In celebration of International Women in Engineering Day 2024, six of our trusted suppliers joined us to introduce a female engineer they admire and a policy, initiative, action, or partnership they’re proud to offer in support of women in STEM.
International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) is June 28th, and this year marks the 7th annual celebration, which serves to honor the remarkable women engineers who have made valuable contributions to STEM fields, empower and support women engineers continuing to carve paths into this still-solidly-male-dominated field (83.3% male vs. 16.7% female in 2023), and inspire girls and women to follow in their footsteps.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) first recognized INWED as a global holiday in 2017. It was directly inspired by National Women in Engineering Day, which was established in the U.K. in 2014 by the Women’s Engineering Society in honor of the organization’s 95th anniversary. But its roots date back to 1919, when the Women’s Engineering Society was founded by members of the National Council of Women of Great Britian to empower and campaign for the women who wanted to further the engineering careers they had embraced as part of the home front efforts during World War I and to promote engineering as a rewarding career for women.
In celebration of INWED 2024, RS invited representatives from several of its trusted suppliers to introduce a policy, action, initiative, or partnership that they’re proud their company implements in support of women in STEM and, if they’d like, a female engineer that they admire as well.
Megha Agrawal, Software Product Manager, Red Lion
I deeply admire Mary Barra, the history-making CEO of General Motors (GM). She became the first woman to lead a major automaker, a historic achievement that shattered barriers in a traditionally male-dominated industry. Her journey started as a co-op student, and she worked her way up through various engineering and administrative roles to GM’s top executives. Her dedication and drive are inspiring for female engineers, as they demonstrate that technical expertise and leadership are a powerful combination for women in the ever-evolving field of engineering.
I am very proud that my employer, Red Lion Controls, has implemented several initiatives to support women in the workplace. Red Lion has sponsored employee memberships for Women in Manufacturing (WiM), and our lean trainings have largely benefited women in the production facility. We also have quiet rooms in the office to support new mothers in the workplace. In addition, Red Lion has been very supportive of women in manager roles, providing opportunities for everyone to rise based on merit.
Daniella Gonzalez, North American Product Manager for Valves and Valve Terminals, Festo
If you ask a New Yorker to name two of the city’s most memorable sites, invariably, one of the picks will be the Brooklyn Bridge. Finished in 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge was the longest suspension bridge of its day and a feat of bridge engineering unequaled at that time. The bridge, a National Historic Landmark and National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, still amazes residents and visitors to New York City.
The bridge was designed by John Roebling, who died not long after construction began in 1869. His son, Washington, became chief engineer, but while fighting a fire in one of the pressurized underwater caissons, he emerged too quickly and suffered decompression sickness, becoming bedridden.
For the next 13 years, Washington’s wife, Emily, maintained the pace and quality of construction by relaying information from Washington to his assistants. Emily Roebling developed an extensive knowledge of materials, stresses, and cable construction; made sophisticated mathematical calculations and built upon her previous informal study of bridge construction; and became the bridge’s de facto chief engineer. In honor of her contributions, she was the first person to cross the completed bridge and, during her carriage-ride crossing, she held a rooster — the symbol of the victory of light over dark. Emily Roebling epitomizes perseverance, talent, and devotion to family — traits that are deeply meaningful to me and my colleagues at Festo — and I’m proud that Festo offers the Women at Festo mentorship program that’s consistent with values shown by Emily Roebling.
Patty Marrero, Vice President of Organizational Development and Talent Acquisition, Phoenix Contact
It’s important to create connections between women engineers, as well as to inspire the next generation of women engineers. More women than ever are entering STEM careers, but studies show that job retention is low and fewer women engineers reach mid- to upper-level management. Connections and community outreach can help. Our Women Engineers at Phoenix Contact Club (WE@PxC) connects women engineers in the U.S. and gives them an opportunity to have peer discussions and celebrate success, both locally and globally. Club members also volunteer at local schools and events to encourage girls to consider careers in STEM. By connecting with the community and sharing their love of engineering, WE@PxC members are empowering the next generation of innovators.
Joy Appleton, Team Lead R&D Services and Support, ebm-papst Inc.
ebm-papst Inc. is deeply committed to fostering an inclusive environment for women in engineering. This has been reflected in my own experiences working with the encouraging and endlessly supportive engineering management teams at my company, who offer individualized development plans that present unique pathways for self-guided growth. Opportunities for travel have also resulting in new professional connections and helped expand my network within the world of STEM.
