The Technical Women’s Dinner is all about female role models. “Hearing from a woman how she built a career in engineering is different from hearing it from a man. In practice, women often have to work harder to succeed,” says Lieve Timmermans.

Timmermans leads the committee within SSRE organizing the fourth edition of the Dinner. Whether the TU/e student in Biomedical Engineering will enter the corporate world herself remains uncertain: “I’m about to start an ESoE internship as a math teacher – there are lots of things I find interesting.”

All female students

For the first time, all female students enrolled at TU/e or in a technical program at Fontys in Eindhoven can sign up for the Technical Women’s Dinner. Timmermans: “The first editions were open exclusively to SSRE members, and last year, members of the three other major student associations were also welcome to join. This year, we’re expanding even further.”

Previous editions, which took place at the Kazerne, had room for about 40 participants. The organizers are now aiming for 75 students and around 15 role models. “That’s why we’re moving to a larger – and also very beautiful – venue: the Ketelhuis on Boschdijk. Not to be confused with the eponymous restaurant on Strijp-S,” Timmermans clarifies.

AIVD

During the three-course dinner, students will sit in groups at a table with a female tech professional whom they can ask questions about her career. After each course, they switch tables, and in between courses, there are presentations by women in technology. “There will be women from the Port of Rotterdam, the General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD), SIOUX Technologies and Royal HaskoningDHV, among others,” lists Timmermans.

The evening will be concluded with a networking reception, where students might get the opportunity to take the first real steps toward their careers. “It allows master’s students to start making real connections with potential employers, but it’s also a valuable event for first-year students. By listening to different stories, you discover what appeals to you.”

Vice versa, employers also welcome the opportunity to meet prospective female engineers, Timmermans notes. “Companies are responding enthusiastically or even reach out to us themselves.”

Registration

The evening will be partly in Dutch and partly in English: “The plenary presentations will be in English. At the tables, the language will be adjusted to suit the participants, though some of the role models only speak English.” Therefore, international students are also welcome to sign up.

Registration is open until February 28 via the website. “Thanks to sponsorship and a contribution from UFe, we’ve managed to keep the ticket price at 20 euros. Participants also earn 2 MyFuture points,” says Timmermans. The ticket includes the three-course meal and drinks at the reception. Dietary preferences will be taken into account. Participants can indicate which role models they would most like to sit with after registering.