently and with impact. This session will demystify how excellent leaders communicate and relate a strategy to build your own communications in your own style. Three areas are covered are setting context, framing and structuring talking points, and showing up with executive presence.

How do you transform siloed Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) into an enterprise-wide powerhouse? Learn from one of the country’s largest utility companies how it earned acceptance from dozens of site- and business unit-specific ERGs to create an enterprise-wide ERG model. This session will share how the model has strengthened the company’s culture of inclusion for women within a historically male-dominated sector. Four years after introducing the new model, data show that women at the company feel more engaged and have a greater sense of belonging than ever before. It has also enabled the company to scale programs and host enterprise-wide activities such as its International Women’s Day Conference, an annual two-day learning event. The session will provide practical tips on how to create your own enterprise-wide ERG model that will help increase leadership opportunities for members and align group efforts with your organization’s corporate objectives.

Leadership roles can be available everywhere but most of those are not paid and are underrecognized. Studies revealed that more women are doing more volunteer work leading DE&I and increasing employee engagement and retention, but this is not formally acknowledged or rewarded. Bias around doesn’t make it easier: the challenge of influencing a group and driving successful outcomes may be overlooked when you are volunteering for your ERG, community events, SWE affiliates, or affinity groups. The fact is that these experiences are valuable for leadership capability growth and skill development. In this session, we will give you tools and techniques to intentionally uncover leadership opportunities, gain recognition for the value of this work and push boundaries to truly develop your skills without limits.

It is critical that women and underrepresented groups in STEM have varied and durable pathways to the fields of engineering and technology. To this end, SWE pursues its advocacy agenda through collaboration with key allies and federal agencies in the United States government. Speakers from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s CHIPS Program Office will address the workforce development component of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 and the important role of women in the semiconductor industry. Also, U.S. Department of Education will share information about the “You Belong in STEM” initiative and how to get involved in state level STEM policy activities. At the local level, attendees will hear how SWE member Jan Williams is working with state legislators to create a STEM Center of Excellence in New Mexico. SWE will also share updates on legislation SWE is actively supporting in Washington, DC and how our members can get more involved.

As organizations become more diverse, it is imperative that employees prioritize emotional intelligence to understand “triggers”, manage perceptions, and achieve high job performance. We strive to influence our audience to cultivate supportive work environments where expression of emotion and vulnerability are accepted. The challenge lies in capturing these traits as impactful tools versus disadvantages. This session addresses: breaking the generational curse of “tough” leadership styles, creating teams that actively prioritize self-awareness and psychological safety, promoting emotional and behavioral intelligence as key factors of relationship management, and finding companies that genuinely value acceptance and inclusion. This session will teach attendees how to practice empathy as a leader while prioritizing business needs, techniques for implementing emotional intelligence learning within established teams, interviewing tips to gain a deeper understanding of employer values, and methods for influencing colleagues with less EQ experience to practice empathy in their work relationships.

In industry, women of Asian descent make up < 3% of senior level and executive positions. SWE's Board mimics these low representation statistics. Overall, SWE has made progress to increase the membership percentage of women of color, and increase its leadership pipeline to approximately 20% Asian in Fiscal Year 2023. Let’s keep the momentum to maintain and increase Asians in SWE leadership especially in senior leader roles in the Society. Meet a panel of Asian SWE role models who will share their SWE career paths and how it aided their professional and personal development. They will discuss how they benefitted from ally ship and mentorship, handled challenges as persons of color, and insight on entering and thriving as SWE leaders. They will share positions, tools, and succession planning strategies at each level of SWE to continually develop a steady pipeline and see more Asians in top leadership ranks.

CEU/PDH: 0.1/1.0 Supported by: AbbVie, Amazon and Keysight Most aspiring leaders know they need a powerful presence: the ability to project authority, belief, and authenticity. Yet honing a confident presence requires more than fake it ‘til you make it platitudes. This session, based on Selena Rezvani’s instant Wall Street Journal Bestseller, Quick Confidence: Be Authentic, Boost Connections, and Make Bold Bets on Yourself, helps ambitious professionals summon their personal power by addressing three key confidence filters—mindset shifts, body language habits, and interpersonal techniques. Whether you’re dealing with intimidating people, hoping to pitch a fresh idea or better connect with others, participants will walk away ready to show up and speak up—and help others do the same. After attending, participants will be able to: • Identify behaviors to expand presence as an impactful leader • Name communication strategies for advancing your agenda • Recognize how physicality, body language, and movement relate to sending and receiving messages

Trigger Warning. Dealing with the aftermath of rape, sexual assault and harassment can last an extended period of time, and even a lifetime for many individuals. The impact of a Title IX sexual assault case is not limited to collegiate life. During this session, Elizabeth will share a personal Title IX experience and how it impacted her life. You will learn about the Title IX process and the lessons and resources used to overcome trauma. Elizabeth found a support network of strong women, including Hilary, and learned this was a critical component to navigating and processing her Title IX case. Hilary and Elizabeth feel this issue is not talked about enough as it affects more women and SWE members than we may know. There will be an opportunity to share your own experiences and hopefully by attending this session you will see that you are not alone.

