The Society of Women Engineers’ (SWE) mission is to empower women to achieve their full potential in careers as engineers and leaders; expand the image of the engineering and technology professions as a positive force in improving the quality of life; and demonstrate the value of diversity and inclusion.
SWE affinity groups (AGs) were established in SWE to bring together communities that share similar interests and backgrounds.
The Global Women Engineers Affinity Group (GWE AG) is a space born from the desire to bring together SWE’s global engineers to share their experiences, offer leadership opportunities and networking, organize webinars and workshops to support professional development, and celebrate their accomplishments and amplify their impact. We are here to inspire women and young girls to break barriers and pursue their engineering dreams.
After 10 years of its establishment, the most powerful part of GWE AG’s story is not just its programs or events, it’s its people. This team puts their energy, enthusiasm, and dedication into turning all ideas into action.
Today, members around the world could not agree more that GWE AG gave them not just a network, but also confidence to grow. Many found opportunities that pushed them out of their comfort zone and into leadership roles. Through this community, members gained the visibility, support, and encouragement they needed to bring their vision to life.
And that’s where the story connects to every current member — their contributions, including participation in events, shared stories, mentorship, leadership, continue to shape the global engineering community.
From vision to visibility to impact, global women engineers keep the community moving forward.
We asked our FY26 GWE AG members the same three questions, and here are their responses.
Abosede Adewole — Collegiate Lead
1. In your view, how has having a global perspective helped in shaping your career journey?
Seeing engineering through a global lens has shown me that, despite our different contexts, many of our challenges and ambitions are the same. Working in Nigeria while connecting with peers worldwide has pushed me to grow, aim for international standards, and think more broadly about leadership. Most of all, it has reminded me that innovation thrives on diverse voices — and that my perspective as an African woman engineer truly matters in global conversations.
2. How has being part of the SWE Global Women Engineers Affinity Group influenced your professional growth or sense of community within SWE?
Being part of the SWE Global Women Engineers AG has given me a stronger sense of belonging and a space where global experiences truly matter. My interactions with the fellow GWE members have broadened my view of leadership, growth, and career transitions for women engineers across regions. Personally, it has also provided me with a global sisterhood that values visibility, mentorship, and collective development.
3. What encouraged you to join the SWE Global Women Engineers AG, and how do you plan to impact the community as a GWE member?
I joined the SWE Global Women Engineers AG because cross-regional learning is important for advancing women in engineering in a truly impactful way. I hope to contribute to this community by sharing my experience, encouraging cross-cultural mentorship, and supporting early‑ and mid-career engineers as they grow and lead. For me, this isn’t just about being part of the community — it’s about helping strengthen it through collaboration and shared learning.
Eshika Mahajan — Professional Development Lead
1. In your view, how has having a global perspective helped in shaping your career journey?
A global perspective has played a significant role in shaping my career journey. A year ago, while upskilling, I found myself at a crossroads: whether to continue learning hands-on in the industry or pursue a full-time curriculum in the GenAI space. Through the SWE Affinity Group and Mentor Network, I connected with professors and professionals worldwide, which helped me make an informed decision that ultimately worked in my favour.
2. How has being part of the SWE Global Women Engineers Affinity Group influenced your professional growth or sense of community within SWE?
Cross Collaboration! Cross Collaboration! Cross Collaboration! The SWE Global Women Engineers Affinity Group involves members from different regions, time zones, and languages. The AG has taught me how to truly come together, understand each other, communicate, and collaborate effectively across boundaries, while at the same time, being cognizant of the receiver’s ecosystem, who might not share the same first language, cultural context, festivals, or ways of living. The experience has significantly widened my perspective and made me more inclusive.
3. What encouraged you to join the SWE Global Women Engineers AG, and how do you plan to impact the community as a GWE member?
I think I have always been curious to learn from others. How are they doing things differently? What can I contribute to their journey? Brainstorming on a wide range of topics, while respectfully agreeing to disagree, I saw the potential to tick most of my boxes in the AG. I would really encourage the community to voice their ideas, reach out, and brainstorm what they want to learn, and our AG will support them.
Banisha Prinja — GWE AG Lead-Elect
1. In your view, how has having a global perspective helped in shaping your career journey?
Seeing how professionals around the world pushed through similar challenges helped me let go of self-doubt, build confidence in what I can do, and strengthen the conviction to stay true to my goals.
2. How has being part of the SWE Global Women Engineers Affinity Group influenced your professional growth or sense of community within SWE?
The SWE Global Women Engineers Affinity Group has continually encouraged me to step up — starting with creating LinkedIn and social media content and eventually becoming a co-lead—and it’s truly become a space where I can genuinely grow, contribute with my whole heart, and meaningfully support others.
3. What encouraged you to join the SWE Global Women Engineers AG, and how do you plan to impact the community as a GWE member?
I joined the SWE Global Women Engineers Affinity Group to learn from engineers worldwide and thrive on a single unified platform. I’m excited to give back with an open heart and mind by sharing what I learn and staying actively involved in the community’s growth.
Robyn Broniewski — Empowerment Lead
1. How has having a global perspective helped shape your career journey?
Having a global perspective has shown me that engineering is more than solving technical problems — it’s about connecting people and creating an impact that is well beyond ourselves. Collaborating and interacting with individuals from different countries and cultures has strengthened my ability to listen, adapt, and lead with empathy. Today, in my role at Johnson & Johnson MedTech, I carry that mindset forward, knowing that the work we do contributes to improving and saving lives around the world.
2. How has being part of the SWE Global Women Engineers Affinity Group influenced your professional growth or sense of community?
