Jennifer Ng, chair of the IEEE Women in Engineering (WIE), leads the largest international professional organization dedicated to promoting women engineers and scientists.
Its growth, however, depends on joining forces with like-minded organizations such as Women in Leadership and the International Network of Women Engineers and Scientists. Her outreach and innovative programs for members are a few of the reasons Ng won ComputerWorld Canada’s first-ever CATA WIT IT Mentor Of The Year.
“She was instrumental in generating ideas and approaching groups within IEEE, as well as beyond. She demonstrated the ability to appeal to students and professionals alike, bringing them together to collaborate and network,” said Laura Mutu, a student at Carleton University in her nomination submission for Ng.
“One of the issues we've overcome by keeping a close relationship with other groups such as WIL and WISE was overhead. Many women's groups are usually focused on the same goals. Thus, by working together, we can each fulfill our goals in a more meaningful way and in a more memorable way.”
WIE Ottawa also strengthened its kinship with the local student branch chapters, recognizing that students will be our future generation of members and executives. In fact, Ng and her team helped create a new WIE student chapter at the University of Ottawa.
At the IT Leadership Awards ceremony, Ng admitted she hadn’t really expected the honour.
“Because it’s the first award, I didn’t prepare a speech, because I didn’t want to jinx it,” she said. “I’m very glad, I thank the judges, I came from Ottawa and I have some of my family here in Toronto to be with me when I won, so thank you very much.”
Like many industry group, the IEEE WIE has been busy developing its social media presence on sites like LinkedIn and Facebook, but Mutu pointed to a more traditional form of networking that has really developed mentoring relationships: a book club hosted in a tea shop.
The format of these book clubs is different from the traditional book club setting, since the attendees are not required to read the featured books for the event,” she explained. Instead, each speaker gives a short presentation of no longer than 15 minutes with her personal opinion on the chosen book. “This format provides opportunities for members to practise their presentation skills as well as engage with like-minded people in lively discussions. These book clubs are educational, inspirational and social in nature.”
Each book club meeting is also leading to about 15 to 20 per cent new women showing up, Mutu added. As far as Ng is concerned, the more the merrier.