SWE Diverse Podcast Ep 285: Thriving in Engineering While Living With Disabilities

Members of the SWE DisAbility Inclusion Affinity Group share their stories of self-advocacy, thoughts on disclosing disabilities at work, and recommended disability inclusion resources for engineers.
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In this episode, Angelie Vincent and Ramak Asgari of the SWE DisAbility Inclusion Affinity Group share their personal journeys as engineers who are thriving in STEM while living with disabilities.

In conversation with Laurie Shuster, editor-in-chief of SWE Magazine, Vincent and Asgari offer insights into how leaders can create inclusive workplace environments that allow individuals with differing abilities to succeed.

Hear their stories of using self-advocacy to receive accommodations and their thoughts on disclosing disabilities at work, along with recommended disability inclusion resources for engineers.

Listen to the episode on SWE’s website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast platform. To get involved with the SWE DisAbility Inclusion Affinity Group, you can email disabilityinclusion-ag@swe.org.

Guest: Angelie Vincent, Co-Founder and Co-Chair, SWE DisAbility Inclusion Affinity Group

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Angelie Vincent

Angelie Vincent is an integration engineer in Boeing Commercial Airplanes Data, AI, and Emerging Technology in Everett, Wash. In addition to her primary role, she has a special interest in accessibility and is working to create a more accessible passenger experience for the neurodivergent community.

Angelie has a passion for helping and supporting the disability community and is the co-founder and co-chair of the SWE DisAbility Inclusion Affinity Group. She also sits on the board of directors of Sherwood Community Services, a Snohomish County non-profit that provides early intervention and vocational rehabilitation services for members of the disability community.

Angelie identifies as being disabled having been diagnosed late in life with autism in addition to having two non-apparent disabilities. She lives in Camano Island, Wash., with her husband Brian and dogs Delta, Minnie, and Chester. She also has two amazing grown sons, Victor and Caleb, who she loves very much.

Guest: Ramak Asgari, Academic Committee Chair, SWE DisAbility Inclusion Affinity Group

Ramak Asgari headshot
Ramak Asgari

Ramak Asgari obtained her B.S. degree in mathematics from the University of Kentucky and an M.S. degree in industrial & systems engineering from San Jose State University. Ms. Asgari works as an artificial intelligence/machine learning engineer at Lockheed Martin and is also a Design of Experiments private instructor with ASQ Six Sigma Quality Black Belt and ASQ Quality Engineer certifications.

She is actively involved in the MESA Engineering Program at San Jose State University which supports first generation, low income, and under-represented students in engineering. Asgari was recognized by the Society of Women Engineers with an Engaged Advocate Award, “honoring those with a background in engineering who contribute to the advancement or acceptance of women in engineering.”

Asgari was named the 2024 Tau Beta Pi Outstanding Advisor for empowering engineering students through mentorship and volunteering and displaying the qualities of an exemplary leader.

Host: Laurie Shuster, Editor-in-Chief, SWE Magazine

Laurie Shuster headshot
Laurie Shuster

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.


Diverse: a SWE podcast has been recognized as a top women in STEM podcast and a top engineering podcast!

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