Students from Conestoga’s School of Engineering & Technology, the School of Applied Computer Science & IT and the School of Trades & Apprenticeship hosted an all-day conference in honour of International Women’s Day (IWD) on March 9. The event at the Cambridge - Fountain Street campus offered attendees the opportunity to hear from women working in stereotypically male-dominated fields and to network with industry professionals.
The IWD conference offered workshops and networking opportunities to empower female students in male-dominated industries.
The 2026 IWD campaign theme was “Give to Gain,” encouraging a mindset of generosity and collaboration. “This year’s theme invites us as a community to reflect on the power we hold when we choose to lift one another up,” said Interim President Norma McDonald-Ewing during opening remarks. “It is a reminder that progress is built through generosity; when we share knowledge, open doors for one another, invest in one another and create spaces for our voices to be heard, we expand what’s possible for everyone.”
Planning for the event began in October, eventually leading to the formation of an organizing committee made up of female student leaders. While initially focused on engineering and technology, the focus soon expanded to include Conestoga students from other schools and programs where women are often underrepresented.
Olena Savych, president of the student-led Google Developer Group at Conestoga, joined the committee in December. “We were considering planning our own event, but when we heard about this conference, we thought it was a good idea to collaborate.”
“With this conference, we wanted to make women feel empowered,” said co-chair of the committee Sophia Padalino, a student in Conestoga’s Architecture - Project and Facility Management (APFM) bachelor’s degree program. “We didn’t want to highlight only the struggles they might face, but the amazing things they do.”
The event, sponsored by the Fletcher Foundation and supported by Conestoga, student association Conestoga Students Inc. (CSI) and the Google Developer Group, offered workshops covering topics ranging from volunteering and leadership in tech to communication and networking skills and effective allyship, a panel discussion with Conestoga leaders and a networking session.
During the networking session, students could visit different booths and interact with all the speakers from the event. “It was a great opportunity for students to practice the skills they learned immediately,” said Savych.
Speakers included seasoned professionals as well as women just starting their careers, including engineering project coordinator and Conestoga alumna Zoe Talbot. “Having a recent graduate present was great. Students can relate more to someone who is just starting out in their field,” said Padalino.
“When building out the sessions, we wanted to ensure that they brought value and provided the chance for students to start building networks,” explained Mo Eyitsede, member of the organizing committee. She also highlighted the importance of the conference being accessible to Conestoga students who might not be able to travel to other conferences across the province.
While everyone was welcome to attend, the International Women’s Day conference was a way to highlight the significance of being a woman in an environment where there aren’t many. “As a woman in engineering, it can be scary to draw attention to being a woman. You don’t want to single yourself out,” said Eyitsede.
“There are women who go into STEM or similar fields and leave because they don’t have a community,” explained Paladino. “Events like this can make women feel like they have a place and give them the chance to form connections.”
Conestoga has been committed to fostering and enhancing women's participation, persistence, and academic and career success in engineering, technology and trades since 1977. Educational programs, outreach and events, and student supports help reinforce this commitment as part of the Engineering, Technology and Trades for Women (ETT4W) initiative. Through ETT4W, Conestoga has helped many women pursue rewarding, in-demand and secure careers in engineering, technology and trades.