As artificial intelligence reshapes industries, connectivity networks expand and advanced manufacturing accelerates, one industry sits at the heart of all these changes – engineering. But a key challenge continues to shape the sector’s ability to progress – how do we ensure the people designing and building the future of engineering reflect the diverse societies they serve?
International Women in Engineering Day is a chance to recognise and praise the women driving innovation across engineering, manufacturing and technology. But it’s also a chance to step back and question what things the industry needs to change so that more women see engineering as a place where they can build long-term influence and leadership.
Women make up just 17% of the UK’s engineering workforce, meaning the sector continues to miss out on a substantial pool of talent, ideas and leadership capability. Female leaders across industries agree that closing this gap is a crucial driver of stronger innovation and better outcomes.
From participation to influence
Improving representation is often framed as an entry-point challenge, but many leaders argue the real issue is progression – ensuring women move into positions where they can shape strategy.
Faye Ellis, Principal Training Architect at Pluralsight, reflects on how structural barriers can shape confidence and career trajectory.
“When I began my career as a junior systems engineer, I was thrown into a male-dominated industry where a lack of female role models made me doubt my own ability,” she says. “Fast forward to now and still, many women in the tech industry find they have to exceed expectations to gain the same recognition as male colleagues.”
As AI and automation reshape how engineering work is done, Ellis believes this imbalance becomes even more significant.
“The integration of these tools demands diverse perspectives to avoid biased outcomes, and we must ensure that women successfully move into more strategic roles as work becomes automated.”
Visibility, confidence and early barriers
For many women, the journey into engineering is also shaped long before they enter the workforce. Early perceptions of who “belongs” in technical fields continue to influence subject choices, career aspirations and confidence levels.
Jordan Day of ECI Software Solutions highlights how powerful those early experiences can be.
“Manufacturing and technology have traditionally been seen as male dominated industries, and while things have improved, there are still old-fashioned perceptions that can make women feel like they don’t belong,” she says.
Having been the only girl in her construction class at school and one of only two women studying joinery at college, Day saw first-hand how representation shapes ambition.
“When young women look at manufacturing, engineering and technology, they still don’t see enough women in leadership positions, which can make it harder to picture themselves in those careers.”
Mala Pillutla, Worldwide Vice President of Observability and Security at Dynatrace, reinforces the importance of visibility in changing that perception.
“The lack of visible female leaders remains a hurdle in our industry,” she says. “To inspire the next generation of women in STEM, young talent must see a diverse range of role models demonstrating that there are many ways to lead and many ways to succeed.”
Lucy Bell, Software Engineer at Arqit, adds that confidence is also a key factor in whether women put themselves forward for opportunities at all.
She notes that women are often less likely than men to apply unless they meet every requirement on a job description, and that confidence is built through “access to knowledge, networks and hands-on experience”.
Why different thinking matters in engineering
Organisations are increasingly recognising that innovation comes from having people with different perspectives as well as strong technical skills.
Ana Diaz, Managing Director of Vantage Towers Spain, sees diversity as a core driver of better engineering outcomes.
“As engineers, innovators and leaders, we bring diverse perspectives that help solve complex challenges and create technology that better reflects the needs of the communities it serves,” she says.
“Diverse teams consistently drive stronger innovation, and that is especially important as we build the resilient, sustainable and inclusive digital infrastructure needed for the future.”
This shift is reflected across manufacturing and technology sectors, where collaboration between different disciplines and experiences is becoming central to progress.
Rachel Eggington, Chief Operating Officer at Q5D, has witnessed this transformation over the course of her career.
“The amazing art of manufacturing comes from the people behind it,” she says. “Twenty years ago, I was usually the only woman in the room. Today, I’m surrounded by far greater diversity – and I love that manufacturing is richer for it, drawing on talent from all walks of life.”
Designing the AI era responsibly
As AI systems become increasingly embedded in everyday life, the stakes for engineering decisions are rising. The technologies being built today will influence how people work, communicate and access services for decades to come.
Paulette Toynton, Vice President, Experience Orchestration EMEA at Genesys, highlights:
“The future of AI cannot be built by a narrow set of voices. The systems being engineered today will shape how people work, communicate and access services for years to come, which makes diversity of thought more than just a box-ticking exercise.”
Sustaining change beyond recruitment
While attracting women into engineering remains important, many leaders emphasise that lasting change depends on what happens after entry, particularly when it comes to retention, development and leadership progression.
Sustained progress requires environments where women are supported to grow into senior roles and actively contribute to decision-making at the highest level.
Encouragingly, momentum is building. More organisations are investing in inclusion, more women are entering technical disciplines, and more leaders are actively advocating for change.
International Women in Engineering Day serves both as a celebration of progress and a reminder of the work still ahead. Those who embed diverse thinking into their teams and leadership structures will be best positioned to innovate, adapt and build technologies that work for everyone.
