The Structural Engineers Association of Illinois’ statement of purpose is: To advance and advocate excellence in structural engineering and to aid in safeguarding the public. Connecting professionals in a mutual learning environment is one of the vehicles SEAOI uses to advance excellence in the field of engineering. SEAOI's Women in Structural Engineering (WiSE) supports that mission by providing a forum for networking in the context of educating our members.

We focus on the unquantifiable aspect of networking for women in the structural engineering community. Several years ago, the comment was made by a fellow female SEAOI member: “There are so few women in our corner of the industry. Why don’t we know all of them?” From that conversation, we devised a mission to provide a setting for women to get to know one another, create a network, and form mentorship relationships. With the increasing success of our events, we are turning our focus to hosting speakers with different backgrounds, experience, and expertise in skills we all need to improve upon while still providing a forum for networking.

Interested in what other WiSE groups are doing? Click here for the central WiSE website linking groups around the country!

Book Club

August 2019 - She Engineers: Outsmart Bias, Unlock your Potential, and Create the Engineering Career of your Dreams by Stephanie Slocum

May 2019 - It Doesn’t Have to be Crazy at Work by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson

January 2019 -  Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don't by Simon Sinek

September 2018 - Do More Great Work: Stop the Busywork. Start the Work That Matters by Michael Bungay Stanier

June 2018 - Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity by Kim Scott

March 2018 - Feminist Fight Club: An Office Survival Manual for a Sexist Workplace by Jessica Bennett

December 2017 - First, Break All the Rules by Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman