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Celebrating a level up mentality

In this article, Women in Electronics introduces its 2023 Annual Leadership Development Summit, Level Up, designed to support the next wave of industry-leaders.

Companies with diverse gender composition perform better in terms of returns on equity. In addition, companies with at least half female top management see returns on equity 19 per cent higher than average and boards with a higher percentage of women outperform those with fewer women by 36 per cent. (Forbes & Cloverpop). Currently, less than 10 per cent of vice president and above positions are held by women in the electronics industry, and the industrial industry looks to have even fewer than 10 per cent women in leadership roles. Women in Electronics is here to help change that.

Women in Electronics (WE) is a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to advancing gender parity results in the electronics industry, as well as the recent expansion into the industrial industry. Founded in 2017 by Jackie Mattox (Chief Executive Officer), along with Executive Team members, Monica Highfill (Founding Director and Vice President) and Amy Keller (Founding Director), WE provides leadership growth and development, a flagship global mentorship program, a health and wellness series, peer-to-peer knowledge sharing, valuable career resources, and a sense of community and belonging to its members.

In pursuit of growing the next wave of industry leaders, WE offers an annual leadership development program, which includes access to a mentorship program, monthly webinars, and an in-person Annual Leadership Development Summit. 

The 2023 Annual Leadership 

Development Summit, Level Up, is intended to advance leadership skills and foster personal awareness through specifically curated keynote speakers, workshops, peer-to-peer roundtables and strategic networking opportunities. The first program kicked off in the UK in April and the next program takes place September 19 to 21 in San Diego, CA.

The agenda includes a “Ladies in Leadership” Welcome Reception & Networking Dinner on day one with content curated for women leaders on day two. Industry leader, Lynn Torrel, from Flex, will deliver the opening keynote; Linda Johnson from DigiKey will chat with attendees regarding her leadership journey; Genein Letford will educate us on intercultural creativity; and change management specialist, Carla Howard, will present on the best practices for developing strong resiliency. The final day, we will participate in workshops and keynotes from Dr Shawn Andrews regarding the “Seven Superpowers of Men and Women” and leaders, 

Phil Gallagher from Avnet, 

Don Akery from Waldom 

Electronics, and Michael Knight from Endries Industrial will participate in impactful sessions for a demonstration 

of “WE United”, creating the opportunity for all industry professionals to engage in thought leadership and collective development. 

The Level Up program is a development opportunity to refresh and expand skills for seasoned leaders and build the path for long term success for early-mid career professionals. Attendees will return to their organizations with a sense of passion and a new motivation to apply the key takeaways, strategies, development tools and resources provided. For more information, visit the website at womeninelectronics.com or email questions to [email protected]. 

Women in Electronics is more than a mission, it’s a movement working in unity with all industry professionals and colleagues to open the opportunities for members in the electronics and industrial industries in efforts to build the leadership pipeline, while incorporating the four organizational goals to empower, advocate, develop and celebrate members. All industry professionals and organizations are invited to join the movement to create a thriving environment for all. 

WE is currently supported by leading organizations: Amphenol, Arrow Electronics, Avnet/Newark/Farnell, Kyocera/AVX, Altium/Nexar/Octopart, Cornell Dubilier, DigiKey, EETech, Flex Electronics, Galco Industrial Electronics, Littelfuse, Master Electronics, Molex, Rochester Electronics, Orbweaver, Plexus, RS, Rutronik, Samtec, Sourceability, Supplyframe, TTI Family of Specialists, Vishay, Waldom and YAGEO Group.

www.womeninelectronics.com