On June 6, 13, and 20, SWE Affiliates in Mexico held their third virtual event, Fostering Tomorrow’s Collaboration Today, dedicated to the empowerment of women in STEM.
Each day consisted of two-hour sessions with over 630 women and allies from Mexico and Latin America in attendance. The event featured interactive networking sessions, dynamic panel discussions, and inspiration from notable speakers. Many organizations participated, including Cummins, PepsiCo, John Deere, Honeywell, ABB, Rockwell Automation, GE Aerospace, Schneider Electric, Corning, and La Salle University.
Day 1
The event started strong with a session led by Sandra Torres Martinez, senior CI project manager, on the topic “What is SWE?” She defined SWE as an organization and outlined SWE’s role in the worldwide presence of women in engineering and technology.
The next highlight was a presentation by two inspiring figures in engineering, Maria Fernanda Infante and Yessica Martinez, who spoke on the topic “The Current Scenario of Women in Mexico’s STEM Fields.” The pair shared insights into navigating the engineering world as women, as well as the impact women can have in fostering diversity in STEM.
Finally, the first day came to a close with another renowned speaker, Alejandra Kamel, vice president of Research and Development at PepsiCo LATAM. She presented on the topic “Growth Mindset: Get Feedback.” Her speech set the tone for the rest of the event, emphasizing the importance of being open and embracing feedback as a mirror for self-improvement.
Day 2
The day began with a panel session titled “Work, Life, Balance” led by Gabriela Villasana, Veronica Vela, Maya Gacela, and Marisol Aponte. These four women are STEM professionals representing John Deere, GE Aerospace, and Corning Industries.
They spoke about achieving professional success while maintaining personal well-being in the demanding world of engineering. Their message resonated with many attendees, highlighting that success in engineering does not have to come at the expense of an individual’s health and happiness.
The second day closed with an interactive networking session where participants had the opportunity to make connections and create conversations with fellow professionals.
Day 3
The final day began with a keynote speech titled “Empowering Through Education: Women in Engineering Training” by Dr. Gabriela Macias, a distinguished professor at La Salle University. As a passionate advocate for gender equality in STEM education, her address highlighted the need for educational institutions and industry leaders to collaborate and create supportive environments for women in engineering.
The day continued with a second session, “Workplace Harassment: How to React,” led by Lourdes Montaya, a compliance officer in LATAM for Honeywell Co. She shared personal experiences and how to overcome the challenges that come with being a leader in the engineering field. Her message was clear: women should not have to endure harassment in silence, and the engineering community must take collective responsibility to form more inclusive workplaces.
The day ended with a leadership panel that included two notable speakers, Angela Cuellar, business services director at Cummins, and Gaspar Aguilar, Mexico operations and LATAM components lead at Cummins. As industry leaders, the pair discussed the importance of cultivating a leadership mindset, building strong networks, and how female leaders can drive organizational change. They encouraged participants to apply what they learned to take bold steps toward leadership in their own careers.
We are proud to say that the event was a resounding success, setting a powerful precedent for women in engineering and technology. We look forward to hosting our fourth event next year!
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