The best machine designs ensure efficiency, functionality and safety—all of which are the contributions of talented engineers, insightful leaders, passionate educators and dedicated workers. Because March is Women’s History Month and March 8 is International Women’s Day, Machine Design is excited to bring forth a collection of articles and video interviews that shine a spotlight on some exceptional individuals who are making significant impacts in their fields.
Insights from Mechanical Engineers
In this Q&A between Machine Design’s Editor-in-Chief Rehana Begg and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) President Susan Ipri-Brown the two tackle topics such as fostering career development; the engineering shortage that seems to widen as new technologies are introduced; the skillsets needed for future engineers to use digital transformation in coming up with innovative solutions; how ASME will facilitate the need for finding qualified candidates for mechanical design, systems engineering and software; and more.
In Support of the Next Generation
In this Q&A with Tormach’s Instructor of the Year Danielle Ward, we learned that from creating miniature putt-putt courses to using CNC technology for real-world projects, her curriculum aims to be a blend of creativity and technical training that resonates with students and fosters a passion for STEM fields.
READ MORE: Women in Fluid Power: What Drew Them to a Career in Hydraulics and Pneumatics
Ward talks about how she collaborates with industry professionals to ensure that her curriculum aligns with current practices and demands as well as how she incorporates industry standards and best practices in her teaching.
Have a Voice: Advice for a Diverse Workforce
In this two-part video series, Mariana Cogan, CMO for digital transformation at Hexagon, shares with Machine Design how she advocates for diversity in leadership as well as the company’s DEI, corporate social responsibility and sustainability strategies. She also offers advice for workers entering the manufacturing field, the most important qualities she believes leaders should have and how to encourage a team.
Behind the Olympic Bronze Medal Fiasco
In this interview with Tessa Axsom, a metallurgist and director of CNC at Fictiv, a San Francisco-based company that specializes in custom manufacturing of mechanical parts and processes, Machine Design learns that copper oxidation—not sustainability practices as was reported by some news outlets—is likely the cause for the deterioration of the bronze medals that were awarded at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Expanding Opportunity in the Fabrication Industry
In this feature, Machine Design reports on Colleen Keusenkothen, the CEO of Midwest Automation Inc., who carved a path in the fabrication industry with her 2024 achievement of Women Business Enterprise (WBE) certification by the Missouri Office of Equal Opportunity. She said the decision to pursue WBE certification was driven by a blend of personal conviction and customer endorsements.
READ MORE: Women in Fluid Power: The Technologies and Trends That Inspire
“I've always felt strongly about giving women opportunities in the workplace," Keusenkothen noted. "I lead a proudly diverse workplace, so this felt like great and familiar support from the female-led Missouri Office of Equal Opportunity.”
Empowering Women in the Engineering Workforce
A recent panel discussion at MD&M West showcased members from the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) whose diverse voices offered their experiences and advice on navigating the engineering landscape.
READ MORE: Women in Fluid Power: How Industry Can Attract Younger Engineers
Ondine Beaufils, senior engineering manager at Safran Electronics and Defense; Mariel Cisneros, senior program manager at Northrop Grumman; Kshitija Garde, senior engineering program manager at Medtronic; and Dr. Tracy Nguyen, optometrist and the executive vice president of SWE San Diego participated in a roundtable moderated by Sophia Leung, food science lab manager at Enzyme Innovation and president of SWE Orange County on Feb. 6 in Anaheim, Calif. Sessions like this show the importance of mentorship and fostering our next generation of leaders.
Editor’s Note: Machine Design’s WISE (Workers in Science and Engineering) hub compiles our coverage of workplace issues affecting the engineering field, in addition to contributions from equity seeking groups and subject matter experts within various subdisciplines.