The Global Women Engineers Affinity Group has been one of the most meaningful parts of my SWE journey. It connected me to women across the world who inspire me with their courage, resilience, and ambition. Serving as an empowerment lead allowed me to help create spaces where women could share their stories and support one another. It reminds me that we cannot succeed alone — our strength comes from lifting each other and building a space where every woman feels seen, valued, and empowered.
3. What encouraged you to join the SWE Global Women Engineers AG, and how do you hope to impact the community as a GWE member?
I joined the Global Women Engineers Affinity Group because I believe deeply in the power of community and representation. Receiving the SWE Pathfinder Award reinforced my responsibility to continue that cycle of support. I hope to inspire others to believe in themselves, pursue leadership roles, and know they belong. Together, we are not only advancing engineering — we are shaping a more inclusive and empowering future for women everywhere.
Chandrani Mukherjee — Building Community Lead
1. In your view, how has having a global perspective helped in shaping your career journey?
My global academic and professional journey, including my time at Liverpool John Moores University, has helped me design AI solutions that are not only innovative, but also culturally aware, ethical, and globally applicable.
2. How has being part of the SWE Global Women Engineers Affinity Group influenced your professional growth or sense of community within SWE?
Being part of the SWE Global Women Engineers Affinity Group has given me a powerful network where collaboration, mentorship, and shared experiences strengthen both technical leadership and a sense of belonging.
3. What encouraged you to join the SWE Global Women Engineers AG, and how do you plan to impact the community as a GWE member?
I joined the SWE Global Women Engineers AG to contribute my expertise and learnings from my journey in AI, support my professional development, and mentor and empower women engineers to lead trustworthy, human-centered innovation worldwide.
Vikram Kumar — Collegiate Lead-Elect
1. In your view, how has having a global perspective helped in shaping your career journey?
Having a global perspective has helped me to think in diverse ways of problem-solving, leadership styles, and approaches. Engaging with professionals from different cultures has strengthened my adaptability and broadened my strategic thinking. It has also made me more inclusive in my decision-making, and I understand what it takes to shape great ideas — a collaborative, global team.
2. How has being part of the SWE Global Women Engineers Affinity Group influenced your professional growth or sense of community within SWE?
Being new to the SWE Global Women Engineers Affinity Group, I have had the opportunity to learn from inspiring women leaders worldwide, exchange best practices, and build meaningful professional connections.
3. What encouraged you to join the SWE Global Women Engineers AG, and how do you plan to impact the community as a GWE member?
Engineering challenges today are global, and so should be our networks. As a GWE member, I aim to contribute to expanding outreach, strengthening engagement, and fostering inclusive connections across regions and communities. My goal is to help build an inclusive ecosystem where women engineers feel empowered to lead, innovate, and grow.
Debarati Ganguly — Professional Development Lead-Elect
1. How has having a global perspective shaped your career journey?
Working across America, Europe, Australia, the UK, and the Middle East has trained me to design AI and data ecosystems that balance sovereignty, regulation, and real-world impact. It has made me think in systems — not projects — and lead with both domain and policy awareness, and engineering depth.
2. How has being part of the SWE Global Women Engineers Affinity Group influenced your professional growth or sense of community?
The GWE AG reinforces that women belong at the forefront of complex engineering and AI decisions and leadership conversations. It gives me a global circle where technical depth and leadership ambition are strengthened together. It has expanded my network and reinforced my responsibility and shared ambition to elevate more women into strategic roles.
3. What encouraged you to join the SWE Global Women Engineers AG, and how do you plan to impact the community as a GWE member?
I joined because women must shape the future of AI, not just participate in it. I want to mentor, support professional development into strategic tech roles, and help more women step confidently into architecture, policy, and leadership spaces.
Ashwini Phalke — Awards Lead
1. In your view, how has having a global perspective helped in shaping your career journey?
Having a global perspective has significantly shaped my career by helping me understand different challenges and identify opportunities for collaboration. It also helped me understand different cultures and leadership styles and gain a lot of experience through interactions.
2. How has being part of the SWE Global Women Engineers Affinity Group influenced your professional growth or sense of community?
Being part of the SWE Global Women Engineers Affinity Group has improved my professional journey in many ways. Getting to interact with experienced leaders with rich experience in diverse fields. Leading the Award vertical allowed me to connect with many affiliates and get to know them personally, as well as exposure to SWE’s activities and a deeper understanding of SWE’s mission.
3. What encouraged you to join the SWE Global Women Engineers AG, and how do you plan to impact the community as a GWE member?
I was encouraged to join the SWE Global Women Engineers AG because of its mission to bring together women engineers from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds. The opportunity to learn from global perspectives, contribute to meaningful discussions, and support women in STEM worldwide strongly resonated with me. As a GWE member, I plan to make an impact by actively participating in the AG activities, primarily by providing exposure to SWE’s awards and recognition for all group members and by recognizing each member’s great work.
Mandeep Gill — Lead
Over the years, members of the SWE Global Women Engineers Affinity Group have shared their experiences and stories that reflect their professional growth — whether it’s navigating early leadership roles, working with global project teams, or simply gaining confidence through community support.
At SWE GWE AG, cross-cultural and group mentorship happens naturally because we’re constantly learning from each other’s diverse backgrounds, work styles, and challenges, and this is my biggest motivation and learning.
Members actively help each other and the community by offering guidance, opening doors to opportunities, reviewing resumes or proposals, and connecting them with relevant networks.
For me personally, I’ve been able to contribute by creating a platform where women engineers from around the world can come together, connect, learn from one another, shine, grow personally and professionally, lean in during challenges, and lift each other every step of the way.
