46 Fall / Automne 2017 omen in STEM fields have always faced unique challenges. They’re often far outnumbered by men, may handle work situations differ- ently than their male counter- parts, and have historically been viewed as less gifted in these fields, sometimes resulting in fewer career opportunities. And they’re often underrepresented in leadership roles. A 2014 global study of leadership in the private sector put some hard numbers to the problem. Surveying 22,000 firms, the Peterson Institute for International Economics found that almost 60 percent had no female board members. Half had no female C-suite executives and fewer than five percent had a female CEO. The situation is exacerbated for women in STEM fields; the survey found female representation on boards and in corporate leadership positions at technology-related firms was lower than other industries such as healthcare and finance. However, firms that include women in leadership roles tend to be more profitable, according to the research, and diversity in general is likely linked to higher performance. Helping to develop the next gen- eration of female leaders was front and centre at the 2017 IEEE Women in Engineering (WIE) International Leadership Conference (ILC), held May 22-23 in San Jose, Calif. IEEE WIE was founded in 1994 to pro- mote the advancement of women in IEEE fields of interest, as well as encourage girls to pur- sue careers in science and engin- eering. The ILC, which attracted 1,500 global attendees this year, was launched in 2014. WIE ILC helps to inspire, engage and advance women in engineering by featuring female speakers in senior leadership positions, and offers numerous tracks exploring various aspects of leadership skills. It’s also an excellent means for women to network and learn first-hand what opportunities exist in vari- ous WIE committees and sub- committees, says IEEE WIE Canada Regional Coordinator, Elena Uchiteleva. This year’s attendees had access to keynote sessions and tracks on leadership, innovation, empower- ment, disruptive technology and entrepreneurship, as well as transforming technical talks and workshops on topics ranging from conquering stress to break- ing through bias. They also had access to a career fair, pitch boot- camp and networking reception at the San Jose Tech Museum. Numerous industry reps were on hand looking to recruit a diverse workforce and discuss emerging technologies. Leadership Conference – IEEE Canada members bring home ideas and inspiration The 201 7 WIE International By Vawn Himmelsbach Elena Uchiteleva, Chair, WIE Canada Committee, IEEE Canada, Group Committe Chair, Member Services As an executive volunteer, these sessions helped me to define and to shape my leadership style, to understand what leadership means, and to become a better leader,”saysUchiteleva.“It’salsointeresting to see the obstacles that other leaders face and learn how they overcome them. Community News/Nouvelles de la communauté “At WIE ILC I saw difficulties other