Claim OwnershipDiverse: a SWE podcast
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Welcome to Diverse, a podcast by the Society of Women Engineers. SWE gives women engineers a unique place and voice within the engineering community. On Diverse, we highlight incredible thought leaders and personalities in the STEM community and discover who they are at home, at work and in between.
363 Episodes
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Kristin Hagen, biomedical engineering student at the University of California, Irvine and lifelong dancer, shares practical tools from the dance world to help women in STEM take up space and present with confidence.
Live from the WE25 Diverse Podcast Studio in New Orleans, Kristin shares how choreography, muscle memory, posture, and improvisation can transform the way engineers show up during presentations with host Laurie Shuster, editor-in-chief of SWE Magazine.
Hear why confidence begins the moment you walk into the room, how techniques like the “Clinton box” can strengthen your stage presence, and how staying poised helped her recover from an on-stage slip-up during a technical talk.
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The Society of Women Engineers is a powerful, global force uniting 50,000 members of all genders spanning 85 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.
This episode is sponsored by Bechtel.
Josefina Alvarez and Kira McKay, supplier quality representatives at Bechtel, sit down with SWE President-Elect Kerrie Greenfelder to discuss how they landed their first jobs through the SWE and SHPE career fairs and also discovered a side of engineering they never knew existed.
Recorded live at the WE25 Diverse Podcast Studio in New Orleans, hear about the behind-the-scenes components of engineering — from supply chain to quality systems — and how these roles make iconic projects possible.
Kira and Josefina share candid advice for engineering students and new grads, what they’ve learned inside the Bechtel Supplier Quality and Expediting (BSQE) program, and how mentorship, curiosity, and saying “yes” to unfamiliar paths shaped their early careers.
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The Society of Women Engineers is a powerful, global force uniting 50,000 members of all genders spanning 85 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.
Women engineers often struggle to set boundaries or say “no” at work.
Srividhya Pallay and Tsega Tefera, solutions architects at Amazon Web Services, joined us live in the WE25 Diverse Podcast Studio to share real-world lessons around overcoming imposter syndrome, finding the confidence to speak up in meetings, and unapologetically protecting their time and energy in their STEM careers.
In conversation with Laurie Shuster, editor-in-chief of SWE Magazine, hear how to handle disagreements with professionalism and grace, calendar-blocking techniques to maintain balance, and go-to phrases to communicate boundaries effectively.
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The Society of Women Engineers is a powerful, global force uniting 50,000 members of all genders spanning 85 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.
The common advice for career growth is to “move up” into management — but what if your true passion lies in staying close to the technology itself?
In this episode, host Sam East speaks with Deb Whitis, Ph.D., and Amrita Maguire, both of the SWE Technical Career Path Affinity Group, about what it means to grow, lead, and make an impact as engineers while staying on the technical career path.
From developing nickel-based superalloys that power jet engines to advancing ergonomic standards and AI-enabled design, Deb and Amrita reflect on their careers and share how technical leadership can be just as influential as managing people.
They also highlight the work of SWE’s Technical Career Path Affinity Group, including a new mentorship program helping women chart their own path as innovators, inventors, and subject matter experts.
Get involved with the SWE Technical Career Path Affinity Group: https://affinitygroups.swe.org/technical-career-path/
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The Society of Women Engineers is a powerful, global force uniting 50,000 members of all genders spanning 85 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.
In this episode, Karen Horting, CEO and executive director of the Society of Women Engineers, sits down with Olympic gold medalist and industrial engineer Benita Fitzgerald Mosley, the first Black woman to win gold in the 100-meter hurdles — a milestone she achieved at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
Benita shares how she balanced the demands of engineering school with her Olympic training, the lessons she learned about time and energy management, and the unforgettable moment when she realized she had won gold.
Hear how Benita’s personal mantra, “Why not me?,” has guided her through challenges in athletics, STEM, and leadership — plus the five gold medal strategies she continues to practice.
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The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) is a powerful, global force uniting 50,000 members of all genders spanning 85 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.
This episode is sponsored by Nucor.
When Johanna Threm, vice president and general manager at Nucor, started her career, she envisioned designing buildings and bridges as a civil engineer.
In conversation with SWE Executive Director and CEO Karen Horting, Johanna shares how she transitioned to the steel industry, the lessons she’s learned from taking bold career risks, and the importance of “lifting as you climb” to create opportunities for others.
Recorded live at WE25, hear how Nucor offers diverse career paths in rural and urban communities, how Johanna’s family embraced a cross-country move during the pandemic, and why seeing women in every role — from crane operators to metallurgists — signals a powerful shift in the steel industry.
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The Society of Women Engineers is a powerful, global force uniting 50,000 members of all genders spanning 85 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.
In honor of National Native American Heritage Month, SWE CEO and Executive Director Karen Horting sits down with Sarah EchoHawk, president and CEO of Advancing Indigenous People in STEM (AISES), to discuss visibility, allyship, and access for Indigenous engineers.
