Laying the Foundation
Every journey with the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) begins with a moment of connection. For me, that moment came at WeLocal Bengaluru 2024, where I was first introduced to a community that celebrated confidence, collaboration, and purpose in engineering. What began as curiosity soon evolved into commitment as I became an active collegiate member of SWE, opening doors to learning, leadership, and meaningful professional relationships.
This journey took a defining turn when I was selected for the SWE Collegiate Leadership Institute Program 2025, an experience that strengthened my leadership and communication skills and encouraged me to think beyond participation and toward impact. Soon after, my college CMR Institute of Technology became a Collegiate Affiliate of SWE. The introduction of the Student Chapter marked a significant milestone, creating a new platform for collaboration, learning, and empowerment on our campus. From working with passionate peers and mentors to representing CMRIT at the SWE conferences, every step of this journey has shaped me both personally and professionally.
Why SWE, Why Now
SWE has been a transformative presence in my academic and personal journey. From my first introduction to the community at WeLocal Bengaluru 2024 to growing into a leadership role within the organization, SWE consistently pushed me to step outside my comfort zone, build confidence, and envision my potential beyond the classroom. The opportunities to learn, lead, and connect have shaped not only my professional outlook but also my sense of purpose.
At a time when students, like me, are navigating academic pressures, career uncertainty, and the challenge of finding their voice, SWE offers a supportive space that encourages growth, collaboration, and self-belief. I strongly believe that the same platform that changed my trajectory can empower many more students on our campus by helping them discover opportunities, build meaningful connections, and grow into confident engineers and leaders.
Planning with Purpose and Mentorship
As leaders and members of this chapter, one question guided our efforts from the very beginning: How do we create a meaningful first experience for our community?
During the planning phase, the SWE CMRIT Student Chapter leadership team had the opportunity to interact with representatives from SWE India, whose guidance played a valuable role in shaping our approach. Their insights helped us align the event with SWE’s mission while ensuring it remained engaging and relevant to a collegiate audience. By incorporating their suggestions into our planning process, we were able to design an experience that balanced structure with creativity, while also reinforcing the importance of mentorship and collaboration across the SWE network. These discussions ultimately shaped the structure and vision of SWE Social’25.
Navigating Our First Challenge
Our pilot event was initially scheduled for 19th November 2025, but due to unforeseen circumstances, it had to be postponed to 26th November 2025. While this presented our first organizational challenge as a new chapter, it quickly became a defining lesson in adaptability and teamwork. Reworking logistics, communicating updates, and sustaining enthusiasm required collective effort and resilience.
To re-engage students and rebuild momentum, we organized a small pre-event exclusively for the SWE Student Chapter members. Recognizing that we were building a community within a college environment, we adopted a peer-driven and light-hearted approach. Members participated in fun dares that encouraged them to talk about SWE, share details about SWE Social’25, and spark conversations across campus. This initiative helped capture attention organically and empowered our members to become enthusiastic ambassadors for SWE. By the day of the event, we had received close to 70 registrations, reinforcing that our outreach efforts had resonated with students. Our first challenge ultimately became our first step of success.
SWE Social’25: Bringing the Vision to Life
The session began with a Student Chapter Introduction, led by the President and Vice-President, where we introduced SWE’s global mission, the vision of the CMRIT chapter, and the core team behind the initiative. This segment set the tone for the event by highlighting how SWE serves as a platform for leadership, professional growth, and community-building for aspiring engineers.
To foster comfort and participation, we followed this with an ice-breaker activity titled “Better Half.” Participants were given chits with phrases and tasked with finding the person holding the complementary phrase. This activity not only energized the room but also helped participants interact beyond their usual academic circles.
One of the most engaging segments of the event was the Speed Engineering networking round. Students were grouped into quads comprising members from different departments and years, with the challenge of brainstorming an innovative app, product, or creative solution by combining knowledge from their respective domains. Teams then pitched their ideas within a time limit. This segment highlighted the value of interdisciplinary thinking, teamwork, and open dialogue, all of which are core principles that lie at the heart of SWE’s mission. With over 40 participants actively engaging throughout the session, the enthusiasm reinforced our belief that meaningful participation begins with shared experiences.
Reflections as a Student Leader
Seeing the entire event come together was a deeply rewarding moment for me as President of the SWE CMRIT Student Chapter. It reaffirmed that every effort invested by my team was truly worth it. Many of our members worked through academic commitments, examinations, and deadlines to ideate and contribute meaningfully, and witnessing their dedication translate into a successful event was incredibly fulfilling.
The feedback we received further reinforced this sentiment. One participant shared, “Do such events often and increase the duration,” while another noted, “Really engaging by the host members—I liked the way technology and networking were integrated along with a lot of fun.” Reading responses like these and seeing students express interest in becoming part of the SWE community was both encouraging and validating, highlighting the impact of our collective efforts.
For me, the request to extend a two-hour session was particularly meaningful; it reflected not only active engagement but also the sense that participants were genuinely immersed in the experience.
Gratitude and Looking Ahead
I am sincerely grateful to all the participants and supporters who contributed their time, energy, and enthusiasm to make this pilot event a success. Their engagement reinforced the purpose behind our efforts and the value of creating meaningful spaces for connection and collaboration.
I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the SWE CMRIT core team, whose dedication, creativity, and commitment made this event possible. Many of them balanced academic responsibilities, examinations, and deadlines while continuing to ideate, plan, and execute with remarkable enthusiasm. Their collective effort and belief in our vision truly brought this event to life.
I am especially grateful to our faculty convenor, Prof. Anju Das, whose unwavering guidance, encouragement, and belief in my capabilities have been a strong backbone throughout this journey. Her trust empowered me to lead with confidence and navigate challenges with clarity, making a meaningful difference to both my leadership growth and the success of this pilot event.
I would also like to express my gratitude to Charulatha Varadarajan, Megha Venkatasamy, and Aishwarya Vijay from SWE India for their guidance and support, which helped strengthen our connection to the larger SWE community.
As I look ahead, I am excited to continue creating opportunities that allow students to learn, connect, and grow together. This pilot event marked just the beginning of our journey, and I look forward to helping many more students experience the growth, inspiration, and sense of belonging that SWE has given me.
More about SWE:
SWE India:– www.swe.org
Upcoming event updates and more:-
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/society-of-women-engineers-in-india/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SWEinIndia/
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/swe.india/
