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The Women's Perspective: Celebrating International Women in Engineering Day

June 23rd, 2021

In honor of International Women in Engineering Day, DRMP decided to focus on a few women in the industry who are engaged in the A/E/C profession in and outside of the office. With varied disciplines and work experience, they give their take on the importance of industry women engaging in professional organizations and how it can even give them an edge in their careers. 
Why do you think it is important for women in the industry to be involved in professional organizations? 
Kim bereis, aicp
Project Development & Environmental Manager 
23 Years of Experience 
Among other things, professional organizations provide opportunities for women engineers (and planners or “plangineers” like me) to expand their network and stay current on industry trends. I always encourage young professionals to join a highly regarded professional organization(s), noting that I guarantee through their active involvement they’ll meet someone or attend an event that will change the trajectory of their career in a positive way.
kimberly santiago-ORTIZ, ei
Water Resources/ Stormwater Project Engineer
3 Years of Experience 

In general, professional organizations are meant to promote the networking and sharing of ideas with others in the same profession with the intention of advancing both the profession as a whole and each individual within it. 

With that in mind, I believe that every professional, both men and women, should try to be involved in professional organizations.  However, I do believe that it is particularly important for women engineers to be involved because, according to a study completed in 2019 by the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), only 13% of engineers are women.  Therefore, it is crucial that us in the 13% are involved, share our ideas, contribute to the advancement of the engineering profession, and work together to increase that percentage.

Amanda woods, pe 
Vice President/Structures Division Manager 
24 Years of Experience 

Getting involved in a professional organization allows you to meet other like-minded individuals that will push you to grow professionally and personally. As engineers, we tend to focus on the technical side but networking and relationship building are both key to being successful in engineering as well. Plus, you have the opportunity to have some fun while doing it.

What advice would you give younger women engineers who are hesitant to get involved in the engineering field because it is male-dominated?
KIM BEREIS, aicp 
Join or start a student chapter for women in engineering at their university and try connecting with women established in a career that closely matches the area they’re interested in…who may have started out with that same hesitation! As a transportation planning consultant my entire career, in the late 90s there were no women engineers in the Roadway Design and Traffic groups where I started after graduate school. It’s a completely different landscape in this industry with many more women engineers, including in leadership roles. I’ve had the honor to work alongside some incredibly talented women engineers throughout my planning career!
KIMBERLY SANTIAGO-ORTIZ, EI 
If you are a woman engineer, you have already succeeded in “male-dominated” classes, have a degree in a “male-dominated” field, and are part of the “male-dominated” engineering workforce.  You have proved that the phrase “male-dominated” does not mean that it cannot be done by women.  You took the same classes, passed the same exams, have the same skills, and have the same jobs as the men in your field.  If that phrase didn’t stop you from pursuing your passion for engineering before, why should it stop you now?  Getting involved in a professional organization is just another thing that you can do, and it can help you continue to succeed in your engineering career.  
aMANDA WOODS, PE 

Women have more opportunities now than they’ve ever had in the past. Get out there, make those connections and work hard at your profession. Don’t be afraid to reach out to more experienced women and ask for advice because they will be eager to share it with you.

Do you think women who are involved in professional organizations have an upper hand in their careers? 
KIM BEREIS, AICP 
Absolutely. However, it's not enough to join a professional organization; they need to be actively involved in that organization to see the benefits over time.
kimberly santiago-ortiz, EI

Definitely!  Being involved in professional organizations isn’t just a resume booster.  Networking through professional organizations could help you meet people you wouldn’t have met otherwise.  This could lead to opportunities for professionals to share their knowledge and experiences, as well as to find mentors that can help guide you on advancing your career.  They also offers many webinars, seminars, and conferences, which are great ways to stay current on new technology, hear about recent projects done by others, and learn about different aspects of the field which you may not work with directly.  I believe it is extremely important to constantly be learning, from both our own and from others’ experiences, as that is how we advance our level of understanding and it plays a key role in career growth.

Amanda woods, pe 
Absolutely. Belonging to a professional organization allows you to stay in touch with individuals that you may not have the opportunity to see on a regular basis. Attending events keeps you in the loop of what’s going on in your profession and provides learning opportunities, both technical and professional. It also gives you the chance to really connect with individuals outside of work and get to know who they really are.
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