In the United States, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is celebrated every May, honoring members of the community and their contributions. SWE member Tuyet-Hanh Schnell shares more on the history and significance of the month.
At the Society of Women Engineers, we celebrate AAPI Heritage Month by highlighting the women professionals in science, technology, engineering and mathematics from the community and their many contributions to the field, inspiring the next generation of engineers.
View this compilation of some of the latest podcast episodes, blog posts, magazine articles, and online courses highlighting their work and impact, as well as a few resources for members and allies of the AAPI community.
Diverse: A SWE Podcast
- Ep 366: The Power of Jugaad in Engineering: Turning Constraints Into Creative Solutions: Hear SWE Asian Connections Affinity Group members Riddhi Attarde, Vidhya Prabhu, and Uma Veeramani discuss the concept of jugaad, how it applies in STEM spaces, and how engineers can use that mindset to find solutions when time or resources are limited.
- Ep 349: How to Make the Boss-Employee Relationship Work for Everyone With Sabina Nawaz: Leadership coach Sabina Nawaz draws from her 14-year career at Microsoft in sharing how leaders can unlock better ideas from their teams, breaking down what causes leaders to struggle, and how managers and employees can build stronger working relationships.
- Ep 319: Personal Finance for Engineers With Sandra Park: Sandra Park, a financial coach for women in STEM, speaks about how engineers can apply problem-solving skills to personal finance and gain more freedom in their careers. She shares steps for building a strong foundation at all career stages and a systems approach to paying student loans.
All Together Blog
- The Questions Rachel Carson Taught Me to Ask: SWENext Influencer Katelyn L. shares her thoughts on how we can contribute to a world where humans and nature coexist and carry forward the vision of American biologist and writer Rachel Carson, author of Silent Spring, whose curiosity and advocacy transformed our view of the environment and industrial progress.
- How Madalyn Nguyen Built Confidence, Community, and a Future in Computer Science: From our Her Stories: Adventures in STEM series, read about Madalyn Nguyen, a second-generation Vietnamese American studying computer science. Her journey from robotics and SWENext to aerospace and technology internships shows that growth in STEM is rarely linear.
- From Reflection to Action: Senior Software Engineer Alisha Sharma Chapai shares how the SWE Ignite Leadership Program helped her rebuild confidence and grow. By leaning into discomfort and valuing emotional intelligence, she started taking the lead on advocating for her own growth and recognized that leadership is a journey shaped by continuous learning.
SWE Magazine
- Why Mentorship Is Not Enough — And Sponsorship Is Not Optional: Rosalind Chow, Ph.D., associate professor of organizational behavior and theory at Carnegie Mellon University and author of The Doors You Can Open: A New Way to Network, Build Trust, and Use Your Influence, shares her thoughts on finding a sponsor and showing up in a sponsorship.
- Distinguished Engineering Educator: Tsu-Jae Liu, Ph.D., president of the National Academy of Engineering, was recognized for demonstrating the highest standards as an educator and scientist, for challenging students to pursue independent research, and for inspiring women engineers to shape the future of technology.
- What’s in a Title?: Read the Spring 2025 feature comparing job titles and responsibilities for women engineers in different regions and what the similarities and differences are. Software engineer Stephanie Nhi Le from Chicago reflects on the path she took to get to where she is today, and her lessons learned from working in a startup environment.
Advance Learning Center
- Authentic Influence: Using Your Story to Build Relationships & Opportunities: Executive Coach Marge Ang shares from 25 years of experience accelerating growth for global organizations and startups. In this course, learn to create a first draft of a personal brand story in an authentic way and adapt a personal brand story for different professional contexts.
- Bridging the Gap: Empowering First-Generation Professionals for Success: Learn how first-generation professionals can bring their unique perspectives and strengths to the workplace while navigating challenges such as unfamiliar corporate landscapes, particularly in engineering, which demands technical expertise and adaptability in professional environments.
- The Art of Authentic Networking: Discover the importance of networking in the workplace, identifying the keys to networking, and recognizing techniques to improve collaboration with colleagues. Leave with insightful tips for large in-person networking events that will help introverts and extroverts alike thrive and form meaningful connections.
Asian Connections Affinity Group
For SWE members who identify as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, or who are allies of the community, the Asian Connections Affinity Group provides help and support while connecting you to members on Facebook. You can also subscribe to their newsletter by logging into your member portal and opting in under Communication Preferences or reach them on AsianConnections_AG@swe.org.
SWE Joint Member Organizations
Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE) is free to join and is one of SWE’s joint member organizations where you can experience greater access to community, networking, and additional programming.
