Episodes

  • Ep 320: Talk Isn’t Cheap: What Your Language Choices Cost You

    Ep 320: Talk Isn’t Cheap: What Your Language Choices Cost You
    Jun 17 2025
    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 and confidence. Plus, hear how allies can step in when an idea in a meeting gets credited to someone else. --- 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.
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    24 mins
  • Ep 319: Personal Finance for Engineers With Sandra Park

    Ep 319: Personal Finance for Engineers With Sandra Park
    Jun 10 2025
    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. Hear how engineers can apply problem-solving skills to personal finance, a systems approach to paying off student loans, and the #1 financial habit that every woman in STEM should start today. --- 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.
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    27 mins
  • Ep 318: How to Navigate Layoffs in Engineering With Brittney Elko and Jessica Rannow

    Ep 318: How to Navigate Layoffs in Engineering With Brittney Elko and Jessica Rannow
    Jun 2 2025
    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 and pivots throughout their successful STEM careers. Hear the life lessons they learned from being laid off, their favorite LinkedIn strategies, how to keep your interview skills sharp year-round, and recommendations on how to bring up the layoff in future job interviews. — 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.
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    36 mins
  • Ep 317: The Art of Failure: Kate Hensley on Comedy, Engineering, and Growth

    Ep 317: The Art of Failure: Kate Hensley on Comedy, Engineering, and Growth
    May 27 2025
    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 communicating with management, embracing failure in order to grow, and embracing diverse interests outside of the workplace. Whether you’re in engineering, comedy, or both, this episode reminds us that failure is a stepping stone to success and that creativity and resilience are the keys to thriving in any role. — 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.
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    19 mins
  • Ep 316: Game On! Lessons from Board Games to Make Networking Fun

    Ep 316: Game On! Lessons from Board Games to Make Networking Fun
    May 20 2025
    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 Apples to Apples offer surprising insights into making authentic connections. They break down networking myths and offer fresh perspectives on turning potentially awkward interactions into genuine connections. They also reflect on their love for the SWE community and the opportunities their SWE connections have opened. --- 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.
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    31 mins
  • Ep 315: Building Community for Military-Connected Engineers

    Ep 315: Building Community for Military-Connected Engineers
    May 13 2025
    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 allyship. They also discuss how military experience translates into leadership and technical skills in STEM. Plus, learn how SWE’s Military and Veterans Affinity Group is building community for military service members, veterans, family members, and allies in STEM. Learn more and get involved at affinitygroups.swe.org/military-veterans/ --- 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.
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    25 mins
  • Ep 314: Mindset, Mentorship, and Meaning in STEM With Jayshree Seth, Ph.D.

    Ep 314: Mindset, Mentorship, and Meaning in STEM With Jayshree Seth, Ph.D.
    May 6 2025
    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 blueprint for a purposeful STEM journey at any career stage. Hear why we need to redefine the concept of mentorship, how an immigrant mindset can help everyone navigate new challenges, and what Jayshree plans to share at WE25 in New Orleans. All proceeds of “The Heart of Science” trilogy go to the Jayshree Seth Scholarship for Women of Color in STEM, administered by SWE. Find out more here: https://alltogether.swe.org/2024/10/heart-of-science-blueprint/ --- 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.
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    31 mins
  • Ep 313: Tales From the Archives: 75th Anniversary Edition With The Cooper Union

    Ep 313: Tales From the Archives: 75th Anniversary Edition With The Cooper Union
    Apr 29 2025
    This episode is brought to you by Horton. 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 understanding the past can inform future practices in engineering and society. Hear the contributions of women engineers since that time, the creative ways the SWE archives have been used over the years, and a preview of SWE’s Founder’s Day event at The Cooper Union. --- 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.
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    38 mins