Celebrating International Women in Engineering Day 

June 23 is International Women in Engineering Day, creating an opportunity to recognize and share the impact of diverse perspectives, talent, and backgrounds in tech.

International Women in Engineering Day (IWED) is more than just a celebration of achievements; it’s an opportunity for all workplaces to continue building inclusive and diverse environments where women can thrive.

At Businessolver, we’re fortunate to have many talented women engineers who are leading us through transforming the modern benefits experience with innovative technology and code. The women—and all Solvers—are the epitome of our Tech with Heart philosophy: Every line of data, every line of code in our technology represents a person. Our technology is powered by people who are dedicated to delivering results through innovative technology, steadfast leadership, an empathetic culture, and an independent roadmap. These pillars allow us to delight our clients and members in ways that positively impact the way they interact with their benefits.

Our engineers build and maintain the foundation that we and our clients innovate within each and every day. Today, we’re sharing their insights, celebrating the impact of diverse teams, and exploring why fostering more inclusive opportunities in traditionally male-dominated fields benefits everyone.

Why Celebrate International Women in Engineering Day?

“Early in my career, I was offered a position at School of Mines, an Engineering University doing forensic accounting and administration which naturally evolved into analytics. But something was missing: the tools to go beyond descriptive analytics and into prediction. So, I went back to school for a master’s in data science. That opened the door to everything I do today. Now, as VP of Data Science, I lead teams across machine learning engineering, data science, and business intelligence analytics and engineering. I absolutely love what I do. It brings together every part of my journey—math, business, technology, and the constant learning that comes with working in AI and data.” – Vanessa, VP of Data Science at Businessolver

While IWED might just be a brief 24-hours on our calendars, it’s a great reminder to recognize and appreciate the value that diverse engineering teams bring to the table. The engineering and tech industries have long been male dominated with little representation from or recognition for women in the field.

Here are a few trailblazers who helped lay the code for where we are today:

Radia Perlman: A computer programmer and network engineer best known for establishing the networks and technology for the internet.

Deborah Estrin: A computer science professor at Cornell Tech who pioneered sensors for health monitoring.

Katherine Johnson: A NASA mathematician who was instrumental the first crewed spaceflights.

Diversity in Engineering Matters

“There are so many different aspects to engineering with empathy. For the customer—thinking about their pain points and providing the right solutions while upholding the usability of the technology. For my peers—collaborating on clean and well-documented code, listening to different opinions, and celebrating wins together.” Kelly, VP of Engineering at Businessolver

You’ve probably heard it before, but diversity is a game-changer for any team—especially in engineering. When people from different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences come together, innovation and creativity flourish.

Here are just a few ways diversity strengthens the engineering field:

• Better Innovation: Diverse perspectives, including past experiences, education, and backgrounds, leads to smarter solutions to complex problems.
• Better Decision-Making: Diverse teams make more thoughtful and informed decisions, especially when empathy is in place as ground rule.
• Better Market Insights: Diverse teams can better understand and address the needs of diverse customers, bringing forward challenges, needs, and use cases for different communities.

How You Can Support Women in Engineering

Fostering equity and inclusion in engineering isn’t just the responsibility of women; it’s a collective effort.

In fact, supporting women in STEAM is one of the three pillars of the Businessolver Foundation. One of the ways we give back and support the engineering community is by partnering with Junior Achievement, EVERFI-STEM Career Exploration Program, and the American Heart Association STEM programming to connect today’s students with more educational opportunities.

For women already well into their STEAM careers, though, continued support makes a huge impact in helping to open doors and break ceilings.

Here’s how you and your peers can make an impact:

• Encourage Early Interest: Support programs and initiatives in schools that spark and foster interest in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM).
• Mentorship: Mentorship opportunities can help women overcome challenges and build confidence in their careers, often opening more doors and expanding the seats at the table.
• Champion Inclusive Workplaces: Organizations that actively promote gender diversity and inclusion tend to attract and retain top talent.
• Celebrate Achievements: Highlight the contributions and successes of women engineers to inspire others and normalize their presence in the field.

Fostering diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives, especially in male dominated fields can have a positive impact on all communities.

Check out our open roles here to join Vanessa and Kelly.