Challenges Faced By Women In Engineering Leadership Roles
The engineering field has witnessed a significant increase in early-career hires for women recently, indicating a positive trend towards diversifying hiring goals in STEM fields. However, a study by SheTO, a global network of women engineering leaders, reveals that this progress is short----d as women advance in their careers.
According to the report, "The State of Women in Engineering Leadership in 2025," there is a sharp decline in representation for women in leadership roles as they reach the director level, a phenomenon referred to as the "Director Ceiling" (SheTO, 2025). This concept highlights the challenges women face in advancing to senior leadership positions in engineering.
The study, conducted in partnership with Mayfield and Allstacks, surveyed 300 participants and found significant discrepancies between men and women in engineering leadership roles. For instance, while women hold 14% of engineering manager positions, only 9% advance to director roles (SheTO, 2025). Women are underrepresented in VP and CTO roles, with two-thirds of organizations having no women at the VP level in engineering, and only 7% of CTO roles held by women.
The underrepresentation of women in STEM fields has far-reaching consequences, affecting not only the individuals who are excluded but also the industries and societies that rely on their contributions. According to a report by the National Science Foundation, women made up only 28% of the workforce in science and engineering occupations in 2019 (NSF, 2020). This disparity is particularly pronounced in fields like computer science and engineering, where women hold only 12% and 15% of jobs, respectively (NSF, 2020). The lack of diversity in these fields can lead to a narrow range of perspectives and ideas, ultimately hindering innovation and progress.
The roots of this issue are complex and multifaceted, involving both explicit and implicit biases that can discourage women from pursuing careers in STEM. Research has shown that girls and women are often steered away from STEM fields by societal expectations and stereotypes, as well as a lack of female role models and mentors (Hill et al., 2010). Women in STEM fields often face hostile work environments and biases in hiring and promotion practices, making it difficult for them to advance in their careers (Cortina et al., 2017). To address these challenges, organizations and institutions are implementing initiatives aimed at increasing diversity and ← →
More takeaways: See hereOver the past several years, STEM and engineering fields have seen a rise in early-career hires for women, signaling a positive shift in ...○○○ ○ ○○○
