Diverse: a SWE podcast

Transitioning from college to the professional world can be difficult, especially when it comes to growing your network and making friends as an adult. Maria Roma-Hossain, systems engineer at Mammotome, shares her personal experience of navigating the college-to-career transition and making meaningful connections in a new city in this episode. In conversation with Sam East, hear how to put yoursel...

In this episode of Diverse, Ana Tijerina Esquino, civil engineer at Mott MacDonald, explains why engineering is fundamentally a helping profession that aims to improve society. Ana discusses her unconventional journey into civil engineering, how infrastructure projects have historically harmed marginalized communities, and sustainable practices that are changing the industry in conversation with L...

The term “leaky pipeline” is often used to describe why women leave STEM careers, but does that language tell the full story? In this episode, Cassie Leonard, aerospace engineer and founder of ELMM Coaching, and Ashley Wynne, technical engineering manager and co-lead of the HeforSWE Affinity Group, share a more nuanced understanding of why women leave engineering roles and how to support their con...

On July 1, 2025, Inaas Darrat assumes the role of president of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), concluding Karen Roth’s one-year term as SWE president. In this special episode, Karen shares her personal highlights from the past year, insights on how the theme of “Together We Rise” came to life during her presidency, and words of advice for Inaas as she steps into the role. Inaas introduces th...

What’s it really like to study engineering at a community college, and where can that path take you? Denise Grazielle Cruz, SWE collegiate member at Essex County College, and Maeliz Colon, SWE counselor for the Springfield Technical Community College SWE Affiliate, discuss their STEM experiences at community colleges with SWE President Karen Roth. Hear why they chose the community college path, th...

Technical skills alone don’t guarantee how you're seen or heard in engineering. In this episode, engineers Zaineb Ahmad and Barbara Read join host Sam East to unpack how language choices shape the way women and underrepresented groups are perceived in STEM workplaces. Hear the key phrases to avoid at work, how to write emails that maintain attention, and communication tips to grow your reputation...

In this episode of Diverse, Sandra Park, financial coach for women in STEM, speaks with SWE President Karen Roth about how engineers can achieve financial independence and gain more freedom in their careers. Sandra shares a financial wake-up call from her own engineering journey and discusses practical steps for building a strong foundation, including budgeting and investing at all career stages....

How can engineers prepare for a potential layoff? What steps should you take immediately after being laid off? And how can you bounce back and find your next career opportunity? In this episode, Jessica Rannow, senior project manager at KPI Solutions, and Brittney Elko, senior director of supply chain at Jasper Therapeutics, answer these questions and share how they have navigated multiple layoffs...

In this episode of Diverse, Kate Hensley, associate director at Collins Aerospace, joins host Marsha Lynn Bragg, senior editor of publications at the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), to discuss the surprising parallels between STEM and stand-up comedy. Kate shares her nonlinear journey in engineering and how the skills she’s honed through comedy have shaped her success. Hear insights on communica...

What if networking could be as fun as game night?! In this special episode of Diverse, recorded live at WE24, hear game enthusiasts and industry leaders Nicole Woon, senior product manager at Microsoft, and Emily Carney, senior manager of site project management at Genezen, explore an unexpected source of networking wisdom: board games. Nicole and Emily share how games like Ticket to Ride and Appl...

Helen Mills and Lisa Malmanger, co-leads of the SWE Military and Veterans Affinity Group, share personal stories on why building community is essential for military-connected engineers and their families in this episode of Diverse. Lisa shares the challenges she faced when adjusting to the civilian workforce after serving in the military, and Helen reflects on the importance of mental health and a...

In celebration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Jayshree Seth, Ph. D., corporate scientist and chief science advocate at 3M, joins us to discuss the motivation behind her latest book, “The Heart of Science: Engineering Blueprint.” In conversation with SWE CEO and Executive Director Karen Horting, Jayshree shares how “The Heart of Science” trilogy provides a...

To see the photos and documents referenced in the episode, watch the video podcast here: https://youtu.be/UlAoX2duYqM In this special episode of Diverse, Troy Eller English, chief archivist at SWE, and Mary Mann, archives librarian at The Cooper Union, celebrate SWE’s 75th anniversary by unpacking stories from the archives. They discuss the founding meeting of SWE in 1950 and reflect on how unders...

