Meet Isabella T., who recently graduated with an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma and will be starting her first year at Columbia University this fall, where she intends to major in financial engineering or industrial engineering. Born in Miami and raised in Sao Paulo, she attended a British international school and speaks four languages — Portuguese, Spanish, French, and English.
Isabella found out about the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) while looking for organizations that support and advocate for women in engineering and promote gender equity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). “I was eager to both connect with other women in the field and bring that support to my own school community,” she says. “When I came across SWE, I reached out to the Brazilian branch and immediately felt it was the perfect fit.”
“Starting a SWENext Club was my way of creating a space for students who, like me, are passionate about STEM and eager to learn more about what it means to build a career in these fields.”
Starting an International Club
“At my high school, there was a clear gender gap in STEM subjects. Many girls didn’t feel encouraged to pursue engineering, and there were limited opportunities to explore those interests beyond the classroom. Starting a SWENext Club was my way of creating a space for students who, like me, are passionate about STEM and eager to learn more about what it means to build a career in these fields.”
The club aims to bridge the gender gap by empowering young women to explore engineering and technology. Mentorship opportunities, events featuring guest speakers, and hands-on experiences that help students deepen their interest in STEM are offered through the club.
“We also connect members with female engineers, university programs, and industry professionals to promote visibility and leadership in the field. Through social media, outreach, and collaborative projects, we’re working to inspire the next generation of female engineers and innovators.”
Isabella shares that launching the club and building a team were easy, as many students were excited to join and felt that this kind of initiative had been missing from the school.
“The biggest challenges were logistical. Since most SWENext events are U.S.-based, we had to adapt and localize our efforts. Balancing the IB workload and university applications while launching and maintaining a new club also required a lot of time management and commitment.”
The Club Connection
Isabella co-founded the club at the end of 2023/start of 2024 with two peers, making it the first SWENext Club in Sao Paulo and the fifth in Brazil. They currently have more than 20 members. The leadership team and advisor meet weekly, while full-club meetings are held monthly. They also stay connected through regular messages on WhatsApp to share event updates, engagement opportunities, and ideas.
“One of our most significant achievements was organizing Women Leading the Way, an in-person career fair featuring seven female engineers from different fields. They shared their professional journeys and participated in a Q&A session with students.”
This was the first time female engineers had been invited to speak at Isabella’s high school. Two additional talks were hosted where engineers discussed their career paths, challenges, and experiences as women in STEM. These events sparked meaningful conversations and motivated students to explore different branches of engineering.
“To further promote awareness, our members researched different engineering fields, created presentations, and shared informational posts on Instagram. We also hosted a live Instagram session with a female engineer, where she discussed her motivations and challenges, followed by a Q&A.”
Beyond events, the club supported members applying for the SWENext Community Award and is currently organizing visits to universities and companies.
The SWENext Experience
Starting a SWE section/affiliate or SWENext Club is both exciting and incredibly rewarding, Isabella shares.
“My first piece of advice is to reach out to existing SWE [sections or affiliates] and SWENext branches in your area or even internationally. Learning from others who have already established successful clubs can give you insights into the types of events you can host, the challenges you might face, and the partnerships you can form.”
Another key step is securing the support of a mentor, ideally a teacher, school administrator, or someone with experience in STEM outreach. They can help guide you through the more logistical parts of starting a club, such as booking spaces, managing budgets, and getting approval for events. It’s also helpful to start with a clear mission and set of goals for your club.
“Most importantly, don’t be afraid to start small. Even a single event or meeting can have a big impact, and as your club grows, so will the opportunities.”
“One of the most helpful aspects of SWE is the access to role models and mentors. Whether through webinars, guest speakers, or conversations with other members, I had the opportunity to learn from women who are already navigating careers in engineering and technology.”
The Community Connection
For Isabella, SWE has been impactful in her involvement with STEM outside of the classroom, helping find a community of people who are passionate about STEM and who are actively working to make those fields more inclusive and accessible.
“One of the most helpful aspects of SWE is the access to role models and mentors. Whether through webinars, guest speakers, or conversations with other members, I had the opportunity to learn from women who are already navigating careers in engineering and technology. Their experiences have helped me see what’s possible and made the idea of a future in STEM feel much more tangible. Personally, SWE has helped me explore the many fields within engineering and gain clarity on which ones align best with my strengths and interests.”
Leading a SWENext Club has also been a transformative experience for her.
“I’ve learned how to organize events, build a team, communicate my vision, and adapt when things don’t go as planned. These leadership skills are valuable far beyond STEM, and I truly believe that starting or joining a SWENext Club can open doors both for you and for those around you.”
Want to start or join a SWENext Club? Find out if there is a SWENext Club near you or contact outreach@swe.org.
