Empowering Future Leaders: Inspiring Young Women in STEM & Leadership
On 5th March 2025, the IEEE Women in Engineering Affinity Group of Sri Lanka successfully conducted an inspiring session titled “Empowering Future Leaders” at SLIIT Kandy Uni. The
session aimed to motivate and guide the Prefects of Pushpadana Girls’ School, Kandy, towards leadership and careers in STEM.
This event was conducted as part of WiNavigate, a program designed to mentor and guide women in STEM fields, and Steminist Entrepreneur, which encourages entrepreneurship and leadership among women in STEM. Both initiatives focus on breaking barriers, empowering young minds, and fostering innovation in fields traditionally dominated by men.
Ms. Pipuni Wijesiri, Assistant Secretary of IEEE WIE Sri Lanka and Chair of WiNavigate, led this session emphasising the significant contributions of women in STEM and how young girls can aspire to become future leaders and innovators. Participants learned about the importance of diversity and inclusion in technology and engineering, as well as strategies to build successful careers in these fields. Another key focus of the session was on building confidence and overcoming challenges in male-dominated industries. Through interactive discussions, Ms. Wijesiri provided valuable insights on handling challenges, self-doubt, and external pressures,
empowering participants to step forward with courage and determination.
To further inspire the students, the session featured real-life success stories of women in engineering, entrepreneurship, and leadership, highlighting the diverse career pathways available in STEM. By sharing examples of women who have made significant contributions in technology and innovation, Ms. Wijesiri motivated students to envision themselves as future engineers, scientists, and entrepreneurs.
The session concluded with an engaging Q&A discussion, where participants shared their aspirations, asked questions, and received valuable advice on how to take their first steps toward successful careers in STEM.
