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Women in engineering
Engineering has long been perceived as a male-dominated field, but that narrative is steadily evolving. Women are not only entering engineering in greater numbers but also making significant contributions across all disciplines – from civil to aerospace to software engineering. Yet, despite progress, challenges persist.
Historically, women faced systemic barriers: limited access to education, biases in hiring, and lack of representation. Today, while more women are earning engineering degrees than ever before, retention in the profession remains a concern due to workplace culture and unequal advancement opportunities.
The future of engineering is diverse, and empowering women in the field isn’t just the right thing to do. It drives innovation, enhances collaboration, and builds stronger solutions for society as a whole.
The ESA is actively supporting the involvement of women in the sealing industry. The following articles give inside views from women working at our member companies.
Interview with Francesca Torriani for World Pumps
Francesca Torriani from General Packing in Italy, also the chairwoman of the ESA Flange Gaskets Division, was interviewed by World Pumps magazine about her experience as a woman engineer.
Interview with Julia Wutte and Stefanie Kreft, EagleBurgmann
This interview was provided by our member EagleBurgmann. Here, Julia Wutte and Stefanie Kreft talk about their experience in the mechanical seal industry.
Leadership, collaboration and the changing
face of the sealing industry
In this article for Valve World magazine, ESA Vice Chair Frank Weber speaks with Anna Berger, Julia Köder and Francesca Torriani about their experiences in leading the ESA Flange Gasket Division. They discuss the evolving role of women in technical leadership, the challenges women face in a traditionally male-dominated industry, and the importance of knowledge sharing and collaboration in addressing increasingly complex technical and regulatory demands.