International Women in Engineering Day 2025

Engineering is not short on innovation. But when it comes to inclusion, the pace of progress still feels uneven. Despite the industry’s growing recognition of International Women in Engineering Day (INWED), many women working in these roles continue to navigate systems where their presence, influence and pay remain unequal.

Today (23rd June) brings with it the usual buzzwords and hashtags, but for the women shaping the industry from within, this day is more than a calendar event. It’s a moment to reflect not just on progress, but on the unseen persistence behind it.

The power of being believed in

For Chrissay Brinkmann, Solutions Engineer at Leaseweb USA, INWED is more than symbolic. “International Women in Engineering Day is such a powerful moment to reflect on how far we’ve come, and how much farther we still need to go,” she says. “For me, it’s personal.” 

Her early exposure to STEM was positive thanks largely to those around her. “I was lucky to grow up with people, women and men, who never questioned my place in STEM,” she says. “They didn’t treat it like something unusual or out of reach. They just cheered me on, challenged me in the best ways, and helped me see that my voice and ideas belonged in this space.”

Jennifer Rojas, Director of Operations at Leaseweb Canada, reflects on a similar dynamic. “I think about the mentors who nudged me forward when I didn’t know what the next step even looked like,” she says. “And the people who believed in me, even before I really believed in myself. That kind of support? It changed everything.”

Inclusion that feels real

Support systems may begin early, but the workplace plays a pivotal role in how women in engineering experience their careers. But what does meaningful inclusion look like day to day and where does it fall short?

“At Leaseweb,” Brinkmann says, “I feel that same kind of support every single day. It’s not just lip service. Diversity is part of the way we show up for each other. The way we solve problems together. And ultimately, how we win as a team.” Her colleague Rojas agrees, “this is a company that genuinely walks the walk when it comes to inclusion. It’s not just talk. We see every day how having different voices around the table makes us sharper, more creative, and more human in the way we solve problems.”

For both, inclusion isn’t about visibility for its own sake, but about impact. “Celebrating women in engineering isn’t just about fairness,” Rojas adds. “It’s about building smarter, better teams.”

The gaps that are still present

But not every workplace tells the same story, and progress hasn’t been universal. Elena Arabgadi, a Software Engineer at Aqilla, speaks from her perspective. “Twenty years ago, when I started to work in IT, I was the first female Java developer in my city,” she shares. “At that time, I was young, inexperienced, but very motivated.”

Her experience in a male-dominated environment came with obvious challenges, though she notes that things have improved since. “Now the situation has changed, and women can cover many roles in tech.” Yet she’s quick to point out what hasn’t changed. “The situation with the gender gap, unfortunately, remains the same,” she says. “It’s very sad that women are underpaid. Not only in IT, of course. Organisations should close the gap by offering the same conditions for males and females.”

Arabgadi also sees deeper, long-term consequences to this imbalance. “If one day the gender gap is closed, it may invert the demography problem as well,” she says. “Tech, as other industries, only wins from women’s presence. Only the combination of female and male approaches can bring excellent results.”

Her message to the next generation of engineers is direct and inspiring: “I would advise women right from the start of their careers, never give up and keep going forward.”

Redefining leadership on their own terms

Leadership is often defined by tenure and titles, but for Claire Hu Weber, Vice President of International Markets at Fluke Corporation, her approach has always centred on value and clarity. “I was lucky to come of age during the dawn of the personal computer and Internet era,” she says. “I still remember building my first PC, an Intel 486, and opening a Hotmail account that allowed me to connect with friends and family across the world, it felt like magic.”

It was the start of a relationship with engineering that was more about possibility than mechanics. “It showed me that engineering isn’t just about machines it’s about possibilities, human connection, and solving challenges.” That mindset proved essential in her early management career. “In my first engineering manager role, I led a team of experienced nuclear engineers, most of whom were decades my senior,” she says. “As a young woman, I knew I couldn’t rely on seniority or tenure, I had to earn credibility by adding real value.”

Her strategy was grounded in clarity and connection. “My focus was on simplifying complexity, aligning our work to clear outcomes, and helping the team see how their technical knowledge could be commercially impactful.” She sums it up with quiet assurance: “Leadership isn’t about how long you’ve been in the room, it’s about how effectively you can help others succeed.”

Not just a day, but a direction

As Rojas puts it: “June 23 isn’t just a day on the calendar. It’s this really powerful reminder of what’s actually possible when women are truly seen and supported in engineering and tech.” And as Brinkmann concludes, it’s not just about being seen, it’s about what happens next: “I really hope that by sharing my story, more women feel seen, encouraged, and maybe even inspired to explore a future in engineering too.”