Breaking Records in FY24
June marked the beginning of summer and the end of another truly remarkable fiscal year at the Society of Women Engineers. The past 12 months have been one for the books as we experienced unprecedented growth and impactful initiatives that have propelled SWE and women in engineering and technology to new heights.
I am delighted to announce that we achieved record membership numbers, ending the year with more than 47,000 members globally! Our community of engineers and supporters is more powerful and diverse now than ever before, reflecting our commitment to inclusivity and empowerment in engineering. Each new and renewing member further strengthens our collective voice and bolsters our ability to advocate for gender diversity and equality in STEM fields across the globe.
WE23, our annual signature event held in Los Angeles last fall, saw record-breaking attendance, punctuating its significance as a premier gathering for women in engineering and technology. The energy and enthusiasm at the conference were palpable, as more than 18,000 attendees from around the world came together to network, learn, find career opportunities, and celebrate our shared achievements. Plus, another 3,500 joined us virtually for the event. As if that wasn’t enough, the WE23 conference marketing campaign received the American Society of Association Executives’ Gold Circle Overall Excellence Award for marketing and communications in associations! Needless to say, this year’s conference, WE24 in Chicago, Oct. 24-26, is a must-attend event.
Our WE Local events experienced fantastic participation in multiple cities across three continents. These regional gatherings have become vital hubs for networking, professional development, career growth, and community building at the local level.
We also expanded our global reach with record numbers. We welcomed 118 affiliates across 34 countries and 213 ambassadors in 29 countries. This global expansion not only strengthens our international presence but also enhances our ability to support women engineers in diverse cultural and geographical contexts.
Easily one of our standout achievements of this fiscal year is the $5 million grant from the National Science Foundation to fund the ongoing work of the Women of Color in Engineering Collaborative, or WCEC. This groundbreaking initiative aims to address the unique challenges faced by women of color in engineering and foster an inclusive environment in which all women can thrive and succeed.
Additionally, SWE Magazine received five Awards of Excellence and three Grand Awards — the highest honor — from the Awards for Publishing Excellence (APEX). The magazine also received two top awards and three honorable mentions from Folio, a leading magazine industry group. Our learning programs team launched an enhanced leadership competency model, which is receiving rave reviews from members and employers alike. And we hosted our largest virtual career fair ever, with 60 recruiting organizations and 1,977 registered job seekers in attendance.
As we reflect on these accomplishments, we know they would not have been possible without the dedication and passion of our members, volunteers, partners, and staff. Your commitment to SWE’s mission and your tireless efforts have made this fiscal year one of unparalleled success. Together, we are making a profound impact on the engineering profession and paving the way for future generations of women engineers.
Looking ahead, we are excited about the opportunities and challenges that the new fiscal year will bring. With our unwavering commitment to advancing gender diversity and equality in engineering and technology, SWE is ready for another outstanding year!
Author
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Karen Horting (she/her), CAE, is the SWE executive director and CEO. She joined the Society in 2004 after working with the New York Academy of Sciences and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.