Calling all outreach practitioners! Whether you are new to outreach or have years of experience, this session is sure to help you amp up your impact! In the first part of this session, you will hear about the latest initiatives and resources that the Outreach and SWENext committees are working on that you can add to your outreach toolbelt. This workshop will raise your awareness of resources for adult advocates, the SWE children’s book, SWENext High School Leadership Academy, and SWENext clubs. In the rest of the session, you will have the opportunity to connect with fellow outreach practitioners when we break out into discussion groups, facilitated by members of the committees. You can ask your specific outreach questions, get answers and ideas from our committee volunteers and fellow attendees, and share your ideas. Each attendee will leave the session with a flashdrive filled with resources from the session.

At Medtronic we are fortunate to have a variety of inclusion, diversity, and equity initiatives for women engineers including our Medtronic Women’s Network, SWEnet ERG, and Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) initiatives. Over the past decade, leaders have leveraged these groups to build and develop early career talent, as well as further develop and retain experienced talent. Learn about how different ERGs, with 20+ to 20,000+ members, positively impact employees career development and trajectory. As a manager or individual contributor, you’ll hear stories of how ERGs have helped members gain critical experiences, access and exposure to top leaders, and become an integral part of Medtronic’s culture.

This session will explore the unique challenges and opportunities of leadership in STEM fields, drawing on the experiences of Dr. Felecia M. Nave, President of Alcorn State University. As a chemical engineer and accomplished academic leader, Dr. Nave will share insights into the skills, strategies, and perspectives needed to lead effectively in the rapidly-evolving landscape of education and industry. Participants will learn about the importance of fostering a culture of innovation, inclusion, and collaboration, and the key leadership principles that underpin successful universities and organizations. Dr. Nave will also share her personal journey as a woman of color in STEM, offering practical advice for overcoming obstacles and breaking down barriers to success. Through engaging discussion and real-world examples, this session will equip participants with the tools and inspiration needed to become effective STEM leaders and advocates for change.

CEU/PDH: 0.1/1.0 Supported by: AbbVie, Amazon and Keysight The energy industry is experiencing a significant transition to reduce emissions and increase energy capacity to meet growing demand. Maintaining a balance requires innovation as well as collaboration with industry partners, which is critical to achieving collective decarbonization and sustainability targets. In this session, Brandon Spencer, Division President, ABB Energy Industries, joins Jill Evanko, President and Chief Executive Officer of Chart Industries, to discuss the evolving energy transformation and how to meet the growing demands of the world around us. This session will explore further the importance of industry collaboration and diversity in achieving our sustainability goals. Topics will include process improvements being taken at industry and organizational levels to do so, how we can scale new energy markets to meet existing and new demands, and how we can increase the reliability of renewable energy sources. From this dialogue between two leaders of partnering organizations, key takeaways for attendees will include a strengthened understanding the current energy transition and what’s at stake, the impact of true collaboration to obtain common decarbonization goals, and the role that new energy markets play in the energy transition. After attending, participants will be able to: • Describe the current energy transition • Describe impact of collaboration in order to obtain common decarbonization goals • Identify the role that new energy markets play in the energy transition

‘Disabled’, ‘health conditions’, ‘people of determination’, ‘differently abled’ – there are many different terms for mental, neurological, sensorial, and physical conditions. By understanding the perspectives and experiences of those living with conditions, we can become better advocates in showing allyship and support. In this session, two panelists will share their experiences of living with conditions of PTSD and ADHD. They will discuss how they recognized symptoms, found treatment and education on their conditions, and provided support and care in their families. Through sharing their experiences, the panelists hope to provide inspiration to others living with or supporting those with conditions.

Do you want to influence technology, advise high performing teams, nurture your curiosity, and be a lifelong learner? Then a technical career is for you! The technical career path doesn’t always come with a roadmap, and female representation in senior technical roles has lagged behind management in many industries and organizations. So how do you know if you are on the path to advance your technical career? Take a deep dive on technical career development with a panel of multi-industry experts who have risen to senior technical positions. Learn how to craft your own technical career that can lead to exciting and limitless opportunities. Bring your questions about technical careers and hear advice on searching out technical advisors and mentors, developing business acumen for technical leaders, keeping up with technology trends, innovating across industries and fields, and how to talk to your supervisor and/or mentor about your technical skill development.