In April 2024, after gaining several years of experience as an application engineer and then as a strategic account engineer, I have now grown into a new role as team lead: R&D services and support, which allows me to lead technical project management and innovation within our R&D department. I was also recently honored by my coworkers and company leadership with the “Living the Brand Award,” which recognizes employees who exemplify our core values of enthusiasm, efficiency, and humanity.
While these accolades reflect my personal commitment to my role in the company, they also demonstrate ebm-papst’s commitment to creating pathways for women to succeed and thrive in engineering. I am proud to be part of a company that not only recognizes the importance of women in STEM but actively works to support and celebrate their contributions.
Kathrin Starschich, Market Development Manager OEM, Siemens
One engineer I deeply admire is my dear colleague, Kimberly Cornwell. As one of our outstanding national application engineers, Kimberly’s knowledge of automation is unmatched. She has been a vital force in solving application issues and designing efficient automation architectures across the U.S. Her sales colleagues and numerous customers hold her in the highest regard and appreciate her dedication and exceptional work. I’m continually inspired by her expertise, commitment, and the positive impact she has on everyone around her.
I am also very proud of the Siemens Corporates with Education (SCE) program, which my colleague, Amanda Beaton, has been successfully leading since 2012. The goal of the SCE program is to elevate the technical expertise of the future workforce through partnerships with over 600 grade schools, colleges, universities, and workforce training centers. While SCE isn’t focused solely on women in STEM, it has profoundly impacted countless young women’s lives.
The schools we collaborate with often share inspiring stories of female students breaking the poverty cycle in their families through the program. We’ve also heard about young moms turning their passion for mechatronics into well-paying jobs to support their families and foster kids and veterans gaining certifications and securing exciting jobs in various industries.
As Amanda puts it, “This program allows me to make real something that matters in the lives and careers of students and teachers — and in the businesses of our customers and distributors — the future of manufacturing in the U.S.” To learn more about the program, please visit Siemens Corporates with Education (SCE).
Marie Ottum, Senior Principal R&D/Product Development Engineer – Advanced Technology, TE Connectivity
I am a senior principal engineer for TE Connectivity’s medical business unit. I enjoy working for TE not only because I get to put my technical skills to use designing and manufacturing products that improve lives, but also because of TE’s dedication to fostering an inclusive workplace for women and minorities through employee resource groups (ERGs).
As the global lead for one of our ERGs, Women in Networking (WIN), I promote initiatives aimed at breaking down barriers and advancing actions that foster inclusivity and equity for women across all facets of our organization. With the support of senior leadership, we advocate for policies and behaviors that nurture professional growth, facilitate sponsorship, enable greater networking, and ultimately elevate the representation of women — particularly in historically underrepresented fields like engineering and operations.
Currently, 248 (28%) of TE’s leaders at a director level or higher are women — a significant advancement from just a few years ago — and we are actively working to promote even greater diversity. As an engineer, I have witnessed how diverse representation cultivates a variety of perspectives, enhancing innovation and technical solutions.
Beyond promoting representation, WIN enables a sense of community and way to create meaningful connections with other. I have personally developed friendships and professional relationships through the network while also being exposed to ideas and parts of the business I otherwise would not have had the opportunity to experience.
Samantha Massingill, Application Engineer – Technical Solutions Center, RS
Each and every day, I am inspired by the aspiring female engineers who see the challenges that us women in STEM industries currently face and still rise to face the adversity in dedication to and pursuit of their dreams. These young women are our future and our legacy. While we professional women in STEM thank the pioneers and trailblazers who came before us, we also need to celebrate the future female engineers who will continue our work — the girls who will continue to sing the battle cry of our echoed voices demanding workplace equality for the genders in all regards.
I am incredibly proud and fortunate to be employed by a company that not only supports the women engineers within our organization but also supports girls and women in STEM outside of our organization, including aspiring professionals and female students in our local community. With RS Group being the corporate sponsor for local student groups like Girls in
Engineering and Robotics Society (GEARS), we actively work to empower the next generation of female engineers with our support and sponsorship. In this past year alone, we have attended meetings at local schools, hosted field trips, and provided workshops and valuable career mentoring and coaching services for aspiring female STEM professionals.
Join Us in Celebrating INWED 2024
By working together, we can continue to make the engineering industry more inclusive and diverse and cultivate an environment in which everyone feels empowered to contribute their unique talents and make the world a better place.
To learn more about the importance and benefits of gender diversity in the workplace, check out these resources from Forbes and SnowHR. To learn more about the current state of women in corporate America, check out the latest annual “Women in the Workplace” study from LeanIn.Org and McKinsey & Company. To learn more about the efforts that RS Group is making to empower our people and foster a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture that invites each employee to bring their true selves to work every day, visit the links embedded here.
