This year, SWE Illinois had the opportunity to attend WE21 in Indianapolis, Indiana! WE21 was hosted in person and we were lucky to be able to bring 55 members along for the ride. A few SWEsters have reflected on their conference experience and how they were able to grow as a professional:
”The WE21 conference was an all-around amazing experience! There were inspiring keynotes, informative sessions, and a massive career fair. Some of my favorite sessions were about articulating volunteer experience on your resume, how to recognize your communication style, and advocating for mental health awareness in the workplace environment. I also enjoyed chatting with different companies at the career fair to network (and get some free swag too). But the highlight of the conference was getting to know everyone in our SWE section. From scootering around downtown Indianapolis to playing the piano in the hotel lobby until 2 AM, I made so many great memories and became closer with so many SWEsters throughout the weekend. The WE21 conference made me feel incredibly fortunate to have such a supportive group of women engineers by my side and inspired me for what my future as an engineer might hold.”
Abby Culloton
“This was my first conference, and it was definitely memorable! The convention center itself was huge, and due to the sheer size of the event, it was easy to talk with so many different people. In addition to making professional connections at the career fair (which is huge!), I was able to talk with many people from other SWE sections, and it was interesting to learn about the events other sections hold and how they are organized! I also learned a lot from the various sessions, ranging from how to grow professionally as a college student just entering the industry to how to encourage more engagement in virtual Outreach events.
I also definitely gained a lot of insight on how to approach another conference from this one. If I were asked about any tips for attending a WE conference, it would be to remember to have fun and to not be afraid to get out of your comfort zone!
All in all, I had a very unforgettable experience at the WE21 Conference and am really glad I had the opportunity to go with such amazing people!”
Yatri Sutaria
We were able to attend keynote presentations, workshops, snap sessions and more, so there was never a dull moment. The three inspirational keynote speakers presented on how to thrive in your career by building confidence within yourself. Other event focuses ranged from professional development, diversity and inclusion, technical innovations and strategic leadership. The WE21 Career Fair also sported over 50 different companies that our members had the opportunity to connect and network with, many of whom have since secured professional experiences! Our Team Tech also participated in the Team Tech competition and did a wonderful job presenting the hard work they did throughout the year for Caterpillar.
We were also able to meet many other collegiate members face to face! We had the chance to connect at events, in the WE21 break room, and even at our fundraising booth. Being able to exchange ideas and leadership advice was an invaluable experience that we missed during the virtual conference last year!
This year, our section won the following awards:
- Globalization - Best Practice - Global
- Strategic Goal #4: Diversity & Inclusion - Best Practice - Communication
- Collegiate Gold
These awards are telling of all the hard work that our leadership, including exec, officers, chairs, and general members, put into our organization. Our section truly would not be the same without the consistent dedication of our members.
Cassidy Steel