This year, the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) hosted its annual WE25 conference in the vibrant city of New Orleans — a gathering that transcended the boundaries of a typical professional event. The conference was a celebration of innovation, diversity and the remarkable stories of women engineers from around the world. With over 16,000 attendees from across the globe, WE25 marked SWE’s 75th anniversary, unifying a global engineering community for three days of learning, networking and inspiration.

Embrace your story: The heart of WE25

The theme “Embrace your story” resonated throughout the conference, encouraging participants to reflect on their personal and professional journeys. For me, this was a transformative experience. Presenting at WE for the third time — and my second as a solo speaker — was both exhilarating and nerve-wracking. My session, “Turning tides: Embracing sudden shifts with confidence”, was inspired by the conference’s central message and my own recent experiences.

A quote from Inaas Darat, FY26 SWE President, captured the essence of the event: “Your pivots don't define you; they refine you”. Over the past year, I faced a major professional pivot that reshaped not only my career but also my outlook on life. This change became an opportunity to refine skills, broaden perspective and truly understand what it means to leave a legacy.

Connecting with leaders and future innovators

One of the highlights of WE25 was the Executives Women Luncheon, where I had the privilege of sharing a table with industry leaders — women who have made significant impacts in engineering and their communities. Our discussions centered on authentic pivotal moments, executive influence and leadership lessons that have shaped our journeys.

I’m also thrilled to announce that I’ve been selected as one of the Brand Ambassadors for WE26, along with a few other fellow women engineers from diverse industries, including Kerrie Greenfelder, President-Elect SWE.

Next year’s event in Boston promises to be another incredible opportunity to represent and contribute to SWE’s mission.

Another memorable moment was the Invent It, Build It — SWE NEXT’s signature outreach event —with my daughter. Meeting parents and children from different countries gathered to share STEM advocacy tips, understand why it is vital to inspire and encourage girls to pursue careers in STEM and support the next generation of innovators was both meaningful and inspiring.

My session insights

My session focused on navigating sudden organizational changes — a challenge faced by many professionals. Initially, the uncertainty was daunting, but I chose to embrace the change as a chance for growth. I took proactive steps to assess my strengths, weaknesses and career goals, turning a potentially disruptive experience into an opportunity for personal and professional development.

The session was designed to help participants build resilience and adaptability, equipping them with strategies to handle organizational shifts effectively. Attendees explored how to proactively plan and adjust career blueprints in response to unforeseen changes, ensuring that setbacks become stepping stones to success.

Key takeaways from the WE25 conference: Turning insights into action

Returning from WE25, I’m committed to transforming the insights gained from the workshops and sessions into tangible actions that shape my work, team and company culture. Here are some of the key learnings I’m bringing back:

• Embedding ethical AI practices: Ensuring transparency and eliminating biases in technology
• Fostering inclusive leadership: Supporting career development and creating environments where everyone can thrive
• Designing for engagement: Building products and solutions with the end-user in mind
• Recognizing burnout: Identifying signs of burnout in young leaders and turning challenges into motivation
• Influencing diverse teams: Developing strategies to effectively lead and inspire teams in today’s dynamic workplace
• Building executive presence: Harnessing the power of storytelling and authenticity to lead with impact

Looking ahead

As I reflect on my WE25 experience, I’m reminded that growth often comes from embracing change and sharing our stories. WE25 served as a powerful reminder of the importance of community, mentorship and continuous learning. I’m excited to carry these lessons forward, not just in my own career, but in the way I support others — especially women and girls pursuing engineering and technology.

This conference highlighted the collective commitment to building a more inclusive future in STEM. The lessons and connections forged at WE25 will continue to inspire and empower women engineers and their allies as they shape the future of engineering and technology.

Here’s to embracing our stories, refining our journeys and building a more inclusive future in STEM.