According to the Women of Color in the Engineering Workplace study published by SWE and NSBE, only 4% of engineering degrees are earned by women of color. Furthermore, women of color make up less than 2% of all engineering professionals. This session will address intersectionality in engineering as it applies to women of color and the distinct disadvantages they experience as their race and gender overlap. We will discuss why they are underrepresented and undervalued in engineering and identify ways to rise above and build a community of support that invests in their potential. Come listen to the panel speakers talk about their experiences as women of color in engineering and how they have been able to overcome unique challenges and make their voices heard.

You don’t have to choose between your career and your relationship – come learn how to make them work together – no matter where life takes you! This panel will share the challenges, learnings, and rewards of managing a fulfilling career on the move. You’ll hear perspectives from four seasoned military spouses who have built impressive resumes during repeated cross-country and overseas relocations. Discover key tactics of building a career, maintaining a relationship, and networking to your next job when faced with a relocation driven by a partner. You’ll leave with the knowledge to leverage a partner’s career to move up YOUR career ladder!

Let’s say you are an individual contributor in a large company with already-established culture, and you see non-effective patterns or biases in the company culture that could improve. You see an opportunity to make a difference, however, you think you do not have the power or the right credentials to make the difference because you are new to the company or feel the fear of not being heard. This talk will take you on a journey about how the speaker was exactly in this same boat and how she overcame the odds and started a culture-shifting technical leadership program in a large company. She will share a step-by-step approach to how she founded the technical leadership program that received tremendous support and funding for two consecutive years with promising ROI (Return of Investment) and strengthened employee retention.

Are you a collegiate headed towards graduation and the unknown of the professional world? Or an early tenure professional looking to make their way to their next promotion? Or are you moving to a new city where you have few connections? SWE has helped me through all of these transitions and more! In this talk, you’ll learn about all the different ways being engaged with SWE as a professional can help you navigate big transitions, find community in new cities and develop skills that can land you your next job. We will review the SWE Leadership Competency Model used to outline key development skills for SWE leadership roles and beyond. Attendees will walk away with resources to remain engaged with SWE as a professional as well as insights into how to leverage those experiences to benefit their careers at work.

Reliable access to sustainable power and electricity is key to a community’s ability to adapt to and recover from climate change. This energy resilience looks different in various parts of the world. In this session, we will explore how microgrids play a crucial role in providing sustainable and resilient power. Learn how one non-profit is using their TIME innovation of the year award-winning mobile solar-powered microgrids to provide disaster relief to communities impacted by hurricanes and wildfires across the U.S. On the other side of the Atlantic, we will examine the community engagement models in Kenya that enable clean and reliable electricity for mothers giving birth. Together, we will identify how each of us can take part in building strong, resilient, and sustainable communities.

Approximately 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. experience mental illness every year and suicide is the 12th leading cause of death in the US. Despite effective treatment options and support, there are long delays between the first signs of a mental illness and when people get help – and some of those we end up losing to suicide. Together we can help individuals experiencing a mental health issue get help sooner by breaking down stigmas associated with mental illness and learn tools to assist in suicide prevention. During this workshop, develop an understanding of mental health illnesses, suicide warning signs, how to manage stress/self-care activities, tips and tricks for talking to someone you think may be struggling with thoughts of suicide, and language to use when discussing these topics in order to reduce the stigma around them.

CEU/PDH: 0.1/1.0 Supported by: AbbVie, Amazon and Keysight Despite a number of shared characteristics, similar experiences, and common interests, there is a vast amount of diversity within the Autistic, neurodiversity, and disability communities. At the macro level, these different and sometimes conflicting aspects of our identities can produce opportunity AND obstacle; glee AND gloom; strength AND strife…sometimes simultaneously. A similar multichotomy often exists within the individual as well, complicating things even further. As individuals and as a community, concepts such as acceptance, intersectionality, inclusion, autonomy, and respect are more than trendy terms. For us they are critical – but they can at times feel abstract. How can we live them out in practical, healthy ways and still be our unique, authentic selves? This presentation explores ideas for integrating them into our personal identities, workplaces, schools, and our overall lived experiences while striving for balance and acknowledging that our fallibility does not negate our value. After attending, participants will be able to: • Describe ways to live out acceptance, inclusion, and respect both within the neurodiverse community, and as allies for the neurodiverse community. • Identify ways to integrate acceptance, inclusion, and respect into overall lived experiences. • Recognize how to strive for balance in applying acceptance, inclusion, and respect principles practically.

