When Krystyna Dimtchev from Arcadis invited me to moderate the panels at an event celebrating International Women in Engineering Day, organised by the Women in Engineering Group and supported by Engineers Ireland, I didn’t hesitate. I said, "Yes! And…" Yes, and will I write a tagline for the event? Can I help plan questions for the panellists? Should I promote it on my social media? Want me to give a presentation on effective communication?
The amazing women engineers on the organising committee not only welcomed all my ideas, but they meticulously integrated them into the event plan. This collaborative environment, alongside the expertly project managed countless other tasks actioned by the dedicated (and voluntary) committee, made the event a resounding success.
Diving in headfirst, I had one of the most positive and rewarding experiences of my career. The tagline I crafted, "Inspire. Empower. Engineer. Celebrate." perfectly captured the event's themes and aims: to inspire more women (and everyone) to pursue engineering, to empower women in engineering, to help them effectively engineer communication, and to celebrate their achievements.
The event provided a platform for those in the minority to have their voices heard and to connect with a network of people sharing similar experiences.
This was the second event of its kind, run entirely by passionate volunteers. Their goal was to highlight the gender imbalance in engineering, encourage more people to pursue engineering careers, and hear about the experiences of senior engineers. The celebration at the end of the day was the icing on the cake. We went to the pub, networked, shared stories, and reflected on the key takeaways from the speakers and panellists. We left with a sense of accomplishment, knowing we had amplified an important message and added momentum to an ongoing conversation.
It was a privilege to be part of this event. By saying "Yes, and…" I became part of a movement. We created content, contributed to copywriting, photography, and video, and encouraged clients to sponsor and attend the event. I met numerous team members from client companies who attended because their organisations encouraged them to take part for professional development.
All in all, it was a resounding success for Engineers Ireland, the Women in Engineering Group, the panellists, speakers, organisers, and sponsors.
My key takeaway? When asked to get involved, I didn’t say "No, because…" or "Yes, but…". I said "Yes, and…".
By embracing the spirit of "Yes, and," we can open doors, inspire change, and create a more inclusive and vibrant future for engineering in Ireland.
If you’re looking for help with an event, give us a shout tiffany@generateleads.ie.
