The Dallas Section of the Society of Women Engineers proudly hosted our 2026 Professional Development Conference at Southern Methodist University (SMU), bringing together nearly 100 professional engineers, students, and tech leaders from across North Texas for a full day of learning, leadership, and connection.
Centered around this year’s theme, “Leading with Intention: Skills and Mindsets for the Next Generation of Professionals,” the conference focused on equipping attendees with practical tools and perspectives to navigate today’s evolving workplace. The day began with a networking breakfast and opening remarks from Dallas SWE leadership and SMU, including Dr. Cyonna Holmes, President of Dallas SWE, Dr. Ali Beskok from SMU Lyle School of Engineering, and Anmolika Singh, VP of Professional Development for Dallas SWE.
Our keynote speaker, Dr. Natalie Lundsteen, delivered an inspiring session on intentional leadership and career development, encouraging attendees to embrace uncertainty, navigate career pivots strategically, and act before the path feels fully clear.
Attendees then participated in breakout sessions tailored to different aspects of professional growth:
- Strategies for Navigating Career Transitions and the Modern Job Search with Claire Jordan, moderated by Dr. Cyonna Holmes, provided candid and practical advice on standing out in today’s competitive job market.
- Mindsets for Innovation, led by Dr. Seth Orsborn of SMU’s Deason Innovation Gym (DIG), gave attendees a hands-on workshop experience focused on collaboration and creative problem-solving.
- Data-Driven Decision Making, led by Anmolika Singh, explored how professionals can use data and strategic thinking to make confident decisions in complex business environments.
One of the highlights of the afternoon was the panel discussion, “Building Influence and Leading With and Without Authority in the Modern Workplace,” featuring Shelley Stracener, Tanya Titus, Susanna Biancheri, and Dr. Barbara Minsker. The panel explored leadership across career stages, navigating uncertainty, and building influence without formal authority, while engaging attendees in an interactive Q&A session.
During lunch, attendees participated in networking activities designed to spark conversation and connection across industries and career levels, reinforcing one of the conference’s core goals: building a meaningful professional community.
The afternoon continued with a highly engaging featured session from David Sandhu, who shared actionable strategies for prioritization, focus, and delivering impact in fast-paced corporate environments.
Our SMU-exclusive roundtable, “Bridging Your Past and Your Future: Evolving Your Engineering Skills for Tomorrow’s Challenges,” brought together Jessica Burnham, Dr. Kathleen Smits, Jasleen Dhillon, Nancy Novak, and facilitator Linda Parker for a thoughtful discussion on emerging careers, transferable engineering skills, and adapting to future workforce trends.
The conference concluded with a powerful closing panel, “Women Leading the Future: Stories of Pivots and Resilience,” where Barbara Read, Dr. Cyonna Holmes, Amanda Alsbrook, and Anmolika Singh shared honest reflections on career pivots, confidence, leadership, and resilience. Moderated by Ella Deane, the session encouraged open dialogue and audience participation around the realities of professional growth.
Beyond the sessions themselves, the enthusiasm and energy in the room defined this event. Attendees were highly engaged throughout, interacting directly with speakers and panelists, connecting across industries and career levels, building new relationships and strengthening existing ones.
Dallas SWE would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all of our speakers, panelists, moderators, attendees, volunteers, and SMU partners who helped make this event possible.
A special thank you to our sponsors and supporters, including AT&T, Garver, Walter P Moore, Dave & Lynn Mortensen, University of North Texas, and SMU Lyle School of Engineering, for investing in the growth and development of STEM professionals in our community.
We would also like to recognize our incredible volunteer team and Conference Committee members: Amanda Alsbrook, Fatima Ansari, Mariafernanda Hernandez, Katia Gomez, Sanvi Mathur and Miti Desai whose dedication, creativity, and behind-the-scenes efforts brought this event to life.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 2026 Professional Development Conference. We look forward to continuing to create impactful professional development experiences for the Dallas SWE community in the years ahead. If your company is interested in sponsoring the 2027 Professional Development Conference, please email dallas.swe@gmail.com
