We are delighted to extend our sincere gratitude to all the attendees who joined us for the enriching and insightful SWE webinar titled “Key Factors in Successful Control System Modernization”, hosted on May 30, 2025. This special session featured none other than Harshada Gowaikar, Project Engineer II at Honeywell and a dedicated Global Ambassador of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE).
The event brought together professionals, students, and engineering enthusiasts from across the country—and beyond—into a shared space of knowledge, inspiration, and professional growth. We are overwhelmed with the positive response and enthusiasm shown by each one of you, and we deeply appreciate your active participation.
👩💼 About the Speaker – Harshada Gowaikar
Harshada Gowaikar is a highly accomplished engineering professional with over 12 years of experience in Control and Automation Engineering. Her career spans a diverse range of industries and geographies, where she has led critical phases of engineering projects—from Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) to on-site commissioning. In addition to her project execution excellence, Harshada has played key roles in proposal engineering and tool development, combining technical expertise with strategic commercial insight.
As a Global SWE Ambassador, Harshada is passionate about driving outreach, especially among university students and early-career engineers. Her leadership in SWE is focused on empowering women in STEM and creating equitable opportunities for growth and learning in engineering.
🔍 Key Takeaways from the Session
The session covered some of the most vital aspects of modernizing control systems—a challenge many organizations face today. Harshada shared practical insights, drawn from her hands-on project experience, on how to approach modernization initiatives strategically and successfully.
Some of the key discussion points included:
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Understanding the lifecycle of control systems and identifying the right time for modernization
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Common challenges during modernization projects and how to proactively mitigate them
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Importance of planning, risk assessment, and stakeholder alignment
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Role of engineering tools and team collaboration in ensuring smooth transitions
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Case studies from global projects, providing real-world context and lessons learned
Participants were particularly impressed by how clearly and effectively Harshada communicated these complex topics. Her ability to translate technical challenges into actionable strategies resonated with professionals from a wide range of disciplines.
💬 Participant Feedback
The feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive. Many participants expressed appreciation for the clarity and relevance of the content, and several attendees mentioned they left the session feeling more confident and better informed about taking on modernization efforts in their own roles.
🙏 A Heartfelt Thank You
On behalf of the organizing team and the SWE community, we would like to thank Harshada Gowaikar for her time, effort, and passion. Her contributions to the session—and to SWE’s broader mission—are truly commendable. We are grateful for her willingness to share her knowledge and empower fellow engineers to strive for excellence.
We also extend our appreciation to every participant who took the time to attend, engage, and make this session a success. Your questions, feedback, and enthusiasm are what make these sessions so impactful.
📌 What’s Next?
This webinar marks just one of many events we have planned as part of our ongoing commitment to professional development, mentorship, and technical growth within the SWE network. Be sure to:
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Stay connected with us on our platforms for upcoming webinars and workshop.
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Share your learnings and help spread the word about SWE and its amazing network
Together, let’s continue to foster a culture of innovation, inclusion, and impact in engineering!
Thank you once again for being part of this journey.
The recording of the session is available.
Passcode: ?NiU9nQ4
For more session, Please reach out to info_india@swe.org for access.
More about SWE:
SWE India:– www.swe.org
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