Swe Podcasts

This episode is sponsored by Fortune Brands Innovations. In this episode of Diverse, we dive into the world of international engineering projects with Gretchen Curry, director of quality, North America, at Fortune Brands Innovations. Curry shares her inspiring journey from chemical engineer to leading global projects, including a notable plant startup in Singapore. Hear her insights on navigating international teams and climbing the career ladder as a working mom, plus learn how Fortune Brands Innovations is supporting women engineers in its workforce.

Morénike Giwa Onaiwu joined us live in the WE23 Diverse Podcast Studio to share insights on inclusion and equity, particularly for the neurodivergent community. Interviewed by Laurie Shuster, editor-in-chief of SWE Magazine, Giwa Onaiwu discusses their journey as an advocate, educator and founder of the nonprofit Advocacy Without Borders. Learn the best piece of advice Giwa Onaiwu ever received, what drives her commitment to social justice, and practical ideas that STEM workplaces can implement to become more accessible to all.

This episode is sponsored by Tetra Pak. When you sit down to enjoy your favorite food and drinks, do you ever think about the engineers who made that meal possible? Meet Samantha Bzdawka and Alexus Heldt, two Tetra Pak engineers at different points in their careers who specialize in the equipment that makes cheese and other dairy products. On this episode of Diverse, they discuss the important role engineers play in supporting our food systems.

Dr. Ashley Huderson, STEM and CS Equity Fellow with the U.S. Department of Education*, joins us live in the WE23 Diverse Podcast Studio to share about building STEM education and career pathways for individuals in underrepresented communities. In conversation with Karen Horting, Executive Director and CEO of SWE, Dr Huderson details policies and programs that increase STEM access and exposure, such as the “YOU Belong in STEM” initiative. She also reflects on the best advice from her father, the gifts that come with failure, and why students don’t need straight A’s to achieve success. *Dr. Huderson is currently on sabbatical.

This episode is sponsored by Bechtel. Dive into the intersection of manufacturing, leadership, and technology with Catherine Hunt Ryan, President of Bechtel’s Manufacturing & Technology business. Recorded live at the WE23 Diverse Podcast Studio, Hunt Ryan explores recent legislation and trends that are shaping the manufacturing landscape in this interview with SWE Past President Dayna Johnson. Hunt Ryan also reflects on why women are key to overcoming the construction labor shortage and details the career journey that took her from political science student to her current role at Bechtel.

Jay Flores, founder of Invent the Change, joins us live at the WE23 Podcast Studio to discuss his mission to engage more students in STEM. Interviewed by FY24 SWE President Elect Karen Roth, Flores shares the moments that propelled him into the world of STEM outreach and advocacy. Hear about his experience on NBC’s American Ninja Warrior, his vision for empowering the next generation of engineers, and the “It's Not Magic, It's Science” program that Flores brought to SWE’s Invent It. Build It. event at WE23.

Claudine Schmuck, founder of the Gender Scan survey, joins us live in the WE23 Podcast Studio to share the latest data on the gender balance in STEM across the globe. In conversation with FY24 SWE President Alexis McKittrick, Schmuck sheds light on the challenges and opportunities faced by women engineers worldwide. She also shares data-driven practical steps to foster inclusivity in STEM at both the individual and policy levels.

This episode is sponsored by RTX. Layra Reza, Associate Director of Operations and Supply Chain at RTX, joins us on this episode of Diverse to share her insights on taking risks, embracing challenges, and overcoming personal and professional adversity. We delve into Reza’s story of immigrating to the U.S. at age 19 and how that experience influenced her as a leader. She also shares tips on how to overcome the fear of failure, the unique story of how she became an engineer, and insights from her 14-year career with RTX.

Peek behind the curtain of SWE’s eXXec program in this episode of Diverse! FY24 SWE President Alexis McKittrick and Lauren Kegley, Automotive Marketing Manager of Discrete Power Devices at Wolfspeed, share their experiences as participants in the eXXec program. Dr. Kim Warren-Martin moderates this conversation as the facilitator of eXXec. Hear about the lessons from eXXec that influenced them the most, how the program helps engineers embrace their unique leadership qualities, and why it’s important for women in STEM to grow their leadership skills at the executive level.

This episode is sponsored by BD. In this episode of Diverse, we sit down with Grisel Quiles, Senior Director of Reagents Manufacturing at BD Biosciences. Learn how working the night shift early in Quiles’s career changed the course of her life, her favorite self-coaching tools for professional success, and the emerging manufacturing industry trends that she finds the most exciting. Plus, she shares about her experiences in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, which struck Puerto Rico in 2017.

