As we turn the page on another year in SWE’s storied history and my term as SWE president comes to a close, I have the honor of writing my farewell column to all you “SWE-ple.” I first want to offer my profound gratitude and thanks for an amazing year of advocacy, energy, and support for each other in SWE.
Throughout the year, everyone has truly embraced our theme — Live Without Limits — by working to achieve your own dreams and by lifting others up to break down barriers and enact change in the engineering and technology professions. Thank you for going on this journey with me and sharing how you all are applying your thoughts and learnings from the SWE community to live without limits in your own lives.
Thank you to everyone who has worked tirelessly to move SWE forward. We accomplished so much together this year! The more SWE succeeds, the closer we get to everyone in engineering being able to live without limits in their engineering journeys. Here are just a few of the highlights I’m most proud of from this year:
- Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging — The results of last year’s SWE culture study helped us see what areas of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, or DEIB, and building a sense of community among members required the most attention. We have focused on enhancing DEIB programs for underserved member groups, reducing unneeded organizational bureaucracy, and aligning SWE leadership with our core values. We also published our second DEIB report to provide transparency about our own DEIB programs and metrics.
- WE23 in Los Angeles — The energy of our largest conference ever was phenomenal! You all brought the energy, and all of LA knew that “The Engineers Are Here!”
- Record-setting membership — SWE’s membership grew to more than 47,000 members across the globe this year; that’s an increase of roughly 4,000 members year over year!
- Reenvisioned SWE Awards and Recognition programs — Our updated SWE Awards and SWE Recognition programs launched this year with a focus on greater inclusivity across SWE’s global regions. The revamped programs ensure that everyone has opportunities for their own career paths and accomplishments to fit into SWE honors.
- Implementing board best practices — We improved the board of directors’ ways of working by implementing several executive-level best practices for highly productive boards. While this one has not been visible to most SWE members, it has resulted in significant, positive changes for the board and our contributions to SWE.
- Strategy for SWE’s committees and leadership groups — The board has been working on a strategy that aligns SWE’s committees and leadership groups with our current structure, goals, and Society-level strategy. This work will continue into next year as we partner with SWE committees and leadership groups to implement this strategy.
One question I often get is: What were some of your favorite moments as SWE president? There are too many to list, but here are a few treasured moments that really stand out as I reflect on a great year:
- Hearing both my daughters, Laura and Sadie, speak at my installation as SWE president last summer. I was honored and humbled by their poise and bravery, and I am so proud to be their mom.
- Getting on stage at WE23 was terrific. The excitement and positive vibes attendees brought to LA was amazing to behold on stage — never mind the sheer number of people in the audience!
- Speaking at a congressional briefing in Washington, D.C., on closing the STEM gap.
- Moderating our Live Without Limits keynote panels at this year’s five WE Local conferences was a really cool experience. Meeting our terrific WE Local panelists and hearing unique stories of how they defy limits and break through barriers in their own careers was an absolute inspiration.
- Having the opportunity to talk about SWE at in-person and virtual SWE and women in STEM events throughout the year.
Thank you to this year’s fantastic board of directors for always working tirelessly in service of SWE’s mission and for keeping what is best for SWE front of mind in everything you do. Thank you to everyone in SWE leadership for your enthusiasm and dedication. From our Society-level leaders in our committees, senate, board of trustees, and affinity groups to our global ambassadors and section and affiliate leaders, you volunteer your time and skills to our great organization so SWE can continue to grow and thrive. And a giant thank-you to our phenomenal SWE headquarters leadership and staff for providing expertise, passion, and new ideas to SWE.
I would also like to say a giant thank you to my family — my husband and SWE “first partner,” Mike, and our “first daughters” — for their support this year. I started my SWE journey almost 25 years ago focused on my own professional goals and the change I could make for other women. Now, I think about how SWE is shifting the world that my daughters will enter, and I am proud to play a part in that change for the better.
Let’s keep the momentum from this year going as we move toward our diamond anniversary celebration next year. I cannot help but reflect on what 75 years of SWE has meant for all our members past and present and what successes await us in the future.
Keep SWE’s mission in the forefront as you move into your next steps in your careers and lives, and remember to go for it, support each other, and live without limits!
