Attending the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) annual conference, WE24, from October 24 to 26, 2024, in Chicago, Illinois, was an inspiring experience for all of us! This flagship event drew thousands of engineering professionals, students, and industry leaders from around the globe, making it one of the most vibrant gatherings for women in engineering and technology. Eight of us from Yale gradSWE joined 14 members from the undergraduate chapter, and together we had an unforgettable time.
The conference offered over 200 sessions, from workshops and panels to keynote talks, covering topics like personal branding, effective networking, and navigating career challenges. We really enjoyed exploring the career fair, which hosted over 450 companies! It was an incredible opportunity to connect with potential employers and join discussions about current industry trends. We found the sessions on personal branding and networking, writing impact diaries, and insights into the pharmaceutical industry especially engaging. These discussions helped us think strategically about our professional development and gave us concrete takeaways to incorporate into our career planning.
Beyond the sessions, WE24 was a supportive and energizing environment. We connected with mentors, made new friends, and shared experiences with fellow engineers from diverse backgrounds. Preparing our resumes and researching companies before the conference proved to be a great decision, as it made the networking process feel much more purposeful. Each day, we left feeling inspired, with new ideas and a renewed sense of direction. One of the highlights was meeting with Karen Horting, CAE, the CEO of SWE, thanks to an introduction by Dr. Vincent Wilczynski, Deputy Dean of the Yale School of Engineering & Applied Science, and coordination by our co-president Ju Hyun.
Of course, the experience wouldn’t have been complete without exploring Chicago! Between sessions, our Yale SWE group took time to enjoy some of the city’s famous sights and incredible food. We bonded over grabbing deep-dish pizza or walking through Millennium Park with friends who have shared such impactful learning experiences.
In addition to the generous financial support from Yale School of Engineering and Applied Science, GradSWE received a Physics and Engineering Biology travel award and conference funding from the Advanced Graduate Leadership Program. We feel incredibly grateful for this experience and can’t wait to bring all the energy, insights, and inspiration back to our chapter at Yale. WE24 wasn’t just a conference; it was a reminder of the power of community and the strength we find in each other’s stories and successes.
Click here for more photos from the conference.