In today’s society, our physical appearance often shapes how we are perceived and treated in the workplace, especially if it deviates from the norm. Regardless of the company size, those who don’t blend in often need different tools in their toolbox to deal with adverse situations. Speakers will share funny stories and awkward sticky scenarios from their experiences in both large and small companies to explore the challenges and triumphs of navigating visible difference in professional settings. From managing implicit biases to embracing individuality, we’ll delve into strategies for success and highlight the power of diversity in the workplace. Join us for an enlightening and empowering discussion on how to thrive in a world that often prioritizes conformity over authenticity.

Have you ever felt like your voice wasn’t being heard in a discussion? Do you notice people checking their phones, or even yawning during your presentations? Or clients asking questions whose answers you provided minutes ago? There’s a simple solution to being heard and seen more clearly, and it’s something you learned when you were two-years old: Storytelling. During this session, participants will learn how using the “Once Upon a Time…” story structure from classic fairytales can transform their interactions in meetings and presentations, leading to more effective, engaging, and memorable interactions. Additionally, they will learn how employing story devices such as theme, suspense, and voice can skyrocket their career by making them a more effective communicator. And how this can also make it impossible for the all famous “he-peat” (aka a male colleague repeating what you said in meetings and taking credit for it) to happen.

A large cross-section of women in the workplace tend to prioritize family, while ignoring their professional and personal needs. This often leads to burnout and has an adverse effect on their career, health and personal relationships. Focusing on one’s needs and goals can improve well-being and help one thrive in their career. The speaker will explore various practices to help you become a self-advocate, such as developing a growth mindset, keeping commitments, building relationships, advocating for others etc. The session will expound on the benefits of self-advocacy, showcasing her own experiences: highly energetic, optimistic and happy. She will close out the session sharing her strategies for managing imposter syndrome and conflicting priorities. Be your own best friend!

As Marshall Goldsmith titled his book – What Got You Here Won’t Get You There. As a mentor and coach of successful engineers for years (and from my own journey), I see how the traits that make us excellent engineers often stand in our way in moving into senior leadership. In this session, we will review common derailers for engineers pursuing leadership roles and their respective enablers. Common derailers include being the expert, reducing risk, managing tasks, and supervising people. This workshop will include practical solutions from real-life backed up with research and learnings from world renowned leadership experts.

Sixty-one percent of a manager’s time is spent on people problems, and a great portion involves dealing with conflict. Understandable as there are just so many opportunities for it. Whether it’s from customers, bosses, peers or direct reports; it can be about budgets, resources, strategies and so on. Every leader finds their way of approaching; some stick with avoiding it at all costs while others confront it like a steamroller operator. There is a place somewhere in the middle of these two approaches that provides a more productive, sustainable outcome. Bring your ideas about conflict resolution with you as we sort out what’s best for you and your team.

Not too long ago, using Hydrogen gas for power generation was considered “science fiction.” Now, global economies are going all-in to invest in the technology transformation, but the efforts to make it possible require more planning than just a steampunk imagination. For full field deployment, considerations must be made for how to supply the hydrogen with specialized delivery systems that can handle this carbon-free gas, and how to make room for retrofits of larger combustion hardware systems into existing turbine units via the development of specialized lifting tooling. This can be a complex program to manage evolving expectations of “how?” Come and meet the women engineers who are on the cutting edge of this technical revolution where they share how they “play” with invisible, odorless fire for a living!

Latinas make up 2% of the engineering workforce, and even less are in executive positions. The Mujeres Circles, small peer mentoring groups of Latinas led by Latina executive leaders, are a place where these Mujeres can be unapologetically ambitious. The participants support one another, discuss barriers faced in the workplace as well as culturally, learn new skills and empower each other by creating a sense of belonging. This session will discuss how and why the circles were created, how you can create your own Mujeres circles in your workspace and discuss the benefits to create a space where Latinas can learn to succeed in spaces that were never created with women, let alone Latinas, in mind. If you’ve ever felt left out, stuck in your career, and needed someone to push you forward attend this session and learn how to adopt these mentoring groups in your workplace.

Non US-citizens made up 17% of the US workforce in 2019, according to the American Immigration Council. In STEM, this percentage is much higher, with the number in 2020 being closer to 40%. Thus, chances are high that as a student or professional in STEM, you have either studied or worked with someone born, brought up, or looking to move back to another country. As our classrooms and workforce get more global, it is not enough to merely be accepting of individuals from diverse countries and backgrounds, but also important to educate oneself of the trials they may have faced. This panel will unpack several challenges, biases, and stereotypes that immigrating and non-immigrating foreign nationals may face in the US. At the end of the panel, attendees will leave with strategies to better equip and develop themselves as allies and advocates for an important group contributing to a global economy.

