Celebrating International Women in Engineering » Progress, Passion, and the Path Ahead

Today, on International Women in Engineering Day, we pause to recognize the brilliant minds, bold hearts, and transformative impact of women across engineering disciplines. This day honors not only those making waves in their fields right now, but the many women who came before - often pushing uphill against systemic barriers - and the next generation of innovators still finding their way.

Engineering shapes the world we live in. From the infrastructure we walk on to the code behind our screens, it’s one of the most powerful forces for progress. Yet for too long, women were kept out of the room where it all happened. Though we’ve seen tremendous growth in recent decades, women still make up only around 16% of engineers in the U.S. (and less than that in some specialties like mechanical or electrical engineering).

Representation matters - not just for equity, but for innovation. Diverse teams solve problems differently, more creatively, and more inclusively. When women are empowered in STEM, everyone benefits.

Women are increasingly making their mark in fields like:

• Environmental and Civil Engineering, where community-centered solutions and sustainability call for empathetic design.
• Biomedical Engineering, often blending care and tech in ways that improve lives.
• Software Engineering and Web Development, a space that continues to diversify as coding becomes more accessible.
• UX/UI Design, a discipline where the intersection of creativity and logic thrives - and where women are helping redefine digital spaces with human-centered approaches.

Yet, women remain underrepresented in sectors like mechanical, aerospace, and electrical engineering, where stereotypes and workplace culture have been slower to shift. These are areas where support, mentorship, and visibility matter most.

I come from a whole family of engineers - my dad worked in defense systems at and retired from Raytheon, my grandfather was an aerospace engineer at Northrop, my uncle had a career with NASA, my mom was an industrial engineer at Ross Perot’s company, EDS...(and there's more). Engineering and systems thinking were part of the air I breathed growing up - it’s in my blood.

As a woman who’s spent most of her life working in tech and design, International Women in Engineering Day isn’t just an industry celebration - it’s personal.

Back in high school, I was already diving into architecture and engineering through dual enrollment courses. I earned college credit before I even graduated, and that early exposure shaped how I saw the world and how much impact thoughtful design can really have. I started college studying drafting, graphic design, and architecture, eventually transferring into the University of Oregon’s architecture program.

Over time, I found myself drawn more toward digital design and development, where structure, systems, and creativity all come together. Today, as a website developer and agency owner, that early engineering mindset still influences how I approach every project. It shows up in how I build systems, solve problems, and collaborate with clients to bring their ideas to life.

This field is always evolving, and so are the people shaping it. I’ve seen firsthand how important it is to create space for different voices in technical roles. When we include more perspectives, we build better solutions.

A few ways we can all support women in engineering - today and every day:

✓ Celebrate Visibility
Share stories. Promote women-led projects. Normalize female expertise in technical spaces.

✓ Support Mentorship and Education
Girls can’t be what they don’t see. Programs like Girls Who Code, EngineerGirl, and STEM mentorships are game-changers.

✓ Call Out Bias
Whether it’s in hiring, team dynamics, or leadership roles - speak up when you see imbalance or gatekeeping.

✓ Embrace Nonlinear Journeys
Not every engineer took a traditional path - and that’s a good thing. Diverse backgrounds fuel innovation.

✓ Create Inclusive Workspaces
Support flexibility, equity in pay, and a culture where every voice is heard.

International Women in Engineering Day isn’t just a moment - it’s a movement. It’s a reminder that engineering is for everyone. That solutions thrive when we design from all perspectives. And that women - in all their intersecting identities - are essential to a better, more thoughtful, more beautiful world.

To every woman in engineering (past, present, and future), thank you for building a world the rest of us get to live in.

Let’s keep building - together.

- Jessica
Founder & Web Developer, 5280Devs