What Men and Women Should Know about Women in Engineering: A Motivational Talk

Engineering can pose many challenges to female engineers or to women pursuing a career in this male-dominated field. These challenges could restrain women from achieving their fullest potentials. This originates from the fact that being in the minority could be intimidating and could lead to a lack of confidence, which is one of the reasons why women are often plagued by the ‘imposter syndrome'. Another factor that plays a crucial role in women experiencing social isolation in this field is the personal perception about their gender, especially when sitting in a room full of men, regardless of whether they are students, colleagues, researchers, audience in a conference, etc. In the face of structural bias and the social assumptions of women in engineering, it is vital to understand the role of personal and professional identity and to embrace the fact that men and women bring different but hugely complementary skills to the table. In this motivational talk, I will shed light on the challenges and opportunities I encountered during my own journey towards being an academic in electrical and electronic engineering at one of the top universities in the world and receiving an endorsement from the Royal Academy of Engineering, UK, as a UK Exceptional Talent. I will pinpoint key elements to success and how I took failure as a chance to build my confidence in this field while focusing on the significant role of engagement, exposure, and pro-activeness. The aim of this thought-provoking talk is to encourage both male and female audiences to understand each other in this domain and to contemplate the different traits possessed by each gender.