Sarah shares her family’s deep legacy of public service, the role of tribal colleges in reclaiming education, and how Indigenous knowledge systems — from fire science to environmental stewardship — can help solve global challenges.
Plus, hear how employers, educators, and organizations like SWE can strengthen partnerships with AISES to ensure Indigenous voices are included in the future of STEM.
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The Society of Women Engineers is a powerful, global force uniting 50,000 members of all genders spanning 85 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.
This episode is sponsored by Resideo.
In this episode, two engineers share how curiosity, empathy, and innovation shape their work creating smart home technologies.
Helen Meza, systems integration lead engineer at Resideo, shares her inspiring path from Peru to the U.S. and discusses how she leads global teams with empathy and adaptability.
Kyra Neal, mechanical design engineer at Resideo, reflects on how she went from designing 3D printers to designing thermostats and dehumidifiers that make tangible differences in people’s lives — and how curiosity played a role in her STEM career.
In conversation with Larry Guthrie, director of content strategy at SWE, hear Helen’s insights on incorporating cultural awareness into leadership, Kyra’s lessons on finding growth through every challenge, and how Resideo fosters an environment where engineers can make an impact.
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The Society of Women Engineers is a powerful, global force uniting 50,000 members of all genders spanning 85 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.
What is it like to navigate STEM while living with a visible or invisible disability?
In this episode, Haylee Mota, a recent engineering graduate who is blind, shares how she found her path to aerospace through robotics, hands-on research, and self-advocacy — overcoming barriers like inaccessible course materials.
Angelie Vincent, a mid-career aerospace engineer living with autism, diabetes, and celiac disease, reflects on lessons learned from a late diagnosis, masking in the workplace, and the power of mentorship.
In conversation with Jenevieve Surkin, lead of SWE’s DisAbility Inclusion Affinity Group (DIAG), hear how universities and workplaces can do better and why requesting accommodations is about creating equal access and opportunity.
DIAG was formed to build a supportive, safe community for differently abled/disabled engineers, caregivers, and allies to network and develop themselves professionally. Get involved and find out about upcoming events at sites.swe.org/diag/.
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The Society of Women Engineers is a powerful, global force uniting 50,000 members of all genders spanning 85 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.
This episode is sponsored by Draper.
How do you know when it’s the right moment to make a career change? In this episode, Maureen Masiulis, director of space sensing, domain awareness, and control at Draper and acting vice president and general manager of Draper’s Space Systems Business Unit, shares her STEM journey from robotics in middle school to leadership roles in the aerospace and defense industries.
In conversation with host Sam East, she reflects on the pivotal moments when she had to decide whether to move on and details how her volunteer experiences within SWE shaped her leadership skills.
Hear how Maureen balances career growth with family and personal priorities and why Draper’s nonprofit model and programs like Draper Scholars make it a unique place for engineers to grow their careers.
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The Society of Women Engineers is a powerful, global force uniting 50,000 members of all genders spanning 85 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.
From escaping Vietnam as a refugee to becoming vice president of global front-end procurement at Micron Technology, Thy Tran has lived a story defined by resilience and purpose.
In this episode, FY26 SWE President Inaas Darrat sits down with Thy to discuss her extraordinary path to earning 13 patents, leading global teams, and embracing new challenges in business and leadership.
Hear Thy’s reflections on giving back, balancing engineering with art and entrepreneurship, and embracing your story.
Don’t miss Thy’s upcoming keynote at WE25, the world’s largest conference for women and allies in engineering, which takes place Oct. 23-25 in New Orleans: we25.swe.org
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The Society of Women Engineers is a powerful, global force uniting 50,000 members of all genders spanning 85 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.
Engineers Jabreel Walker and Morgan Smith of the GradSWE Affinity Group share their experiences in graduate school in this episode of Diverse.
In conversation with host Sam East, they discuss their motivations for pursuing graduate school, the challenges of returning to school after a break, and the differences between the undergraduate and graduate experience.
Hear their advice for engineers who are considering grad school, the pivots they made along the way, and how the GradSWE Affinity Group has helped them find community and support.
Get involved with the GradSWE Affinity Group: https://affinitygroups.swe.org/gradswe/
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The Society of Women Engineers is a powerful, global force uniting 50,000 members of all genders spanning 85 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.
Suzanna Valdez Wolfe, CEO of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), sits down with Karen Horting, CEO and executive director of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month.
Suzanna shares her journey from El Paso, Texas, to leadership roles in Washington, D.C., and now at SHPE, where she champions familia, community, and belonging in STEM.
Hear the unique challenges and opportunities facing Latinas in engineering, the importance of mentorship and leadership development, and how SHPE and SWE are working together to strengthen the STEM pipeline.
Plus, explore how advocacy at the local and national levels ensures Hispanic voices are represented in shaping the future of STEM.
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The Society of Women Engineers is a powerful, global force uniting 50,000 members of all genders spanning 85 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.
This episode is sponsored by Turner.
