Honor Your Experience and Authenticity

As I write this, I am still seeing lots of excitement in the notes and photos on social media from our WE24 conference, and that is bringing a big smile to my face. The vibe was amazing this year — so much hope and so much camaraderie. And everyone truly embraced the theme of Together We Rise. 

I heard so many stories of “SWE-ple” supporting each other and fulfilling the very heart of our mission and vision, which is to empower women engineers and technologists to achieve their full potential in life and career. 

The next step is to keep this spirit alive into the new year. Our lives are all full and hectic. Those of you who met my daughter, Charlotte, at WE24 know she keeps me on my toes along with her little sister.  However, it’s important to take a moment, when you are able, to reach out to someone. Send a quick text or find time for a five-minute phone chat. I promise it will bring a smile to someone’s face when they need it most. 

If you missed WE24, you will have several more opportunities to join the fun at our upcoming WE Local events. I plan to attend San Jose, Milwaukee, and Prague. We will once again host panels of amazing women at each event, talking about what the year’s theme means to them, and I am so excited to hear from every one of them. Even if I have met someone and think I know them, there is always something new to learn about what empowers and motivates each person. 

Personally, what motivates me to keep coming back to all of you and SWE is a small encounter I had a few years ago. I had lunch with a well-meaning gentleman, and we talked about potential board opportunities. He explained to me that I needed more governance experience and suggested I do some volunteer board work. I was mildly confused for a bit until I realized he had not considered any of my board work with organizations dedicated to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging — including SWE and the Girl Scouts. He had completely overlooked those parts of my resume. There was no malice or ill intent, just a lack of recognition that it was meaningful work.

It took me a few weeks to get there, but I finally realized that this was all the more reason I needed to be here, in this space, advocating for women and ensuring that women’s work is always valued. This woman is here to stay long after my tenure as SWE president ends. 

A wise past president has told me many times this past year that my superpower is being exactly and authentically who I am. It never quite works if I try to be anyone else — what other people may expect me to be. I cannot lead that way. 

Please embrace exactly that thing in you that you love and be who you are so you can be ready to lead and be authentic for yourself and for others who may be looking at you as a role model.