Global Voices in Engineering

Competing on Survivor might seem worlds apart from earning a Ph.D., but Eva Erickson proves that the grit required to succeed in STEM can translate anywhere!

In this episode, Eva shares her experience as the first openly autistic contestant on Season 48 of Survivor and as a Ph.D. candidate in engineering at Brown University. She discusses how her analytical mindset helped her tackle challenges on the island, as well as her experience breaking barriers as the captain of the men’s hockey team at Brown University.

In conversation with Karen Horting, CEO and executive director of the Society of Women Engineers, hear how Eva blends science, competition, and advocacy — plus her advice for women engineers and allies who want to pursue authentic and multifaceted career paths.

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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.

When women and allies in engineering connect globally, they strengthen the entire community.

In this episode, host Abosede Adewole, collegiate engagement lead for the SWE Global Women Engineers Affinity Group, is joined by Banisha Prinja, lead-elect, and Eshika Mahajan, professional development lead, to discuss how they have built relationships with engineers around the world and the benefits they have gained from these global connections.

They open up about their experiences as women in STEM, from navigating industries where they were the only women in the room to finding commonalities across their experiences in Nigeria and India.

Hear why a global perspective matters at the local level, what to do when you don’t “feel ready,” and how participating in SWE’s Global Women Engineers Affinity Group has grown their networks and leadership skills.

Learn more and get involved with the SWE Global Women Engineers Affinity Group: https://affinitygroups.swe.org/global-women-engineers/

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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, Abigail Mizzi, master’s student in aeronautical and astronautical engineering at Purdue University, and Steven Collicott, Ph.D., professor in Purdue’s School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, share the story behind Purdue 1 — a groundbreaking university-led spaceflight mission set for 2027.

Abigail is poised to become the first graduate student to conduct her thesis research in space, operating her fluids experiment during three minutes of microgravity. Dr. Collicott will also fly a human-tended experiment studying how liquids move over surfaces in weightlessness — research that can’t be replicated on Earth.

In conversation with FY26 SWE President Inaas Darrat, hear how Purdue 1 became a reality, what it takes to prepare mentally and physically for suborbital flight, and how SWE has shaped Abigail’s STEM journey — including receiving the Outstanding Collegiate Member award.

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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 does responsible AI actually look like, and who gets to shape it?

Live from the WE25 Diverse Podcast Studio in New Orleans, Lisa Thee, TEDx speaker and global AI thought leader, discusses using AI for social good and building technology that puts people first.

Lisa shares her unexpected journey from industrial engineering at the University of Michigan to becoming an accidental entrepreneur, and the moment in 2015 when she realized AI could help combat human trafficking — including a collaboration that helped law enforcement recover 130 missing children in its first month.

In conversation with Larry Guthrie, director of content strategy at SWE, hear three practical tips to use AI ethically, where bias enters AI systems, and how SWE and its annual conferences have repeatedly shaped Lisa’s career.

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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.

Paige Feikert, research and technology engineer with Spirit AeroSystems, joins us live from the WE25 Diverse Podcast Studio to break down why communication can make or break your impact as an engineer — and how to get better at it.

In conversation with Larry Guthrie, director of content strategy at SWE, Paige shares her unconventional career path from biomedical engineering student, to TV news producer at a CBS affiliate, and back into engineering.

Hear why storytelling matters in technical work, actionable advice to help you communicate to executives and non-technical audiences, and what producing live TV news taught Paige about teamwork, deadlines, and handling pressure.

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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.

As part of SWE’s “Un Cafecito With a Woman in STEM” series, spotlighting Latina voices across the globe, this special episode of Diverse is presented in Spanish.

Claudia Guerrero, SWE global ambassador and service program leader at GE Aerospace, sits down with host Doris Moreno Maldonado, process engineer at Kellogg’s and lead of the SWE Latinos Affinity Group, for a conversation on antifragility, authenticity, and creating community wherever you are.

Recorded live at WE25 in New Orleans, Claudia shares her journey as one of the first women in her family to study engineering in Mexico, her role in growing the SWE affiliate in Querétaro, and surviving a life-altering medical crisis.

Hear how to move beyond resilience toward antifragility, build your personal board of directors, and lean into your unique authentic strengths.

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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.

Carolina Caro, WE Local Portland keynote and CEO of Conscious Leadership Partners, breaks down communication blind spots for engineers and explores how your communication style shapes your leadership impact in this episode.

As a scientist by training, Carolina reflects on why technical expertise isn’t enough and speaks to the platinum rule, where you meet people where they are and communicate in the way they can best receive.

In conversation with FY26 SWE President Inaas Darrat, hear how to strengthen your communication without compromising your authenticity and why communication style is an often-overlooked dimension of diversity.

Carolina will expand on these insights as the opening keynote at WE Local Portland, taking place Feb. 27-28. WE Local conferences bring together engineers and technologists for networking opportunities, professional development, and inspirational speakers.

Register at welocal.swe.org to join SWE at an upcoming WE Local near you!

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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.

Julie Daugherty, engineering associate and process project leader at Corning Incorporated, joins us live at WE25 to discuss how introverts can embrace their strengths and turn them into career superpowers.

In conversation with Larry Guthrie, director of content strategy at SWE, hear how planning ahead builds confidence, how to survive “mandatory fun” networking events, and why finding extroverted champions can be key to career growth in STEM.

You’ll also learn how managers can support introverted engineers, what it means to be an ambivert, and why personality diversity leads to stronger teams and better problem-solving.

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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.

Building a STEM career looks different around the world, but the benefits of mentorship, sponsorship, and community are universal.

In this episode, Abosede Adewole, Ph.D., principal electrical engineer with Nigeria’s Federal Housing Authority, and Stella Uzochukwu, country director of the Odyssey Educational Foundation, discuss the differences between mentorship and sponsorship, as well as their personal journeys navigating gender bias in Nigeria’s engineering and technology sectors.

Interviewed at WE25 by Laurie Shuster, editor-in-chief of SWE Magazine, hear why sponsorship often happens behind closed doors, tips to make yourself visible and “sponsorship-ready,” and how Abosede and Stella are supporting the next generation through STEM outreach initiatives.

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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.

Zoe, SWENext Influencer and FIRST Robotics leader, and Charlee, a member of the 2025 STEM Next Flight Crew youth ambassador program, join us live from the WE25 Diverse Podcast Studio in New Orleans to share their experiences as young STEM leaders.

In conversation with Larry Guthrie, director of content strategy at SWE, they reflect on how Invent It. Build It. sparked powerful connections, what leadership looks like as a precollege student, and how they navigate bias, responsibility, and pressure as “the first” in their communities.

Hear their experiences starting STEM clubs and expanding access in rural areas, plus why a strong community is critical to shaping a more inclusive future in engineering.

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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.