Global Voices in Engineering

Evelyn Cortez-Davis, WE26 closing keynote and director of strategic initiatives for the water system at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, watched the film “An Inconvenient Truth” as a new mom.

At that moment, she made a promise to her young daughter that she would have a “damn good answer” when asked what she did as climate change unfolded.

In conversation with FY27 SWE President Kerrie Greenfelder, Evelyn shares how that commitment shaped her engineering career. As a first-generation immigrant from El Salvador, Evelyn also reflects on being an English learner and an undocumented student during her first two years at UCLA, and how learning to use her voice shaped her STEM path.

Hear what it means to be the first in the room, why engineers need to stay creative as technology reshapes the world, and how stepping outside your comfort zone can open unexpected doors.

Evelyn also previews her closing keynote at WE26, the world's largest conference for women and allies in engineering, taking place Nov. 5-7 in Boston. Find the full conference schedule and register at we26.swe.org

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The award-winning Diverse podcast from the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) is now Global Voices in Engineering!

With nearly 45,000 members in 90+ countries around the world (and growing), we wanted a new name that perfectly captures what both SWE and the podcast are all about: bringing together engineering stories from around the world, because every engineer has a story.

SWE is the world’s largest advocate and catalyst for change for women and allies in engineering and technology. To join and access all the exclusive benefits to elevate your professional journey, visit membership.swe.org

Elissa Lee, WE26 keynote and executive director of commercial and international military rotorcraft engine programs at GE Aerospace, shares how music has shaped her approach to engineering, creativity, and leadership in this episode.

In conversation with FY27 SWE President Kerrie Greenfelder, Elissa shares practical lessons on building confidence, navigating unexpected career opportunities, and finding your authentic leadership style — without being the loudest voice in the room.

Hear how a 30-day challenge to speak first transformed her confidence, why spending four years in an unexpected role broadened her STEM career, and how staying true to herself has made her a more effective leader.

You'll also get a sneak peek of Elissa's upcoming opening keynote at WE26, the world's largest conference for women and allies in engineering, taking place Nov. 5-7 in Boston. Learn more and join at https://we26.swe.org

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The award-winning Diverse podcast from the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) is now Global Voices in Engineering!

With nearly 45,000 members in 90+ countries around the world (and growing), we wanted a new name that perfectly captures what both SWE and the podcast are all about: bringing together engineering stories from around the world, because every engineer has a story.

SWE is the world’s largest advocate and catalyst for change for women and allies in engineering and technology. To join and access all the exclusive benefits to elevate your professional journey, visit https://membership.swe.org

At some point, every engineer will receive feedback that stings. So how can you decide if it’s valid, what you should learn from it, and what parts to let go of?

In this episode, Safiyya Cavatina Kassim, senior specialist in business agility at MSD Czech Republic, speaks with host Sam East about how STEM professionals can navigate difficult feedback in the workplace.

Drawing from her personal stories and FOG to FUEL framework, Safiyya shares practical strategies and mindset shifts to process criticism in the moment, identify what’s worth acting on, and leave behind feedback rooted in bias.

Plus, hear Safiyya’s nonlinear STEM journey of growing up in Zimbabwe, earning a degree in agriculture, and ultimately building a technology career in the Czech Republic.

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The award-winning Diverse podcast from the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) is now Global Voices in Engineering!

With nearly 45,000 members in 90+ countries around the world (and growing), we wanted a new name that perfectly captures what both SWE and the podcast are all about: bringing together engineering stories from around the world, because every engineer has a story.

SWE is the world’s largest advocate and catalyst for change for women and allies in engineering and technology. To join and access all the exclusive benefits to elevate your professional journey, visit https://membership.swe.org

Every career starts somewhere — and for many engineers, that journey begins at a career fair.

In this episode, industrial engineer Natalie Camilleri shares how a chance conversation at SWE’s WE21 Career Fair led to a life-changing internship and, ultimately, her full-time STEM career. In a full-circle moment, she now returns to SWE’s career fairs to recruit engineers.

With host Sam East, Natalie explains why recruiters often remember communication skills more than technical expertise, why leading with an elevator pitch isn’t the best strategy, and how volunteer experiences through SWE can become your strongest interview stories.

Discover practical tips to stand out at career fairs and navigate rejection, plus hear why being in "the right place at the right time" usually starts with simply being open to a conversation.

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The award-winning Diverse podcast from the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) is now Global Voices in Engineering!

With nearly 45,000 members in 90+ countries around the world (and growing), we wanted a new name that perfectly captures what both SWE and the podcast are all about: bringing together engineering stories from around the world, because every engineer has a story.

SWE is the world’s largest advocate and catalyst for change for women and allies in engineering and technology. To join and access all the exclusive benefits to elevate your professional journey, visit membership.swe.org

Should you apply for the promotion? Speak up in the meeting? Say yes to the opportunity that feels out of reach? These moments often come down to one thing: moving forward despite your self-doubt.

In this episode, Anita Berthold, manager of learning and development at GlobalFoundries, sits down with host Sam East to explore why we fall into cycles of overthinking, self-doubt, and decision paralysis — and what to do about it.

Anita shares how self-doubt almost kept her from applying for the STEM role she holds today, the question from a friend that changed her perspective, and why waiting until you feel ready rarely works.

Plus, learn pragmatic, science-based tools you can put to use, including how to respond to your inner critic, treat scary situations like experiments, and recognize the physical signs that stress is taking over.

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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

Engineers are increasingly expected to work alongside AI, so how can leaders adapt to this reality and guide their teams with empathy?

In this episode, Eva Ribes Vilanova, product manager at Keysight Technologies, shares practical strategies for leading teams in an AI-powered workplace with host Sam East.

Eva shares the five questions every engineer should ask before introducing AI into a project and discusses why the leaders who succeed won't necessarily be the ones who adopt AI the fastest.

Hear why change is emotional, how to maintain a healthy skepticism of AI outputs, and three habits to lead engineering teams with curiosity and confidence.

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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

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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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.

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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.