SWE - Fall 2008 - (Page 11)

Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to offer anything to this task force. Having the opportunity to work in both worlds gives me another advantage. I can compare and contrast my experiences between the two to determine whether some behavior or feedback is “real” and qualifies as an area I need to work on. be used as “instant meetings.” Make the room arrangements for a SWE meeting or a group of people at your office, download one of the webinars, and then have a discussion of what you learned afterward. You can put together a meeting with relatively little work — that is my idea of a great way to grow through SWE. What strengths do you bring to the position? While I bring a lot of SWE and corporate experience to the board table, I think my most important strength is an inclusive and approachable style. I’m excited to be working with such a qualified board and leadership team; it is going to be rewarding and fun to build on our operational plan. I’m strongly committed to listening to SWE member needs and seeking input from all of our stakeholders. What is the Society’s focus in FY09? Top priorities for the year will be based on three objectives from our new strategic plan. The objectives focus on: M increasing the number of conversations and connections we have with groups that influence our environment (e.g., academia, government) M helping our members build their skills by increasing the quality of our professional development offerings throughout all career stages M growing the number of leaders through the development of a strong and diverse leadership pipeline We have launched a new communications tool with the SWE Communities, and this is the year to fully embed it in our culture. This is going to be easier for those under 25 than it will be for others. For those of us who are unaccustomed to this new style of communications, we need to make a concerted effort to get up to speed and be “cool” because we are in the know. We will also focus on emerging opportunities with international participation. Where has SWE made the greatest progress in the last five years? Two areas immediately come to mind: public policy and providing what I call “turn-key” solutions for our members. Just five years ago, Alma Martinez Fallon was president and instrumental in launching SWE in the public policy arena. We have gone from having very little recognition to being a group that has a seat at the most relevant tables, to being called upon for leadership. While public policy might seem a bit lofty and removed to some members, it is really the place where we can effect change for all women engineers. The work is a long-term investment in ourselves, as the legislation and influence cycles take time. I imagine the groups working to influence the Title IX act must have felt like real change was a long way off, but from our vantage point today, their efforts helped improve and change the world. Significant progress has been made over the last few years in the benefits we provide to make life easier for our members. The tools SWE provides for our members to put on outreach events, such as the Wow! Event-in-a-Box, really save time and keep our members doing what they do best — being role models for young women rather than developing the material. Our professional development webinars are another great resource that I hope all of our members take advantage of. These are great sessions that can also What areas of strategic opportunity do you see for the Society in the next few years? The upcoming 60th anniversary is a platform to celebrate the progress that has been made for women in engineering and motivate us to keep pushing forward. Our early members endured a workplace environment that many of us can’t even fathom now. I’m forever thankful for the path they blazed, and confident that further progress will continue, now and in the future. For these reasons, we need to fully leverage all that the anniversary represents, both internally and externally. We also need to make participation in SWE outreach and other activities as easy as possible by offering more tools; providing training; and encouraging leadership development for all SWE roles. We have a great opportunity to Our early members endured a workplace environment that many of us can’t even fathom now. I’m forever thankful for the path they blazed, and confident that further progress will continue, now and in the future. SWE FALL 2008 11

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of SWE - Fall 2008

SWE - Fall 2008 Heritage Club Contents Farewell Message from FY08 President Michelle Tortolani Congratulations SWE Magazine A Conversation with FY09 President Virginia Connolly, P.E. Introducing the FY09 Board of Directors View from the Executive Suite Editor's Page Public Policy Update SWE Retention Study, Part 6 Membership Information & Calendar A&B SWE Member Kristina Johnson First Woman to Receive John Fritz Medal University Labs Fuel a New Era in Energy Women Engineering Leaders in Academe 2008 Opening the Gateways to Engineering Your Collegiate Section History is Waiting to Be Discovered Honoring the Legacy of Ada Pressman, P.E. Report from WEPAN Engineering World Proposed Bylaws Amendments Point of View Correction Career Toolbox Corporate Partnership Council Book Review SWE Smiles In Memory Opportunity Index SWE Scrapbook

SWE - Fall 2008

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