March 27, 2025 by SME Communications This Women’s History Month, SME reflects on its efforts over the past year focused on empowering women in engineering and manufacturing related fields. Through a variety of dynamic events and initiatives, SME has provided women with platforms to share their stories, build connections, and seize opportunities in a traditionally male-dominated industry. SME & AWT’s EmpowerHer Series The EmpowerHer Series was created in 2024 through a partnership between SME and the Alliance Working Together Foundation (AWT) to inspire young women and all students who have identified an interest in STEM and engineering pathways. The series combines virtual and in-person events for middle and high school students, giving them the opportunity to hear from women leaders about their careers in manufacturing. The 2024 EmpowerHer webinar attracted over 200 students, educators and parents. The 2025 EmpowerHer Series began with a webinar on March 13, where attendees heard from women leaders about navigating male-dominated spaces, the importance of mentorship, and the power of creativity in problem-solving. The panelists shared personal stories, offering valuable insights on overcoming challenges and advancing in their careers. Following the webinar, attendees joined an in-person experience at the AWT Foundation’s Transformation Training Center in Mentor, OH to forge new relationships, furthering their career development and expanding their networks. SME and WiM’s Women of SMART Experience, Virtual Career Fairs The 2024 Women of SMART Experience in Pittsburgh, co-hosted by SME and Women in Manufacturing (WiM), focused on the future of smart manufacturing and brought together women industry leaders, aspiring professionals, and experts to discuss leadership, innovation, and the latest technological advancements in the field. The event featured a series of leadership workshops designed to develop essential skills such as communication, decision-making, and problem-solving. An upcoming virtual Women of SMART Experience will take place on June 3. Don't miss out on an opportunity to connect and learn - stay tuned for more information coming soon. Both 2024 and early 2025 saw a continuation of the WiM Education Foundation and SME’s Virtual Career Fair, connecting motivated job seekers with companies that lead with diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in their corporate culture. College graduates, young professionals, seasoned managers and skilled tradespeople participated just this past February. SME Education Foundation’s Scholarships, Mentorship and SME PRIME® In 2024, the SME Education Foundation awarded 34 scholarships to women pursuing careers in manufacturing and engineering. In addition to receiving financial support, select scholarship recipients participated in the Bright Minds Mentorship Program in which they are paired with experienced professionals from the SME community, fostering growth, learning and professional development. In the 2023-2024 school year, roughly 1,900 women students participated in SME PRIME, the signature program of the SME Education Foundation which partners private industry with academia to build custom manufacturing and engineering programs in high schools nationwide. SME PRIME is the Foundation’s response to the talent gap facing the manufacturing industry – with 91% of SME PRIME seniors choosing to pursue manufacturing or engineering after graduation. SME & Girl Scouts of North East Ohio SME recently collaborated with the Girl Scouts of North East Ohio as co-founders of the new STEM Café inside the DreamLab in Sheffield, Ohio — the first of its kind in the state. This groundbreaking space, inspired by the Purdue Polytechnic IN-MaC Design and Innovation Studio and funded by SME and the Lozick Family Foundation, will spark girls' curiosity for STEM and introducing them to manufacturing at an early age. With hands-on activities like robotics, coding, and 3D printing, the STEM Café serves as a launchpad for creativity, confidence, and innovation. Aligned with the Girl Scout badge programs — there are over 160 STEM-focused badges available — this collaboration empowers girls to earn meaningful achievements while exploring exciting pathways to high-tech careers. A Year of Empowerment SME’s dedication to supporting women in manufacturing goes far beyond just a series of events, it is a commitment to empowering women to lead, innovate, and shape the future of the industry. As we look ahead, we will build on the past year’s successes, continuing to provide women with support and resources for success.