The State of Women in Engineering session presents an overview of research on the issues affecting women in engineering. During this special event, Roberta Rincon, Ph.D., will share updates on SWE’s current research projects. Peter Meiksins, Ph.D., will discuss highlights from the literature review published in SWE Magazine’s 2023 State of Women in Engineering magazine issue on topics related to women’s underrepresentation in engineering. Claudine Schmuck will present findings from the Gender Scan™. Gender Scan™ is a global survey on women in STEM, from education to career, providing insights on the evolution of women’s representation in STEM studies and occupations.

Thomas Edison once said “I haven’t failed, I just found 10,000 ways it wouldn’t work.” Without his failures, modern technology would be vastly different. So why is it that we fear failure? Failure is so natural, yet we tend to gravitate away from it when facing new obstacles. However, learning the skills of how to fail is important to any engineer as we have to learn from past mistakes to make engineering advancements. This session will cover how to identify failures and how to fail gracefully. We will go over my three methods to failing: Fail Quick, Fail Often, Fail Smart. Attendees will leave this session understanding the importance of failure and how to integrate failing into their professional and personal lives.

Many people dream of retiring early. Is that your dream, too? If so, do you know the steps you should take now to get yourself ready? And once you retire, do you have a plan for your next act? In this session, four women who retired in their 50s will share their own real-life stories of how they planned for and achieved early retirement. They will discuss retirement readiness (e.g., financial assessment and goals, employer benefits to leverage, future plans, etc.). And they will share how they found their passion and purpose for their next act, from going back to school to volunteering to consulting to caring for a parent. There will be ample time for Q&A and engaging discussions. All participants will be provided a list of resources for planning. You will leave this session inspired by their stories and better prepared for your own road to retirement.

What can engineering and afternoon tea possibly have in common? Join our panel to find out! Discover the instant bond created by a diverse group of women engineers through their common work experiences at various public agencies. Learn about their 20+ year journey of friendship, belonging, tea, and good food as they established the Public Employee Registered Female Engineer Conversation and Tea Society, or the “PERFECTS.” In this session, the PERFECTS will discuss the benefits of expanding personal networks, especially as you rise to leadership roles, to build a shared language with peers who “get you.” They will share tips on investing in quality personal time and talk about the many shapes that networking can take — golf and cigars aren’t for everyone! If you want simple tips to launch your own informal connections and grow them into lasting friendships, this perfect session will be just your cup of tea!

Clinical roles in the medical device industry offer individuals with an engineering background the opportunity to tackle complex technical problems while collaborating closely with patients, physicians, and allied health professionals. Speaking from their experiences in clinical field specialist, medical education, and physician training roles, this panel will share how their diverse engineering backgrounds led them to and have allowed them to excel in a clinical environment. The experienced group of panelists will also discuss how they determined that a clinical role was the right fit, how the skills gained in clinical roles prepared them to enter other aspects of the medical device business, and about the challenges that are associated with working in a non-traditional engineering environment. Above all, this panel will speak to the personal and professional fulfillment gained by helping patients and physicians navigate and solve complex health challenges using sophisticated medical devices.

CEU/PDH: 0.1/1.0 Supported by: AbbVie, Amazon and Keysight SpaceX was started with one goal in mind: To make human life multiplanetary. This is an extremely challenging goal that requires intense engineering rigor, production excellence and innovation. In this session Gwynne Shotwell will discuss the environment that is needed to innovate regularly, how to leverage engineering principles to innovate and SpaceX’s journey in making human life multiplanetary. After attending, participants will be able to: • Identify strategies to innovate on a constant basis Learning Outcome • Recognize how to grow a company while keeping up with the pace of innovation • Describe how SpaceX is working toward making human life multiplanetary

Over the course of a decade a lot can change and SWE is no exception. The past decade has been one of historic growth and change for the organization – global expansion, pre-college program introduction, updated logo and branding, governance structure refresh, CEO transition, and even a pandemic! Join us as five of the SWE Presidents from this latest decade in SWE’s evolution share their experiences from their time serving at the highest level of Society leadership. Our panelists will talk candidly about how the Society has changed and grown over the past decade and share some of their favorite experiences as well as the challenges that they faced during their time in in the President seat. In addition, they will also touch on their post-President career journeys as well as answer any burning questions that attendees have wanted to ask.

