2025 marks the 12th annual Women in Engineering Day, but the progress we have seen since its launch in 2014 is significant. Although women make up just 16.9% of the engineering workforce today, this is a significant increase from the 7% of female engineers when we celebrated the first Women in Engineering Day.
Progress is being made, but there is still a way to go until women make up an equal share of the engineering workforce. So what more can be done to encourage women into the industry, and make sure they stay for the long term? We heard from four female engineers about their experiences in the industry, and why Women in Engineering Day is so important to maintain the momentum in closing the gender gap.
Slow progress is better than no progress
It is easy to look at statistics on paper and feel disheartened by the inequality in the industry, but perhaps even more importantly than closing the gender gap, attitudes are changing. Elena Arabgadi, Software Engineer at cloud-based accounting company, Aqilla, reflects on the start of her career: “20 years ago, when I started to work in IT, I was the first female Java developer in my city,” she recalls. “At that time, I was young, inexperienced, but very motivated. So, I felt all the pros and cons of working in a male-dominated environment. Now the situation has changed, and women can cover many roles in tech.”
Claire Hu Weber, Vice President of International Markets at Fluke Corporation, recounts her first experience in a leadership role, where she was a young woman managing a group of men. She recognises that as long as you do a good job, you can earn credibility, regardless of gender: “In my first engineering manager role I led a team of experienced nuclear engineers, most of whom were decades my senior. As a young woman, I knew I couldn’t rely on seniority or tenure, I had to earn credibility by adding real value. My focus was on simplifying complexity, aligning our work to clear outcomes, and helping the team see how their technical knowledge could be commercially impactful. That experience taught me that leadership isn’t about how long you’ve been in the room, it’s about how effectively you can help others succeed.”
Inspiring the next generation
Changing attitudes and establishing an inclusive culture within the engineering world are crucial to encourage young girls to enter the workforce. Women can often be deterred from following an engineering career because it is so male-dominated, so Hu Weber urges organisations to “be intentional.”
“That means creating sponsorship, not just mentorship, and making flexibility and growth pathways a norm, not an exception,” she explains. “Representation matters. We need to shift the promotion mindset from just rewarding performance to also recognising potential.”
Reflecting on her own experiences, she adds, “I’ve been lucky to have strong female role models, and their support helped shape my career. They didn’t just offer advice. They challenged me, championed me, and created opportunities I might not have reached on my own. Seeing women lead in male-dominated spaces breaks down old assumptions and shows that talent and leadership are not defined by gender. Every time a woman succeeds, she makes it easier for others to follow. That ripple effect is how lasting change is made.”
Jennifer Rojas, Director of Operations at Leaseweb Canada, echoes this sentiment:“I think about the mentors who nudged me forward when I didn’t know what the next step even looked like, and the people who believed in me, even before I really believed in myself. That kind of support? It changed everything. It helped me take chances I probably wouldn’t have taken otherwise, follow what I was curious about, and start imagining a future that felt bigger… and actually doable.”
The importance of diversity
But why is it so important that we encourage more women into engineering? Rojas explains how “different voices around the table makes us sharper, more creative, and more human in the way we solve problems. Celebrating women in engineering isn’t just about fairness. It’s about building smarter, better teams.”
Her colleague, Chrissay Brinkmann, Solutions Engineer, Leaseweb USA, agrees, adding that it is important that companies walk the walk, as well as talk the talk. “It’s not just lip service. Diversity is part of the way we show up for each other. The way we solve problems together. And ultimately, how we win as a team. When people with different perspectives come together, the ideas get richer… the questions get sharper… and the solutions get better. It’s just that simple.”
The theme for this year’s Women in Engineering Day is #TogetherWeEngineer, so what better time to consider how your organisation can contribute to building a more inclusive future for the industry. Whether it is spotlighting the great work of your female engineers, introducing a mentorship programme or working with schools, colleges and universities to inspire the next generation, we all have our part to play.
