The Society of Women Engineers announces five plenary sessions for WE10 Annual Conference

CHICAGO — The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) announced the five plenary sessions for WE10, the Society’s Annual Conference, Nov. 4-6 in Orlando, Fla. Through the new virtual participation offering, these sessions will also stream live during WE10, and will be recorded for post-conference replay.

"One of the most empowering aspects of WE10 is the knowledge gained from the experiences of leading women engineers and technologists," said Siddika Demir, SWE president. "The plenary sessions bring diverse perspectives to light from panelists who will share their professional achievements and challenges. We can all draw on these first-hand accounts as we advance in our own careers."

Recent research suggests that women have different negotiating styles than men. During “Negotiating for Yourself,” panelists will discuss what they have learned when it comes to negotiating during their careers. Attendees will discover how to successfully negotiate pay increases, promotions, resources, staffing, and career opportunities for themselves. This panel will be held from 10:00–11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 4.

“Designing Women: Looking into the Future of Engineering” will focus on design thinking and how to utilize its methods to drive change in everything from business practices to product development. Held from 8:30–10:00 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 5, panelists will discuss how women bring a distinct viewpoint to innovation and design processes, as well as how design thinking will influence future engineering and business opportunities for their industry.

The “Men at Work: Networking in a Male-Centric Workplace” panel, consisting of men and women, will share insightful, impactful, and sometimes humorous stories about the social dynamics of a male-centric workplace. From 1:30–3:00 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 5, attendees will gain insight from women who have been successful in networking and social situations to strengthen connections with male clients and colleagues.

Employers want engineers to come back to their careers after a leave of absence, but individuals find returning can pose challenges and may create a daunting personal and professional transition. During “I’ll Be Back: Re-launching Your Career,” attendees will hear from seasoned women leaders about strategies and lessons learned when re-launching careers. This panel will be held from 3:30–5:00 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 5.

“Launching Innovation: Insights from Women Leaders & Entrepreneurs” will focus on developing a career path through starting a business or launching a large-scale organizational initiative. Held from 8:30–10:00 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 6, panelists will discuss the trials and ultimate successes of starting new businesses and organizational efforts.

For more information on the plenary sessions, program tracks, and virtual participation, visit https://we10.swe.org.