The Kleinfelder Blog

Kleinfelder was proudly represented at the Society of Women Engineers’ (SWE) WE25 Conference by Liz Bissonnette, Jessica Sheldon, Emma Sharek, Sara Johari, Johanna Munro, Darbey Maza, Ciara Pino-Recovo, and Rachel Williams.

Held October 23 through 25 in New Orleans, this year’s conference marked SWE’s 75th anniversary and brought together participants from more than 85 countries. Over three days, attendees explored hundreds of sessions on leadership, innovation, and professional growth under the theme “Embrace Your Story.”

Learning, Connecting, and Sharing Experiences

The event covered everything from artificial intelligence and sustainability to mentorship and self-advocacy. For first-time attendee Emma Sharek, the scale and diversity of WE25 were unforgettable. “My favorite part was honestly just getting to see the amount of people who attend and getting to talk with tons of different people from around the country who have very different roles than me,” she said. “Seeing it all come together was pretty cool.” Sharek shared that many presentations encouraged women to “have confidence to advocate for yourself and don’t be afraid to have someone on your team to help advocate for you.” She also noted a memorable session that connected creative hobbies, like drawing and crocheting, to stronger engineering skills.

Turning Effort into Impact

Darbey Maza came away from WE25 with a practical framework for turning effort into visible impact. One session, “Calculating Your Impact,” introduced an equation she found especially valuable: Impact = Contribution × Visibility × Communication. “If any of those factors are zero, your impact is zero,” she explained. “Doing great work is important, but so is sharing it effectively and tailoring your message to your audience.” Outside the sessions, Maza said one of the best parts was connecting as a team each day. “We’d meet before the keynote speaker in the mornings to talk about which sessions we were attending and why. At the end of the day, we’d have dinner and review interesting topics we’d learned,” she said. “It was great catching up with people I rarely get to see in person.”

Exploring New Perspectives

Liz Bissonnette attended an executive roundtable that prompted reflection on authentic leadership. “We discussed how our values align with our company’s values and how to use those as a foundation for leadership,” she said. “I walked away with personal reflections that will help me continue to grow professionally.”

Johanna Munro found the interactive sessions especially meaningful. “My favorite part of WE25 was getting to talk with so many other women in engineering,” she said. “It was really inspiring to see the depth and breadth of knowledge that women in similar and very different roles than my own have.” She also noted a talk on communication that offered a fresh look at power dynamics between managers and staff – an idea she plans to apply in her own approach to mentoring.

Finding Strength in Connection

For Jessica Sheldon, the most powerful part of WE25 was the sense of community. “The best part was connecting with so many strong, inspiring women and allies all in one place, sharing ideas, and supporting each other,” she said. “It was such an empowering experience. Being able to share our learnings in real time during the conference was incredibly valuable.”

The Human Side of Technology and Leadership

For Sara Johari, WE25 offered a blend of technical learning and personal reflection. She attended several sessions focused on leadership and technology, including “The Human Edge: Mastering Leadership in an AI World.” “It explored how to lead with empathy and curiosity in an era where AI is becoming increasingly integrated into our work,” she said. “Even as individual contributors, we lead ourselves and our clients through our actions and decisions.” Johari also attended “Untaught Leadership: Transitioning from Individual Contributor to People Manager,” which encouraged professionals to “be a task maker, not just a task doer,” and “Embrace Your Story: Turning Self-Care and Authenticity into Career Strengths.” She said these sessions reinforced the idea that leadership begins with authenticity, empathy, and self-awareness. A technical highlight for her was “AI’s Disruptive Role in Energy and Industry,” which examined how artificial intelligence is driving efficiency, renewable energy integration, and predictive maintenance. “It connected technology, strategy, and sustainability, encouraging us to think critically about how innovation can serve both progress and responsibility,” she said.

A Memorable Team Experience

Outside the conference, several team members took time to enjoy New Orleans’ unique history and charm, including a nighttime walking tour through the French Quarter that spotlighted some of the city’s most infamous women. Liz noted with a laugh that it “felt like an appropriate outing for this trip!”

Lasting Impressions

As the team reflected on the experience, a shared theme emerged: representation, authenticity, and connection matter. “I’m returning with new insights, renewed motivation, and a deeper appreciation for the women who’ve paved the way and continue to shape our industry’s future,” Johari said. “Being surrounded by so many talented and driven women and allies was incredibly inspiring.”