The world’s largest retailer is changing the future of supply chain through automated technologies that enhance associates and customers experiences alike. These transformational, innovative solutions support Every Day Low Price for customers as well as provide us a return-on-investment and competitive advantage through increased throughput, capacity, and accuracy. Customers rely on our timely, cost-effective, and convenient services more than ever before and automation enables us to deliver on that promise. Associates will experience an improved quality of work through ergonomic processes and have opportunities for technical upskilling and training. Learn from subject matter experts from a grocery distribution center, regional distribution center, ecommerce center, and store fulfillment center who will share their experiences on designing, installing, testing, and integrating these multi-billion-dollar investments.

The viral #ILookLikeAnEngineer movement challenged stereotypes and promoted diversity by showcasing engineers from historically marginalized groups. However, society’s deep-rooted biases about engineers go beyond protected categories such as race or gender identity. Society’s version of the stereotypical engineer lacks interpersonal skills, loves to tinker, has a superiority complex, and is fully immersed in their technical discipline with few other interests or hobbies. Exclusionary perceptions of who belongs and who will succeed in engineering cause many engineers and engineering students to feel like misfits, hindering their confidence and interest. The panelists will share how they have “defied gravity” in overcoming biases to hone and leverage their distinct personal brands as successful engineers and engineering leaders. Attendees will leave the session feeling empowered to be their authentic selves and to embrace the value that their unique perspectives, interests, and skills bring to the engineering community.

Twenty-five years ago, ADHD was rarely diagnosed in girls and women. Eventually, the medical and psychology communities started to recognize that symptoms of ADHD are somewhat different for women. The corporate world has been even slower to adapt. For women with ADHD, the wrong working conditions can result in feelings of stress, anxiety and overwhelm. These can lead to poor performance reviews, frequent job hopping, layoffs, and other potential physical and/or emotional consequences. As someone who was recently diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, I had to find new systems and approaches for how to navigate this world. In this session, I will share my learnings (hyperfixations) on what ADHD is and how it affects women, especially in the workplace. I will cover research-backed tips for women with ADHD to get the most out of their working conditions, and how employers and managers can help enable an ADHD-friendly work environment.

As engineers, we all know how to think creatively, solve a problem, and bring ideas to life in one form or another. But communicating ideas in a way to gather support, invoke action, and just as important… get credit for the idea, can sometimes be more challenging than the idea itself. Often, if an idea isn’t initially well-received, it can be assumed it was a bad idea and abandoned, sometimes creating doubt and future hesitation to share more ideas. But in reality, it wasn’t always the idea, but the timing and the way the vision was communicated. In this session, Christine will share her experience overcoming her own self-doubt to generate dozens of Invention Disclosures and New Project Ideas every year and outline the tools that participants can use to start documenting and communicating new ideas with success.

CEU/PDH: 0.1/1.0 Supported by: AbbVie, Amazon and Keysight You tell people to speak up. After all, as a leader, you want people to tell you what’s really going on before things blow up. You want diverse perspectives in order to get to the best outcomes. You want to build psychological safety for your team and your community. But people still stay silent. What gives? With candor and humor, we explore how learned silence and the ways we unintentionally silence people undercuts our best intentions. We examine the messages you’re really sending with your actions and offer ways to build new patterns of working together. Based on Elaine’s forthcoming book, Unlearning Silence (Penguin 2024), we engage in the process of unlearning ways we silence ourselves and silence the people around us – so we can reap the benefits of collaboration and innovation while centering the dignity of the people around us. After attending, participants will be able to: • Describe the role learned silence plays for yourself, your team, and your organization • Be able to accurately assess the costs and benefits of speaking up in order to make informed decisions about when to speak up • Recognize the conscious ways we silence the people around us • Identify key levers for incentivizing voice • Develop a personal strategy for using your voice that aligns with your strengths and wiring

CEU/PDH: 0.1/1.0 Sponsored by: The Department of Defense (DoD) is continuously exploring and investing in emerging technologies to enhance modeling and simulation capabilities. This panel aims to provide an overview of some of the most promising technologies currently being developed and tested in the defense sector. The panelists will also discuss their career paths and offer insights into career pathways for civilian employees of the Department of Defense. After attending, participants will be able to: • Describe emerging technologies that the DoD is developing • Identify career pathways as a civilian employee of the DoD • Explain the career trajectory of senior leaders within the DoD

As engineers, we often design for disability in terms of physical accessibility to the built environment. Yet disability is a multi-faceted community consisting of diverse experiences that require other forms of social and cultural accessibility. In this session, we will discuss disability and how it is experienced in the culture of engineering. Drawing from these experiences, we will collaboratively develop a toolbox of strategies to help you advocate for and with people with disabilities. These new tools will help as you facilitate social and cultural accessibility in engineering.

