The WE Rise Conference is a biennial day-long event dedicated to advancing inclusion in STEM. The conference is open to all students interested in promoting and supporting equity in engineering and technology fields with programming that centers the unique experiences of women and nonbinary individuals in STEM.
Students from across the region connected with university and industry leaders through workshops, networking opportunities and a career/resource fair designed to support their academic, personal and professional growth.
What happens at the WE Rise Conference?
Keynote presentation
Participants hear from accomplished leaders in STEM who share insights on their professional journeys and experiences advancing inclusion for all, including women, in engineering and related fields. At the 2020 conference, Leslie Robertson, Vice President of Software Development at Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, delivered an inspiring keynote on leadership and resilience in tech.
Networking and community building
Throughout the day, attendees engage with industry professionals, faculty and peers in an inclusive environment that encourages collaboration and connection.
Workshops and panels
Interactive workshops and panel sessions are designed for STEM students at all levels—high school, undergraduate and graduate. Past topics have included Impostor Syndrome, Exploring Careers in STEM, Identifying Strengths, and more. The sessions are led by industry professionals, faculty members and student leaders and are open to all who are interested in supporting or learning about gender equity in STEM.
Career and resource fair
The conference includes a robust career and resource fair where attendees can meet employers, professional organizations and representatives from the UW community. The fair provides opportunities to explore internships, research programs and professional resources that promote inclusion of people from all backgrounds and experiences in engineering and related fields.
Past conferences
2025 conference
2023 conference
2022 conference
2021 conference