In recent decades, women have made remarkable progress in breaking through barriers in education, technology, and engineering—fields long dominated by men. But this transformation isn’t only about gender equity; it’s about redefining culture, values, and the way we prepare talent for the future. In an era where online education is becoming the new normal, a growing number of women leaders are using their voices and vision to rewire how we think about learning.
Take Dr. Jenna Carpenter, for example, founding dean of the School of Engineering at Campbell University in North Carolina. Over the past decade, she has worked not just to teach future engineers but to shape the very environment in which they learn. Her program is built around project-based learning and a set of values—community, service, integrity, and professional growth—that are far more than motivational posters on a wall.
“When students arrive, we introduce them to these values on day one,” she explains. “They show up in our orientation, our first-year seminar, our project awards, and the way we talk to each other.” The result? A deeply cohesive community. Whether it’s first-years forming study groups or alumni returning year after year for quirky campus events like the annual Cardboard Canoe Race, there’s a palpable sense of belonging. “You either shape the culture intentionally, or it shapes itself,” she says. “So why not build one where people feel proud to be a part of it?”
While Jenna is reshaping how students connect with learning, Jessica Silwick is rethinking how organizations support the people behind education. As Chief Financial and Operating Officer at ABET, a nonprofit that accredits engineering and tech programs worldwide, Jessica brought with her a deep well of experience from Fortune 500 companies. But she didn’t just import big-business strategies—she humanized them.
She redesigned ABET’s Innovation Award to celebrate creativity and forward-thinking. She also expanded the organization’s outreach to two-year programs and virtual learning environments, making it easier for nontraditional students to access quality education. Internally, she championed the shift away from outdated annual performance reviews toward a collaborative, employee-driven model of goal setting. Her favorite initiative? ABET Cares, a volunteer program that encourages employees to give back to their communities.
“Leadership, for me, is about vision, purpose, and people,” she says. “If we want to shape future leaders, we need to model what ethical, empathetic, and empowering leadership looks like.”
In another corner of the education-tech landscape, Janelle Simmonds is quietly building bridges between academia and industry. As Global Enablement Lead at Siemens Digital Industries Software, her mission is to ensure educators and learners have the tools they need to prepare tomorrow’s workforce. But her leadership journey wasn’t always smooth.
She recalls an early moment of clarity while managing university partnerships: after a tough negotiation, her director praised how she had handled the situation. It was a turning point. “I realized that my experience and skills had finally fused into leadership,” she reflects.
Later, when transitioning from higher education into the tech world, she again faced unfamiliar ground. New company. New industry. New expectations. But after a year of learning, something clicked. “In a meeting with a senior executive, I found myself not just speaking, but owning the space. I had finally stopped adapting and started leading.” That confidence—earned, not assumed—allowed her to lift others too. “When you own your voice, you make room for others to do the same,” she says.
Her team, which includes several rising women leaders, thrives on that principle. “It’s not about being the loudest voice. It’s about creating a room where everyone feels safe and supported enough to bring their best.”
Across Europe and North America, similar stories unfold in quieter corners. In the Netherlands, a program manager named Margriet used her own time and resources to design online learning tools for refugee students during the pandemic. In Canada, Linda, a community college instructor, bought laptops for students who couldn’t access remote classes. These women might not hold executive titles, but their choices change lives.
As technology continues to evolve, education remains our most powerful bridge to the future. And the women building these bridges—often behind the scenes—are not looking for thrones or applause. They are creating spaces where others can step up, speak out, and soar.
This upcoming International Women’s Day, instead of just celebrating what women have achieved, perhaps we should also reflect on what true leadership looks like. Maybe it isn’t about commanding attention. Maybe it’s about quietly building the bridges that carry others forward.