This article was written by Afton Coleman, WE Local Des Moines Marketing Liason.
WE Local is a Society of Women Engineers (SWE) program that hosts conferences around the globe so engineers can connect through professional development breakout sessions, inspirational speakers, networking opportunities and outreach activities.
WE Local conferences provide companies with the opportunity to increase brand awareness amongst the engineering field and recruit talent on-site through the career fair. By partnering with WE Local, you are not only recruiting from a pool of qualified engineers, but you are also reinforcing SWE’s mission as the largest advocate for women in engineering and technology.
For more than six decades, SWE has provided women engineers a unique place and voice within the engineering industry. The organization is centered around a passion for our members’ success and continues to evolve with the challenges and opportunities reflected in today’s exciting engineering and technology specialties.
Personally, I have benefited from SWE membership in many ways, not only in-person via conference attendance, but also with resources I can access online daily. Membership has given me access to web resources specifically tailored for women in engineering. With these resources, I can keep up to date on the latest technologies and industry developments as well as learn about how I can better contribute to and develop my career.
Of course, a major benefit of SWE membership is the discounted admission to the annual WE Conference. I had the benefit of attending WE18 in Minneapolis, which really opened my eyes to the impact of SWE globally in advocating for and empowering women in engineering. I loved how the keynote sessions and many breakout sessions keyed in on the technological side of our roles as well as provided unique solutions to common career challenges. It was so exciting to see the contributions made by local SWE groups in youth outreach, collegiate student competitions, awards and the participation of THOUSANDS of college students at the career fair in addition to the general sessions.
One of the most impactful benefits I have experienced with SWE membership is the connections made by becoming a member of the “Engineering Working Moms” group. There are SO many groups within SWE where members can meet and connect with other like-minded engineering women. With three small children at home, I experience not only the challenges of balancing growing my career with parenting but also the less commonly known benefits, including improved time management, drive and focus. The Engineering Working Moms group meets during WE conferences and has an active online presence which has been a welcome source of solidarity and support in my daily life.
For these reasons, I am thrilled to be a part of WE Local Des Moines and I know there are many other women regionally who feel the same! There are many opportunities for partnering with WE Local including exhibiting at the career fair. WE Local provides an intimate space for recruitment and networking and attracts students and professionals from up to a 300-mile radius.
For more information on partnering with the Society of Women Engineers and WE Local, view our North American Prospectus PDF.
Related content:
- Join us at WE Local Des Moines!
- Welcome to WE Local
- Be Inspired at WE Local Salt Lake City
- A Look Back at WE Local Europe 2019
