The best problem solving can often come from seeing things from a new perspective. Yet, when it comes to developing infrastructure, new technologies and shaping the future of manufacturing, too many perspectives are still missing from the room.
International Women in Engineering Day is a chance to celebrate the women making a significant impact across engineering, manufacturing and technology. It is also an opportunity to ask a more important question: how do we ensure more women see engineering roles as opportunities to build successful, long-term careers?
Women make up just 17% of the UK’s engineering workforce, meaning the industry continues to miss out on a wealth of talent and leadership potential. To explore what meaningful progress looks like, female leaders across industries share their perspectives on representation, leadership and creating opportunities for the next generation.
The visibility gap in engineering
For many women entering engineering-related industries, the challenge begins long before they enter the workplace. Perceptions about who belongs in engineering and manufacturing can still influence career choices from an early age.
Jordan Day of ECI Software Solutions experienced these barriers first-hand.
“Manufacturing and technology have traditionally been seen as male dominated industries, and while things have improved, there are still old-fashioned perceptions that can make women feel like they don’t belong,” she says.
Having been the only girl in her construction class at school and one of only two women studying joinery at college, Day understands the impact that representation can have on career confidence.
“When young women look at manufacturing, engineering and technology, they still don’t see enough women in leadership positions, which can make it harder to picture themselves in those careers.”
This experience is echoed by Mala Pillutla, Worldwide Vice President of Observability and Security at Dynatrace who believes increasing the visibility of women in leadership is essential to inspiring future generations.
“The lack of visible female leaders remains a hurdle in our industry,” she says. “To inspire the next generation of women in STEM, young talent must see a diverse range of role models demonstrating that there are many ways to lead and many ways to succeed.”
Meanwhile, Lucy Bell, Software Engineer at Arqit, highlights another, often less visible barrier – confidence in applying for roles in the first place.
She notes that women are often less likely than men to put themselves forward unless they feel fully qualified against every requirement. For Bell, confidence is built through “access to knowledge, networks and hands-on experience”, which helps women feel equipped to step forward and take opportunities.
Driving innovation through diversity
As technologies such as artificial intelligence, connectivity infrastructure and advanced manufacturing continue to evolve, the need for diverse perspectives has never been greater.
Ana Diaz, Managing Director of Vantage Towers Spain, believes women play a critical role in shaping the future of connectivity.
“As engineers, innovators and leaders, we bring diverse perspectives that help solve complex challenges and create technology that better reflects the needs of the communities it serves,” she says.
“Diverse teams consistently drive stronger innovation, and that is especially important as we build the resilient, sustainable and inclusive digital infrastructure needed for the future.”
Critically, creating opportunities for women is not simply a matter of representation, but fundamental to ensuring the industry has access to the widest possible pool of ideas and expertise.
Rachel Eggington, Chief Operating Officer at Q5D, has witnessed positive change over the course of her career.
“The amazing art of manufacturing comes from the people behind it,” she says. “Twenty years ago, I was usually the only woman in the room. Today, I’m surrounded by far greater diversity – and I love that manufacturing is richer for it, drawing on talent from all walks of life.”
Creating pathways to leadership
While attracting more women into engineering remains important, retention and progression are equally critical, with many women continuing to report challenges accessing leadership opportunities, professional networks and development pathways.
Faye Ellis, Principal Training Architect at Pluralsight, believes organisations must actively champion female talent throughout their careers.
“When I began my career as a junior systems engineer, I was thrown into a male-dominated industry where a lack of female role models made me doubt my own ability,” she says.
“Fast forward to now and still, many women in the tech industry find they have to exceed expectations to gain the same recognition as male colleagues.”
As engineering roles evolve alongside advances in AI and automation, Ellis argues that ensuring women are represented in strategic decision-making positions will be increasingly important.
“The integration of these tools demands diverse perspectives to avoid biased outcomes, and we must ensure that women successfully move into more strategic roles as work becomes automated.”
Turning progress into lasting change
Progress has been made in improving diversity and inclusion across engineering roles in recent years, but achieving lasting change will require sustained commitment from employers, educators and industry leaders. This is particularly important in rapidly evolving fields such as artificial intelligence, where the perspectives of those designing and developing new technologies can have a profound impact on how they are used and experienced.
Paulette Toynton, Vice President, Experience Orchestration EMEA at Genesys adds that “the future of AI cannot be built by a narrow set of voices. The systems being engineered today will shape how people work, communicate and access services for years to come, which makes diversity of thought more than just a box-ticking exercise.”
As International Women in Engineering Day reminds us, the future of engineering depends on the people who build it, and by investing in visible role models, creating pathways to leadership and fostering inclusive cultures, organisations can help more women see engineering careers as places where they belong and can succeed.
