International Women in Engineering Day 

On June 23 we celebrate International Women in Engineering Day. This day of recognition was first celebrated nine years ago by the Women’s Engineering Society (WES) in the United Kingdom to develop an awareness of the struggles of female engineers. According to WES, only 16.5% of engineers are women. With such a small number of female engineers, what can we do to encourage girls and young women to pursue careers in engineering? The answer lies in our response to diversity, equality & inclusion (DE&I). 

Organizations are built by people. People who emerge stronger when heard, included and empowered. Over the past two years as we navigated through a global pandemic, we saw the focus on DE&I strengthen like never before. These extraordinary times led many organizations to reflect on their values and reaffirm their commitment to their employees by helping to bring these values to life. 

Every day presents a new opportunity to advance inclusion in the workplace. We dream of a place where everyone is respected, acceptance is the norm, where collaboration is the core and opportunities are provided to all equally.  

It is no secret that the more diverse an organization, the stronger it emerges. Recruitment becomes the first and most critical step in building a diverse workforce and bringing together people from all backgrounds. By extension, organizations must develop an intentional strategy to onboard diverse talents, which should include training on interviewing skills, unconscious bias, and the integration of diverse talents, as these are critical for building a culture of collaboration and inclusion. 

The AspenTech Women in Engineering Celebration, June, 2022

Developing an organization where allyship and mentorship are a true part of the company culture &  where male leaders reach out to female employees and provide opportunities for leadership is vital to creating an equitable organization. It is also important to measure how leaders are working to promote diverse talent and are held accountable for providing growth opportunities to all – regardless of gender, color, or sexual orientation. 

According to research, empathy is the most important leadership skill . While it has always been critical, it has earned greater meaning in a post-pandemic world. Active listening training is a powerful mechanism that can help leaders build a culture of empathy and compassion. Practicing empathy with action is what truly counts when helping employees navigate the challenges of work and life. 

A 2021 survey by Deloitte confirmed that DE&I and employee mental health and well-being were a top priority for CEOs in 2021. DE&I trainings help foster a positive, inclusive environment that promotes well-being,  trust and instills confidence in employees. Organizations must help to provide their employees with the support they need to feel safe and appreciated. 

The responsibility for creating more diverse and inclusive workplaces hinges on leadership. However, I believe that it is the responsibility of each employee to celebrate diversity, promote inclusion and create a sense of belonging in the workplace for everyone. 

 

Insights from Our Engineers 

“Celebrate INWED is an opportunity for me to highlight the women journey in the technology area around the world, contributing to gender equality and motivating future generations to be able to choose freely their career path” — Fulvia Borges, Principal Solution Consultant, Aspen Technology Brazil, Ltda.
"The world needs more women engineers, and a way to attract them is to celebrate the hard work and accomplishments of women engineers across the globe. IWED provides that opportunity to highlight female STEM role models and helps create more female role models, thus drawing more women and girls to the field of science and engineering and ultimately opening the door to a more diverse STEM workforce. It is a way of recognizing diversity, not only of gender but of age, culture, experience, and expertise. For me, celebrating IWED is crucial as it makes me feel empowered. I believe it is another way to bridge the STEM gender divide. It makes our working culture more welcoming, and the Stem leaders in our company encourage me to dream big and aim for leadership roles." — Priya Nair, Sr. Technical Consultant, Aspen Technology, Inc.
"Even though I’m not an engineer, International Women In Engineering Day means a lot to me because it represents the opportunity that women have to participate in industries, roles and fields that used to be only available to men. In my opinion, IWED also inspires women to pursue any career they want, breaking traditional stereotypes. Finally, these celebrations, encourage current and future generations to promote a more diverse professional collaboration all around!"  — Victoria Medrano, Sr Inside Sales Account Manager, Aspen Technology, Inc.