About Us
The Early Career Professionals Affinity Group (ECP AG) was formed to address the gap from collegiate to professional SWE and equip individuals with the support, resources, and inclusive community to excel in the first ten years of their career. The mission of the Affinity Group is to aid in the recruitment and development of early career professionals, and to facilitate their engagement with and participation in the Society. By providing a forum for networking, professional development, and opportunities to promote diversity of thought, the ECP AG aims to empower early career professionals to succeed professionally and personally. Collegiate seniors, graduate students, and individuals in the first 10 years of their career are encouraged to join.
Why should I join the ECP AG?
- Future growth, professional and leadership development in both SWE and the workplace
- Networking opportunities and engagement with the global early career professional SWE community through organized social events and social media (Slack, LinkedIn, etc.)
- Access to professional development resources through events and mentorship
Hear from our Members!
- Tharima Ferdausi (she/her)
- “Supporting women in STEM is what motivated me to join the ECP AG. I heard about the AG right after I graduated from college. I thought it was perfect timing since I am in the process of starting a new career. This is a great opportunity to meet other women who are in similar situations and to learn from each other as well. Everybody has something to teach you, such as the different kinds of engineering industries, how to develop your soft skills, and how to improve yourself professionally.”
- Nina Arcot (she/her)
- “I joined the ECP AG to meet other early career engineers and learn about opportunities to get more involved with SWE.”
- Swetha Manickavasagam (she/her)
- “SWE has always pushed me forward and ECP AG is one that encouraged me to advocate for the challenges that I faced in my daily routine. The newsletters and channels have been a great source of support for me. The most important aspect that I love about the ECP AG is globalization and advocacy.”
- Katrina Bliss (she/her)
- “Moving across the country for my first job after college was intimidating. I had no friends in a large city, and was adjusting to all the “new” in my life — a new job, new apartment, and new area. Joining SWE’s ECP AG made this transition so much more manageable! It made a world of a difference knowing I had my group of people who I already had something in common with (SWE!) in this new stage of life. I would highly encourage young professionals to take advantage of this amazing group and see how it can help you grow— professionally, in friendships, and more!”
How can I join?
Connect with us here to join our mailing list, Slack, LinkedIn, and learn about upcoming events and activities!
Leads
ECP AG Co-Lead: Marie Pierre (MP) Delisle (She/Her)
Los Angeles SWE Section
Ph.D. Candidate – University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles: B.S. CEE (18), M.S. CEE (20)
Marie-Pierre (MP) Delisle is a Ph.D. Candidate in Coastal Engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and a UCLA alumna (B.S. CEE ‘18, M.S. CEE ‘20). Her research focuses on the dynamic interactions occurring in the shallow coastal zone and the impacts sea level rise will have on coastal flooding magnitudes and behaviors. MP is passionate about empowering under-represented groups in STEM and serves as the co-Lead (previously Membership co-Lead) for the SWE Early Career Professionals Affinity Group, the Internal Coordinator for the GradSWE Affinity Group, and an advising board member of GradSWE at UCLA (previously Director, Mentorship Director). Most recently, MP presented “Adulting 101: Life Skills for Gen Z” at WE22 and was awarded first place in the graduate collegiate competitions at WE Local ABQ 2022 and WE22. On the weekends, you’ll likely find MP training for her next marathon, crafting, or baking up a storm in the kitchen.
ECP AG Co-Lead: Mahati Vavilala (She/Her)
Atlanta SWE Section
Procurement Analytics Consultant – Insight Sourcing Group
Georgia Institute of Technology: B.S. IE (19)
Mahati Vavilala is a Procurement Analytics Consultant at Insight Sourcing Group (ISG), a boutique management consulting firm based in Atlanta, GA. At ISG, she manages spend optimization opportunities for multibillion dollar clients across a number of industries and is heavily involved with the Women’s Network and firmwide D&I initiatives. Mahati kickstarted her involvement with SWE at Georgia Tech in 2015, where she served in multiple leadership roles including VP of Technical Development in FY18 and President in FY19. She has attended the annual SWE conference every year since WE17 and has continued her involvement in SWE after graduating from Georgia Tech as a part of the SWE Atlanta Executive Board as Social Media Chair and Professional Development Chair. Most recently, Mahati presented “WE Beyond SWE: Championing Diversity & Inclusion in the Workplace” at WE20, the “College to Career Panel” at WE21, and “Career Fair Tips and Tricks” at WE21 and WE22. In her free time, Mahati enjoys cooking, exploring restaurants and coffee shops, volunteering and mentoring, and spending time with family and friends.
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