The Rice Center for Engineering Leadership (RCEL) recently hosted its seventh annual signature event titled, “The Gender Factor: Leadership Double Standards in Tech,” featuring a panel of Rice Engineering alumnae.
Panelists shared their perspective on the challenges of being a woman in an engineering leadership position. They covered topics such as navigating imposter syndrome and building relationships to break through gender barriers in the industry.
"This event allowed our talented female engineering students to see that thriving in a male-dominated field doesn’t require conforming to male-like behaviors,” said C. Fred Higgs III, vice provost for academic affairs, faculty director of RCEL, and John and Ann Doerr Professor of Mechanical Engineering. “The unapologetic advice shared by the female engineer panelists on how to ascend the career ladder, despite the implicit biases or hurdles, was truly empowering."
This year, panelists included Loren Hopkins ’89 ’98, Chief Environmental Science Officer at the Houston Health Department and Professor in the Practice of Statistics at Rice University; Karen Lozano ’96 ’99, Julia Beecherl Endowed Mechanical Engineering Professor at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley; Cassandra McZeal ’98 ’99, Modeling, Optimization & Data Science Supervisor at ExxonMobil; and Pretta VanDible Stallworth ’83 ’85, Trustee District IX at Houston Community College.
Unique to The Gender Factor this year is that all panelists were honored the previous evening at the George R. Brown School of Engineering Alumni Awards celebration. McZeal was awarded the Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award, while Hopkins, Lozano and VanDible Stallworth received Outstanding Engineering Alumni awards.
“The panelists, each with impressive technical leadership roles and credentials, offered the audience a unique perspective on how female engineers can leverage their distinctive attributes—like emotional intelligence and a blend of humble yet tough leadership,” said Higgs. “Their personal anecdotes showcased the power of embracing these qualities in driving both technical and leadership success."
Panelists also offered advice for both men and women about advocating for underrepresented voices and understanding cultural competencies to build a more inclusive environment.
“This event provides all our students with the opportunity to hear different perspectives on careers and experiences from someone outside their immediate group,” said Kaz Karwowski,
executive director of RCEL. “Our goal is to help our students gain emotional intelligence, identify that there are multiple viewpoints in every workplace environment, and learn to reflect on each one.”
The panel took place Sept. 13, 2024, at the Rice Memorial Center with more than 150 attendees. Megan Worstell, a junior in mechanical engineering, moderated the event, formulated the discussion questions and played a key leadership role in organizing the panel.