Faye Ellis of Pluralsight and Aileen Ryan of Rain Alliance discuss advanced technology, the changing workplace and how far women in engineering have come.
Last Tuesday (23 June) was International Women in Engineering Day, which highlights female engineers who have contributed significantly to the growth of the sector.
For Faye Ellis, Pluralsight’s chief training architect, a lot has changed in the global engineering space since she started her career. He finds that inclusion and AI have had a lasting impact on careers in the field, leading to better opportunities and diversity of thought.
He explained that, by 2024, women will hold approximately 32% of the world’s top management and leadership roles in the technology sector, noting that although this is still lower than it should be, it is actually a big improvement since he started his career.
Ellis said, “What has changed for women in this field is the visibility, women running organizations, establishing startups and working on boards. This representation is important because it helps restore the idea that leadership is no longer defined by gender.
“Over the past few years, companies have been more serious about building inclusive cultures and investing in support and mentoring programs. Conversations about diversity and inclusion are more common than they used to be and the tech industry is starting to realize that diverse teams deliver better results.”
Faye Ellis, Pluralsight’s chief training architect
Meaningful progress
This vision was shared by Aileen Ryan, CEO and President of the Rain Alliance, who explained that almost 40 years ago, at the age of 16 she was inspired by the ‘Year of Women in Engineering’, to learn how to make a computer that could ‘do something’.
Ryan told SiliconRepublic.com, “I was one of 12 girls in a group of 120 studying engineering at University College Cork, but after completing my degree in electrical engineering followed by a master’s in computer science I started my engineering career and never looked back.”
He finds that progress has been made, especially with regard to the number of women in the industry, however, “there is still a long way to go when it comes to bringing diverse perspectives to technology and engineering.
Ryan said, “This trend continues at a high level, the number of top female leaders and businesses founded by women is growing slowly but surely, but it is important that the industry maintains this momentum and continues to present itself as an attractive and exciting field where women can pursue a career.
“The World Economic Forum warns that the economic downturn is disproportionately affecting women’s development as the COVID-19 pandemic reverses the progress made by a generation around the world on gender equality. This highlights the importance of a sustained and sustained focus on gender equality to ensure that opportunity is available to all.”
In a world where the problems facing today’s engineers are becoming more complex and systems are becoming more interconnected, Ryan believes that diversity of thought is important, as are solutions designed to benefit more people, industries and communities.
He said, “By continuing to attract and support people from diverse backgrounds across the engineering ecosystem, we can ensure that their voices are heard and inspire the next generation of engineers to ensure that tomorrow’s technology is innovative, inclusive and impactful for everyone.”
“Organizations must go beyond having good intentions but focus on creating programs that always support the growth and development of women”, added Ellis, who believes that this starts by giving women more opportunities from the start, not just when they are looking for senior leadership positions.
He said, “Organizations also need to examine existing processes and challenge any barriers that may limit progress. This includes looking at recruitment processes, promotion criteria, pay equity and how leadership potential is identified and assessed. Fostering an inclusive culture is equally important and businesses should provide flexibility and support for different life stages and responsibilities.”
Aileen Ryan, CEO and President of the Rain Alliance
Developing AI
But it’s not just increased diversity and greater opportunity for others that has transformed the workplace. Both Ellis and Ryan find that advanced technology has irrevocably changed the way engineers engage with the work and the wider ecosystem. And for Ellis this comes with good and bad consequences.
He said, as with all things there are pros and cons, “the best thing about AI is its ability to automate time-consuming repetitive tasks, allowing engineers to focus on high-value work.” But there are also significant challenges, with many organizations reducing the number of roles available.
“Entry-level roles are being redefined, and the typical ways to enter engineering jobs are changing rapidly. For older engineers, the skills built up over the years are still important, but they must be constantly updated and expanded to prevent falling behind as automation continues.”
Because new professionalsexplaining, “AI can be an amazing learning tool and productivity enhancer, but it can change the nature of entry-level roles. Employers are looking for engineers at all levels who can work effectively with AI and continue to evolve around it, developing expertise in areas including AI systems, data, security, and leadership.”
He added, “There is no doubt that some opportunities will disappear as automation advances, and adaptability is more important than ever when it comes to it. engineering skills. Engineers who invest in developing new skills and learn to use AI as a force multiplier will continue to find opportunities and create value, while those who don’t see it will have their roles severely disrupted.”
She also finds that AI presents a great opportunity for women to redistribute low-value work to automated systems so that they can focus their attention on more meaningful or important tasks.
Ellis said, “The shift to automation enables female engineers to spend more time on high-value tasks, such as strategic thinking, innovation, architecture, leadership and decision-making, creating opportunities for women to focus on skills that support senior and strategic roles, including leading teams and making complex decisions.”
“AI has the potential to improve diversity within leadership roles, but it also introduces new risks. Women are over-represented in jobs that include routine and managerial tasks and these are likely to be automated, leaving women at greater risk of being disadvantaged than their male counterparts.”
For Ryan, who has always been environmentally conscious, especially since becoming a mother, the advancement of technology has led to many opportunities to strive for sustainability in her professional life, as she discovers that technology drives sustainable consumption and resource use.
He said, “I also founded Preoptima, an AI manufacturing company that uses ‘carbon twins’ technology and real-time data to enable low-carbon design decisions and reduce lifetime carbon in the built environment. These initiatives show how technological innovation has a major role to play in making people and the planet of the future more sustainable.”
Ryan concluded, “Technical and engineering performance it’s more than just a job. It gives us the opportunity to have a tangible impact on the world around us, to strive for new strategies that meet the needs of the people around us and help build a connected, sustainable future. “
Don’t miss out on the information you need to succeed. Sign up for Daily BriefSilicon Republic’s digest of must-know sci-tech news.