Too often working women do far more of the work on the homefront than their partners, leading to burnout that can have career implications for them. However, there are lessons we can learn from running a streamlined factory that we can apply at home to achieve workload parity between family members and a happier home life. The first lesson is to abandon gender stereotypes about traditional family roles and match tasks to whoever is most passionate. In this presentation, you will learn how to apply factory concepts such as eliminating non-value activities, flow, level loading, workforce cross-training, 5S for an organized workplace and kaizen and empowering all family members to solve problems to achieve a sustained level-workload across family members. The speaker will share approaches for how to get started to create an immediate impact and how to build momentum to achieve permanent workload parity.

It is well known that there can be an invisible barrier to advancement and leadership roles for women despite hard work and desire to move up. Characteristics of masculine stereotypes align with leadership stereotypes, but when women exhibit these traits, they can be viewed as aggressive and unlikeable. Research shows that this affects how a woman’s personal attributions, performance reviews and leadership capabilities are viewed and can stifle advancement. This presents a significant barrier for women, with BIPOC women impacted the most. This double bind, or assertiveness penalty, can force women to navigate an impossible Goldilocks standard. This session will discuss the impact of workplace environments where women are perceived as either likable or competent when they speak up. We will also discuss how this may affect their workspace and advancement and how we can be aware of negative stereotypes and push for positive change.

Innovation has become a critical element for organizations to thrive in today’s rapidly-changing landscape of business and digital transformation. Building an innovative culture within the workplace can assist enterprises with staying ahead of the curve and achieving long-term success. Additionally, an innovative culture fosters collaboration by creating a safe and supportive environment where employees feel comfortable sharing ideas and working together on projects. In this workshop we will discuss three ways to build an innovative culture: (1) Risk-taking – Encouraging employees to take risks and experiment with new ideas is crucial to building an innovative culture, (2) Diversity and Collaboration – Diversity of thought and collaboration are key drivers of innovation, (3) Continuous Learning – Investing in employee development and continuous learning is essential for building an innovative culture. Finally, we will discuss the approaches required for successful implementations.

The James Webb Space Telescope, the most complex space-based observatory ever built, is revolutionizing our understanding of the cosmos as it studies every phase of our universe’s history, from the first luminous glows after the big bang to the evolution of our own solar system. What did it take to build such a monumental and complex program? This panel of women from Northrop Space Park and Ball Aerospace were some of the minds behind the technology necessary for such a successful program. They will give an inside look at the ways engineering has influenced the revolutionary science that Webb is providing today. From Webb’s mirror and sunshield testing, to launch and commissioning, to cryogenics, attendees will learn how Webb is informing the next generation of space-based observatories.

From academia, to consulting, from the government to the private sector, the pathways to the future are limitless for engineers. Four engineers will share their widely different career pathways and highlight the importance of staying true to yourself and finding a path that will maximize your skillset. Panelists will demystify their career pathways, discuss opportunities, and engage in a Q&A to help guide your journey to a fulfilling career. The session will model how to dialog with potential mentors and ask questions that will yield inspiring responses.

How often have you been “the first” at something? What advice do you wish you could have heard that might have made your journey easier or more fulfilling? Join our talented panel of engineers as they share their own trailblazing experiences as first-generation immigrants, as first-generation college graduates, as the first women to lead their teams, as first-time public servants, first engineers in their families, and more. In this empowering session, you will learn about the tools and techniques that our panelists have used throughout their careers and personal lives to transcend the challenges that come with being “First Generation” and to transform into effective leaders of the “Next Generation.” Leveraging our panel’s diverse backgrounds, this session will highlight the common experiences and unique differences that shaped their professional paths as individuals, acknowledging that though they may have been “the first,” they will certainly not be “the last.”

Over half a million people serve in elected office at different levels in the United States, and even more serve their communities through appointments to boards and commissions. However, public office remains a rare and enigmatic path for many engineers. This session aims to highlight how engineers can positively impact their communities by serving in public office. In a moderated discussion, participants will hear from a diverse panel of women engineers about their career journeys and the unique perspective that they bring to elected office. The panel will talk about different ways to get involved, from full-time positions that might be a “second act” for a mid-career engineer to volunteer positions compatible with a full-time engineering job or degree program. Ample time will be dedicated to audience questions. Participants will leave with concrete ideas about how to get involved, regardless of age, location, or level of experience.

