Neema Nair (she/her), design & analysis engineering leader for the engine business of Cummins India, joined us live in the WE23 Diverse Podcast Studio to share her experiences of living and working as an engineer in both the U.S. and India.
Interviewed by Laurie Shuster (she/her), editor-in-chief of SWE Magazine, Nair sheds light on the key similarities and differences for women pursuing STEM careers in these cultures.
Hear her reflections on authentic networking, retaining women in the workforce, avoiding common career pitfalls and advocating for important causes within the workplace.
Listen to the episode on SWE’s website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or on your favorite podcast platform.
Speaker: Neema Nair, Design & Analysis Engineering Leader, Engine Business, Cummins India
Neema Nair is the technical director for the design and analysis organization in the Engine Business of Cummins India. She completed a B.S. in mechanical engineering at Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute at the University of Mumbai in India in 2004. She went on to earn an M.S. in mechanical engineering with a specialty in advanced fluids at the University of Louisville. She has also completed executive education programs at Smith College—”From Specialist to Strategist” and “Directing Innovation”—designed for emerging leaders in STEM fields.
Nair is a certified Six Sigma green belt, a certified safe leader for the LGBTQ+ diversity spectrum and a team-based work systems champion. She formally leads Cummins’ India Pride employee resource group and is a strong voice challenging norms and pushing inclusion strategies forward globally.
Nair has been a member of the Society of Women Engineers since 2011 and took a major role in the start-up of SWE in India. As part of this effort, she sponsored the Cummins College of Engineering for Women’s SWE program start-up, India’s first all-woman university SWE affiliate and second university affiliate overall. She currently co-chairs the India Corporate Council, of which she has been a member since 2019. She received the WE Local ELiTE Award in 2021.
Host: Laurie Shuster, Editor-in-Chief, SWE Magazine
Laurie A. Shuster is the Editor-in-Chief of SWE Magazine for the Society of Women Engineers. She has more than 30 years of experience in writing, editing, and managing print and online publications in the B2B (business-to-business) field. Shuster is responsible for the content planning, editing, production, and day-to-day management of SWE Magazine.
Before joining SWE, Shuster was Deputy Editor of Landscape Architecture Magazine for the American Society of Landscape Architects and Editor-in-Chief of Civil Engineering magazine for the American Society of Civil Engineers.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in journalism from the University of Maryland and completed the Program for Developing Managers at Simmons College Graduate School of Management in Boston. Throughout her career, Laurie received numerous accolades and awards for her magazine work, both in editorial and design excellence.