In this episode, Holly Maudsley, Pilot Plant and Product Development Manager at 3M, shares her personal experiences with ADHD and provides insight on how to better support neurodiverse folks in the STEM workforce. Maudsley covers the different types of neurodiversity, the accommodations needed to make everyone successful, strategies for self-advocacy, and real-world examples of how to foster inclusion for those with ADHD, autism, dyspraxia, dyslexia, and other cognitive differences.

Joannie Fu, Vice President of the Network & Edge Group (NEX) Execution Office at Intel, joins SWE CEO & Executive Director Karen Horting on this episode to discuss building a more inclusive tech sector. Fu reflects on her experience of being out at work as a member of the LGBTQ+ community in the early 2000s, along with the industry changes she has seen since that time. Hear the best career advice Fu ever received, how her background as an architect and structural engineer has influenced her leadership style, and what every STEM leader can do to create more inclusive environments at work.

In this episode, TEDxWomen speaker and leadership coach Tanya Geisler dives into the phenomenon of the imposter complex and provides actionable tools to help women in STEM cultivate more confidence. Geisler shares why she doesn’t call it “imposter syndrome” along with tangible ways to identify your unique version of imposter complex in the moment and overcome these thoughts when they strike. Plus, hear about the “golden shadow” of imposter complex and the hidden strengths that it can reveal underneath.

In this episode, Diverse features Kate Maxwell, the CTO for Defense & Intelligence in Microsoft's Worldwide Public Sector. Interviewed by FY24 SWE President Alexis McKittrick, Maxwell delves into the worlds of artificial intelligence and defense, reflects on her experiences as one of the “Top 100 Women in Tech,” and gives a sneak peek of her WE23 keynote. She also shares about SWE’s impact on her career and outlines the tangible benefits that diversity brings to the tech industry.

This episode is sponsored by BD. Explore the realm of STEM recruitment and youth outreach with Mel Fisher, Training & Development Leader at BD Plymouth UK, on this episode of Diverse. She shares her insights on the STEM workforce skills gap and what she is hearing from young women in her outreach efforts, as well as a personal anecdote on imposter syndrome and BD’s innovative programs to support the next generation of engineering leaders.

Welcome to an episode of “Un Cafecito With a Woman in STEM,” a sub-series of Diverse: a SWE Podcast. In this episode, Lennis Perez, the Hispanic Heritage Month Lead within SWE’s Latinos Affinity Group, speaks with Dr. Justina Sanchez, Quality Engineer at TÜV SÜD. Dr. Sanchez shares about how she started her STEM journey as an administrative assistant, what a typical day looks like for a product safety engineer, and her new book that celebrates women in engineering.

This episode is sponsored by The Aerospace Corporation. Dr. Debra Emmons, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at The Aerospace Corporation, joins SWE Executive Director and CEO Karen Horting to discuss diversity initiatives in the aerospace industry, including the Space Workforce 2030 pledge. Dr. Emmons also reflects on her favorite space-related moments, emerging aerospace trends, and her top piece of advice for women in leadership.

Dive into the dynamic world of hardware development with Sera Evcimen, Founder and Technical Director of Pratik Development! As a mechanical engineer, startup mentor, and hardware enthusiast, Sera has amassed a wealth of experience in industries from space exploration to robotics. In this episode, she highlights the future of hardware development, shares exciting advancements in climate tech, and reflects on how to close the gender gap in hardware engineering.

This episode is sponsored by Smith+Nephew. Join us as we sit down with three leaders from Smith+Nephew to discuss their career journeys, their insights in the medical technology field, and the company’s mentorship programs that are supporting women in STEM. Hear insights from Kalavati Bhashyam, Senior Director of Hardware Engineering, Robotics and Enabling Technologies; Angela Mejia, Senior Quality Director of Arthroscopic Enabling Technologies; and Dr. Runi Brownhill, Director of Strategic Sciences, Wound Management R&D.

Dive into the SWE Awards Program with FY24 SWE President Alexis McKittrick, FY24 Awards Implementation Lead Pamela Morison, and FY23-24 Director Inaas Darrat. In this episode, they share the significance of recognizing women in STEM, the history of the SWE Awards Program, and the upcoming changes that will make the program more inclusive.