This episode is sponsored by Discover Financial Services. How can women in tech build resilience, grow into leadership, and still make time for life outside of work? In this episode of Diverse, host Sam East sits down with two inspiring women from Discover Financial Services: Ranjani Rao, director of infrastructure product management, and Jamie Stallworth, manager training specialist. They share h...

In this episode of Diverse, engineer, entrepreneur, and space explorer Anousheh Ansari sits down with SWE Executive Director and CEO Karen Horting. As the first female private space explorer, Anousheh shares her extraordinary journey, delving into how her problem-solving engineering skills have shaped her path, as well as her unforgettable experiences in space that transformed her perspective on g...

Allison Grealis, founder and president of the Women in Manufacturing Association (WiM), sits down with SWE CEO and Executive Director Karen Horting to discuss the state of women in manufacturing. Allison reflects on her experience launching WiM and leading its growth to over 32,000 members today. She shares creative retention strategies and workforce training efforts that are shaping the future of...

Theresa Cummings, CEO of Cummings Consulting & Management LLC and a mechanical engineer by trade, joins host Sam East in this episode of Diverse: a SWE Podcast. Cummings shares her inspiring journey from engineer to leadership consultant, helping industry leaders like NASA and Coca-Cola build stronger teams. Together, they discuss the pivotal role of interpersonal skills in technical environments...

This episode is sponsored by Cadence Design Systems. What happens when industry leaders refuse to accept the status quo in tech diversity? In this episode of Diverse, Nicole Johnson, global director of social impact & employee engagement for Cadence Design Systems, and Dr. Judith Spitz, founder and CEO of Break Through Tech, discuss their groundbreaking partnership through the Fem. AI initiative....

This Women's History Month episode of Diverse features a compelling conversation with Lori McDowell, who transitioned from a 30-year career in chemical engineering to become a bestselling author, TEDx speaker, and life coach. In conversation with host Hang Loi, Lori candidly discusses how being fired became her catalyst for change, leading to her book, The Reinvention Mindset, and a thriving coach...

This episode and the WE24 Podcast Studio are proudly sponsored by Apple. In this episode of Diverse, Lindsay Epstein, product design engineer at Apple, and SWE collegiate member Alden Sherrill discuss the significance of community, diversity in design, and emerging trends in health and clean energy technology. In conversation with FY25 SWE President Karen Roth, Lindsay, and Alden reflect on their...

In this episode of Diverse, host Siddika Demir speaks with Renée Amilcar, the first female president of UITP, the International Association of Public Transport, about her trailblazing career in a male-dominated industry. Renée shares her passion for public transport and discusses the vital role it plays in sustainable urban development. She reflects on the importance of gender parity and diversity...

This episode is sponsored by GE Vernova. In this episode of the Diverse podcast, Reggie Miller, chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer for GE Vernova, joins host Inaas Darrat, SWE president-elect, to discuss the importance of allyship in advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) in the workplace. Miller shares his personal journey and motivations for advocating for women...

This episode of Diverse welcomes Camille Smith, a chemical engineer and founder of STEM So(ul)cial, to explore the challenges and opportunities for women and minorities in STEM. In conversation with host Inaas Darrat, SWE president-elect, Smith shares her journey of navigating her identity in the workplace and the barriers women of color often face in advancing their careers. She sheds light on th...

This episode is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. In this episode of Diverse, Trisha Marks, director of security technology operations at the U.S. Department of State, shares her incredible journey as a trailblazing woman in engineering with host Larry Guthrie, SWE’s director of content strategy. Marks reflects on her upbringing in Brooklyn, where her father’s work sparked her interest in...

Louvere Walker-Hannon, application engineer senior team lead at MathWorks, joins us for this episode of Diverse to unpack the concept of weathering — the physical toll chronic stress takes on the human body, especially among women of color. In conversation with host Inaas Darrat, SWE president-elect, Walker-Hannon shares her inspiring journey in STEM, starting with a love for archaeology, and refl...