Blanca Diaz, vice president and construction executive at Turner, and Leah Turner-Jenkins, special projects division manager at Turner, started in the same university engineering program — but their careers took sharply different paths.
In conversation with host Sam East, Blanca and Leah reflect on the pivotal teachers who steered them toward engineering, their experiences navigating massive construction projects, and how Turner supports women in the field.
Hear what it takes to thrive in an industry that demands both technical expertise and people-centered leadership, and what they each learned along the way about leading change.
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The Society of Women Engineers is a powerful, global force uniting 50,000 members of all genders spanning 85 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.
Kelsea Fitzgerald, director of operations at Chevron's Engineering and Innovation Excellence Center (ENGINE), shares her journey from studying chemical engineering in the U.S. to taking on a global leadership role in Bengaluru, India.
In conversation with Larry Guthrie, director of content strategy at SWE, Kelsea encourages women and allies to build self-trust by taking uncomfortable steps out of their comfort zones.
Plus, hear what Kelsea loved the most about WE Local Bengaluru, including moderating a panel on self-trust and finding a sense of community with new STEM connections.
WE Local conferences events bring together engineers and technologists of all genders for professional development sessions, networking opportunities, and inspirational speakers.
Find the next WE Local conference near you at welocal.swe.org
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The Society of Women Engineers is a powerful, global force uniting 50,000 members of all genders spanning 85 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.
This episode is sponsored by Jabil.
Cassie Gruber, director of sustainability business solutions at Jabil, explores how engineers can shape a more sustainable future in this episode of Diverse.
In conversation with Larry Guthrie, director of content strategy at SWE, Cassie explores her unconventional career path from studying art and philosophy to leading global sustainability strategies in manufacturing.
Hear the biggest sustainability challenges she is seeing across 16 sectors, the importance of collaboration in the circular economy, and why Jabil is a unique place for engineers to grow and thrive in their careers.
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The Society of Women Engineers is a powerful, global force uniting 50,000 members of all genders spanning 85 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.
Cassandra Morecroft King, deputy program manager at BlackSea Technologies, did something most people only dream about: she quit her ocean engineering job in oil and gas and set out to hike the entire Appalachian Trail.
But the toughest part wasn’t the hike itself — it was reentering the engineering workforce afterward and figuring out how to frame her unconventional journey as a career strength.
In conversation with host Sam East, Cassandra shares stories from the trail (including losing her shoes in a river), her experience of reentering the STEM workforce, and how engineers can leverage their personal adventures to highlight the unique skills they bring to the table.
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The Society of Women Engineers is a powerful, global force uniting 50,000 members of all genders spanning 85 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.
In honor of the 10th anniversary of SWENext, this episode of Diverse brings a special mother-daughter conversation.
Bharti B., operations manager at Keysight Technologies, reflects on what it was like to be one of the few women in her computer science classes growing up.
Aavya B., who is a SWENext influencer as well as Bharti’s daughter, shares how she’s carrying that legacy forward by founding the first SWENext Club in India and pursuing her dream of becoming a biomedical engineer.
In conversation with Sam East, Bharti and Aavya discuss how opportunities for girls in engineering have evolved, the power of role models, and the unique bond that comes from sharing a STEM passion across generations.
Know a precollege kid interested in STEM? Join SWENext, the Society’s free program that allows students ages 5 through 18 to join the SWE engineering and technology community! Learn more and get involved at swe.org/outreach/swenext/
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The Society of Women Engineers is a powerful, global force uniting 50,000 members of all genders spanning 85 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.
Melanie Lang, co-founder and CEO of FormAlloy, details her entrepreneurial journey and inspires engineers to take bold risks in this episode of Diverse.
In conversation with FY26 SWE President Inaas Darrat, Melanie reflects on the pivotal decision to leave a stable career in aerospace and defense to launch her own business.
Hear the mistakes Melanie made along the way, her tips on embracing failure, the rule she wishes women engineers would break more often, and what a pink feathered suit jacket taught her about authenticity.
Don’t miss Melanie’s upcoming keynote at WE25, the world’s largest conference for women and allies in engineering, which takes place Oct. 23-25 in New Orleans: we25.swe.org
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The Society of Women Engineers is a powerful, global force uniting 50,000 members of all genders spanning 85 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.
Motivational speaker Dr. Ruth Jones reflects on the importance of leaving a purposeful legacy in this episode of Diverse.
As the second African American woman in Alabama to earn a Ph.D. in physics, Dr. Jones shares her trailblazing journey and career advice in conversation with FY26 SWE President Inaas Darrat.
Hear what it means to lead as your authentic self, the importance of helping the next generation, and how to become the CEO of your own life.
You’ll also get a sneak peek of Dr. Jones’s upcoming keynote at WE25, the world’s largest conference for women and allies in engineering, which takes place Oct. 23-25 in New Orleans: we25.swe.org
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The Society of Women Engineers is a powerful, global force uniting 50,000 members of all genders spanning 85 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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