Episodes

  • Ep 376: Allyship in Action: How Leaders Can Open Doors for Women in Engineering

    Ep 376: Allyship in Action: How Leaders Can Open Doors for Women in Engineering
    Jul 14 2026
    In this episode, David Parrillo, Ph.D., vice president of research & development for Dow's Packaging & Specialty Plastics division, and Rob Douglas, chief engineer for planning and scheduling at the Space Telescope Science Institute, explore what allyship in engineering looks like — beyond the basics. Interviewed by Laurie Shuster, editor-in-chief of SWE Magazine, they discuss why mentorship isn't enough and what leaders can do to build workplaces where opportunity is built into the system rather than left to chance. Learn Rob's framework for growing from ally to mentor, coach, sponsor, and ultimately champion, and hear how David championed structured programs within Dow that created more equitable opportunities for engineers. Plus, explore practical ways to recognize bias, advocate for others when they're not in the room, and create more inclusive engineering teams. — The Society of Women Engineers is a powerful, global force uniting nearly 45,000 members of all genders spanning 90+ countries. We are the world’s largest advocate and catalyst for change for women in engineering and technology. To join and access all the exclusive benefits to elevate your professional journey, visit membership.swe.org.
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    31 mins
  • Ep 375: What’s Next for SWE? A Conversation With The Incoming and Outgoing SWE Presidents

    Ep 375: What’s Next for SWE? A Conversation With The Incoming and Outgoing SWE Presidents
    Jul 7 2026
    This episode of Diverse is brought to you by the University of Washington Bothell's nine-month graduate certificate program in software design and development. On July 1, 2026, Kerrie Greenfelder assumes the role of president of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), concluding Inaas Darrat’s term as SWE president. In this annual passing-the-torch conversation, Inaas reflects on her “Embrace Your Story” theme and explores how vulnerability, career pivots, and authentic storytelling resonated with SWE members around the world. Kerrie introduces her theme of “Radiate Change” and discusses how SWE can continue its mission for the next 75 years. She shares her vision for strengthening SWE’s visibility and “being the best for the most” in a world that is changing so rapidly. Plus, hear their favorite moments from the past year including jazz in New Orleans, glitter shoes, and the humor that comes with a career in wastewater engineering. — The Society of Women Engineers is a powerful, global force uniting nearly 45,000 members of all genders spanning 90+ countries. We are the world’s largest advocate and catalyst for change for women in engineering and technology. To join and access all the exclusive benefits to elevate your professional journey, visit membership.swe.org.
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    23 mins
  • Ep 374: FIRST CEO Chris Moore on Mentorship, Robotics, and the Future of STEM

    Ep 374: FIRST CEO Chris Moore on Mentorship, Robotics, and the Future of STEM
    Jul 1 2026
    Chris Moore, CEO of FIRST, discusses how hands-on robotics programs are helping young people around the world develop confidence, resilience, and a STEM identity in this episode. With host Karen Horting, executive director and CEO of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), they explore the parallels between youth sports and STEM, the unique power of after-school learning, and how the SWE-FIRST partnership is helping students imagine futures as engineers and technologists. Hear why he views failure as part of success, how the energy of the FIRST Championship rivals major sporting events, and why volunteers can have a lasting impact simply by sharing their stories. — The Society of Women Engineers is a powerful, global force uniting nearly 45,000 members of all genders spanning 90+ countries. We are the world’s largest advocate and catalyst for change for women in engineering and technology. To join and access all the exclusive benefits to elevate your professional journey, visit https://membership.swe.org.
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    34 mins
  • Ep 373: Beyond the Community College Classroom: Golf, Networking, and Swing 4 SWE

