Building a STEM career: Women's Decisions, Leadership and Career Futures

Elisa Aracil, Vice-Rector for Strategy, Internationalisation and Academic Structuring, opened the session. She recalled that in Spain only 23% of those studying engineering are women, while at ICAI the figure is 33%. "These figures do not speak of a lack of talent", she said, "they speak of expectations, of references and of how for a long time the STEM field has been associated with a very specific profile".

The director of Mujerhoy, María Fernández-Miranda, invited the attendees to listen with ambition and without fear of doubt. Quoting Michelle Obama, she recalled that even the most successful people have lived with insecurity and external noise, but have learned to rely on those who believe in them and to move forward.

The round table, moderated by the Director of the STEM Women Chair, Yolanda González Arechavala, soon turned into an honest conversation about difficult decisions, unexpected changes and real leadership. "The target is you," she stressed at the start. "Take advantage of the experience of these engineers, no matter where you are".

Isabel Reija, dean of the ICAI National College of Engineers and an entrepreneur in the energy sector, shared a trajectory that has moved from the corporate world to entrepreneurship. She confessed that her decision to study engineering was almost a declaration of independence in a family of jurists: "It was not so much about being an engineer, but about being the opposite of what everyone expected me to be". Over the years she has found that, beyond technical knowledge, what makes the difference is the courage to take responsibility: "It's the only way to get there: by deciding for yourself.

María Eugenia Girón, now an independent director in several international companies after a first career in the luxury sector, disproved the idea of perfectly planned careers. "It's easy to join the dots looking back, but when you look forward you don't always have all the information," she explained. That is why she encouraged people to define themselves by principles rather than by rigid plans, and to choose the people they work with wisely, because they are the ones who drive professional growth.

From the administration and public companies, María José Muñoz, Director of Strategy and Digital Transformation at Renfe, defended the social impact of engineering. She recalled that the public sector also puts technology at the service of citizens and stressed that, in an interview, attitude and enthusiasm are as important as a CV. She also insisted that technical training should be complemented by a business vision and communication skills: "Knowing how to write well is more important than you think".

Remedios Ruiz, after more than 30 years of executive experience in the Santander Group and now a board member in different organisations, made a clear idea: "The only bad decision is the one not taken". For her, every challenge she took on was an opportunity to grow, and she reminded us that leadership is not only about managing large teams, but also about being able to inspire, even if it is just one person.

Amidst figures, anecdotes and practical advice, the final message was strong: talent needs courage, referents and decision. And it starts when each student allows herself to imagine herself leading the future she wants to build.