Her Story 2.0

Description

Following the success of its inaugural edition, Her Story 2.0 was organized by the IEEE Women in Engineering (WIE) Affinity Group of the IEEE Student Branch, University of Ruhuna in 2026. Continuing its mission of empowering and inspiring women in engineering and technology, the program connected female engineering undergraduates with accomplished women professionals and alumni who shared their personal and professional journeys. Through interactive sessions and inspirational stories, the initiative encouraged students to develop confidence, leadership, and a clear vision for their future career. Purpose and Vision Her Story 2.0 aimed to: Inspire female engineering undergraduates through the experiences of successful women professionals and alumni. Bridge the gap between academia and industry by providing real-world career insights. Encourage leadership, confidence, and continuous learning among aspiring engineers. Strengthen the IEEE WIE community by fostering meaningful connections between students, graduates, and industry professionals. Showcase diverse career pathways available to women in engineering and technology. 1. Webinar Series The program featured two online webinar sessions where speakers shared their educational journeys, career experiences, and practical advice for aspiring engineers. Session 1 – 17th March 2026 Speaker: Ms. Hiruni Hettiarachchi Associate Business Analyst – OrangeHRM Operations Chair – IEEE Young Professionals Immediate Past Secretary – IEEE WIE Affinity Group of Sri Lanka Ms. Hiruni Hettiarachchi shared her inspiring journey through IEEE, discussing how leadership, volunteerism, and continuous learning contributed to her professional growth. She also spoke about internship opportunities, career transitions, and the importance of building both technical and interpersonal skills. The session encouraged participants to actively engage in professional communities while preparing for successful careers. Approximately 53 participants attended the session. Session 2 – 5th May 2026 The second webinar featured three graduates from the Faculty of Engineering, University of Ruhuna: Ms. Mohindi Maddumage – Junior Project Engineer, DOSCON Lanka Ms. Tharani Thalgahagoda – Engineer (VAS & OSS), Mobitel (Pvt) Ltd. Ms. Inushi Gunathilake – Site Reliability Engineer, Frontwalker Sri Lanka The panel discussion focused on university life, career transitions, balancing academics with extracurricular activities, developing practical skills, and overcoming challenges in the engineering profession. The speakers also highlighted the importance of resilience, confidence, and continuous skill development while sharing valuable career guidance with participants. Approximately 57 participants attended the session. 2. Flyers Series Following the webinar series, the flyer series showcased the inspiring journeys of distinguished women graduates from the Faculty of Engineering, University of Ruhuna. Each feature highlighted academic achievements, extracurricular involvement, career progression, and professional accomplishments, demonstrating the diverse opportunities available to women in engineering and motivating current undergraduates to pursue their ambitions with confidence. Featured Alumni Ms. Hemani Herath – Principal Power System Engineer, EnergySEA Pty Ltd. Ms. Shavindya Wickramasinghe – Project Associate, Link 4 Ms. Kethaki Dissanayake – Software Engineer, Addovation (Pvt) Ltd. Ms. Hasini Dematawaarachchi – Network Engineer, Asia Pacific Technology Systems (Pvt) Ltd. Ms. Dileeshiya Dharmarathne – Former RF Engineer, Huawei Technologies Lanka Co. (Pvt) Ltd. Ms. Sahasri Manimendara – Project Engineer, National Transmission Network Service Provider.