    Ep 373: Beyond the Community College Classroom: Golf, Networking, and Swing 4 SWE
    Jun 23 2026
    The golf course is often called a “second office,” where business deals and professional relationships are formed — but too often, women in engineering haven’t felt comfortable stepping into that space. In this episode, Nichole Neal, engineering faculty at Chandler-Gilbert Community College, and Kellie Phong, regional sales manager at Keysight Technologies, share how they created Swing 4 SWE, an initiative designed to bring students, faculty, and industry together on the green. Nichole reflects on how missing early-career golf invitations inspired her to build a program where women can learn the game in a supportive environment, and Kellie shares how Swing 4 SWE helped her say yes to networking opportunities she once would have avoided. Hear their personal experiences as first-generation college students, how Swing 4 SWE connects SWE members across community colleges and four-year universities, and why community colleges are a launchpad for success in the modern AI era. — The Society of Women Engineers is a powerful, global force uniting nearly 45,000 members of all genders spanning 90+ countries. We are the world’s largest advocate and catalyst for change for women in engineering and technology. To join and access all the exclusive benefits to elevate your professional journey, visit membership.swe.org.
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    24 mins
  • Ep 371: Engineering Graduates: How to Navigate Your First Year After College

    Ep 371: Engineering Graduates: How to Navigate Your First Year After College
    Jun 9 2026
    In this episode, FY26 SWE President Inaas Darrat sits down with two early-career SWE leaders to talk honestly about life after engineering school and the lessons they wish they had learned sooner. Abigail Fennell, biomedical engineering Ph.D. candidate at Johns Hopkins University, shares how her mentors and SWE connections helped her realize she wanted to pursue a Ph.D., along with the differences between undergraduate courses and graduate research. Abby Culloton, hydraulic engineer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, reflects on learning how to make friends after college and transitioning into her first engineering role. Hear practical advice on setting new goals after college, finding support systems as an adult, and letting go of the pressure to figure everything out at once. — The Society of Women Engineers is a powerful, global force uniting nearly 45,000 members of all genders spanning 90+ countries. We are the world’s largest advocate and catalyst for change for women in engineering and technology. To join and access all the exclusive benefits to elevate your professional journey, visit membership.swe.org.
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    39 mins
  • Ep 370: What Hockey Teaches Engineers About Performing Under Pressure With Katherine Beaumier

    Ep 370: What Hockey Teaches Engineers About Performing Under Pressure With Katherine Beaumier
    Jun 2 2026
    What can hockey teach you about succeeding as an engineer? In this episode, Katherine Beaumier, remote operations project execution lead at ExxonMobil and two-time Division 1 women’s ice hockey national champion, explores how lessons from competitive hockey show up in her STEM career. In conversation with host Sam East, Katherine reflects on her journey of leaving home at 14 to pursue hockey opportunities, balancing athletic commitments with a chemical engineering degree, and rebuilding her identity after stepping into the workforce during the height of the pandemic. Hear the parallels between high-performing hockey teams and engineering teams, lessons from athletics to help engineers stay calm under pressure, and why having passions outside of work can strengthen your leadership style. — The Society of Women Engineers is a powerful, global force uniting nearly 45,000 members of all genders spanning 90+ countries. We are the world’s largest advocate and catalyst for change for women in engineering and technology. To join and access all the exclusive benefits to elevate your professional journey, visit membership.swe.org.
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    26 mins
  • Ep 369: Tales From the Archives: The First SWE Engineering Legends

    Ep 369: Tales From the Archives: The First SWE Engineering Legends
    May 26 2026
    To see the archival photos and documents referenced in the episode, watch the video podcast here: https://youtu.be/ItBlWLPcAyU In this special video episode for SWE’s Founders Day, host Troy Eller English, chief archivist for the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), is joined by two of the editors of the book, “Women Engineering Legends 1952-1976: Society of Women Engineers Achievement Award Recipients,” Jill Tietjen and Holly Teig. Along with four other members of SWE’s Late Career and Retiree Affinity Group, this literary team explored the stories of the first 25 recipients of SWE’s Achievement Award. They discuss the technical legacy of early women engineers, from Edith Clarke’s work in electrical power systems to Alice Stoll’s research on g-forces and fire-resistant materials, along with the barriers they faced during a time when women made up less than 1% of the engineering workforce. Hear how members of the SWE Late Career and Retiree Affinity Group came together to research these stories, how the SWE archives made this work possible, and why it’s important for engineers today to understand this history. — The Society of Women Engineers is a powerful, global force uniting nearly 45,000 members of all genders spanning 90+ countries. We are the world’s largest advocate and catalyst for change for women in engineering and technology. To join and access all the exclusive benefits to elevate your professional journey, visit membership.swe.org.
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    41 mins