CEU/PDH: 0.1/1.0 Supported by: AbbVie, Amazon and Keysight Join accomplished executive leader Alicia Morgan in a dynamic session on Strategic Leadership: Empowering Teams to Win. Alicia brings her expertise in project and program management, change management, and agile leadership, gained from successfully guiding high-performing teams in various sectors, including Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, and college/workforce readiness initiatives. After attending, participants will be able to: • Recognize ways to empower teams to achieve extraordinary results. • Identify agile leadership techniques to effectively implement change within a team. •Identify the skills to effectively navigate the challenges of leading teams in complex environments.

“Do not take a break.” That was my mantra when I started my 10-year engineering career. But life is unpredictable, and I ended up taking a break to care for my family and raise my kids. I thought my professional career was over but, 11 years ago, an opportunity surfaced that capitalized on my engineering knowledge. I restarted in the legal industry in a flex-time remote position that I didn’t know was possible for engineers! I was grateful for the opportunity, but was it just a stroke of luck? No. There are steps you can take to construct a robust career that can accommodate for life-changing events: Build expertise, adjust goals regularly, pursue growth opportunities, and cultivate your network. Restarting after a break does take effort, but it’s not the same as starting from square one. Let’s talk about how to prepare for the combination of careers and life events!

Have you ever found yourself wanting to be indispensable, or afraid to say no to a request or an opportunity and as result overcommitted, overwhelmed, and potentially disappointing people? To set yourself up to success you need to be able to analyze the ask and decide whether it is something you could and should take on. A well-reasoned no makes room for a better yes and is critical for building up you career, your critical experience portfolio, and your reputation. This session will discuss the benefits and challenges of saying no and give you tools to make strategic decisions to when to say yes, when to say no, and how to effectively communicate it. No is beautiful and it helps you to grow!

Would you like to strengthen your relationship with your manager? Your manager is your key advocate in the company. Your relationship with them has the power to make or break your job experience and how you progress. How can you best utilize this relationship and create a mutually beneficial working environment? This interactive session will showcase strategies using role play scenarios to ensure you and your manager are aligned. We will cover key actions to take at pivotal times in the year and help you recognize gaps in your relationship. This includes how to introduce yourself to your manager, how to ensure you are checking in with each other regularly, and how to find a way to communicate that works well for both of you. Our aim is to encourage women to evaluate their relationship with their manager to ensure allowance for growth and success.

Conflict is stressful and can distract from what is important to you. Traditional conflict training helps people resolve issues often after the conflict already exploded. In this talk, you’ll learn about the phases of conflicts, and how to use mindfulness and targeted communication techniques to have more meaningful conversations, create better relationships, and craft solutions that meet everyone’s needs. You will have the opportunity to apply the skills learned to a personal or professional conflict you experienced that did not resolve in a way you liked.

Young engineers often struggle to find their path to leadership roles due to a lack of understanding, confidence, and advocacy. Allison and Steve are parents, leaders in cybersecurity, and strong advocates for engineers in the field of cybersecurity. As leaders, parents, and mentors, they have worked to provide the medium for young women (and men) engineers to grow into cybersecurity professionals and leaders. Allison and Steve will lead a panel discussion with several young engineers to share perspectives of leadership, career paths, and advocacy that have helped build their own and others careers.

A successful career is not only the result of hard work, but also the culmination of strategic planning, developing strong networks and identifying the correct opportunities to propel you forward. Multiple approaches can be employed to increase your impact and success in a workplace: embrace networking to open new career opportunities, employ the power of regular constructive feedback, adopt the concept of managing up, seek out and use mentors effectively, and investigate a variety of roles (some of which may be outside of your comfort zone) to identify the best fit for you. This discussion will explore the experiences of four panelists who have pivoted to unexpected jobs or chosen unconventional career paths. The aim is to boost confidence, encourage ambitious career goals and provide practical tools for women to advance their careers.

Intersectionality recognizes that people’s experiences are shaped by their multiple identities, such as race, gender, sexuality, class, religion, and ability, and how these identities interact. Learn how the intersectional identities of womanhood can shape your leadership style and help you manifest your unique career journey. During this session, you will have the opportunity to ask questions to female STEM leaders about their experiences crafting their careers through various job functions and industries including consumer product goods, adhesive technologies, and pharmaceuticals. Prepare for an authentic conversation that will provide real-world examples and advice on advocating for yourself, taking on new challenges and developing your leadership style based on your strengths. Each person’s pathway into leadership is different; it is shaped by their unique perspectives, experiences, and challenges. By embracing what makes your leadership style different and empowering diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace, you can unleash your full potential.