Workshops & seminars

The Strength it Takes

A retreat for women in engineering

Date & time

Friday, May 2, 2025
9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Registration is closed

Speaker(s)

Ann-Louise Howard, Mary Howard

Cost

475

A Restorative Space for Reflection, Connection & Empowerment

Step away from the daily demands of your profession and into a space designed just for you.

This one-day retreat offers a unique opportunity for women in engineering to pause, reflect, and reconnect with themselves and a community of peers who share similar experiences.

Whether you’ve ever wondered:

Is engineering really for me?
Do I belong here?
Should I stay or go?

You are not alone. These are not just personal doubts—they reflect the hidden, gendered dynamics that have shaped the profession. This retreat is an invitation to move beyond "fitting in" and instead reimagine what it means to truly belong in engineering.

Who is this retreat for?

This retreat is designed for anyone who identifies as a woman in engineering—past, present, and future—from students and early-career professionals to senior engineers and leaders.

If you have ever felt the subtle exclusions, systemic inequities, or the "death by a thousand cuts" that come with working in a historically male-dominated industry, this space is for you.

What to expect

Supportive, guided discussions to surface and make sense of your experiences.
Quiet moments for reflection to help you reframe and envision new possibilities.
Opportunities to connect with other women engineers, fostering solidarity and shared purpose.

You'll leave with

Greater clarity on the hidden dynamics shaping your professional journey.
A renewed sense of vitality and self-acceptance in your role.
Inspiration and actionable ideas to help shape a more equitable future in engineering—for yourself and others.

Meet your facilitators

Ann-Louise Howard

Ann-Louise Howard is a consultant focused on making engineering more equitable and inclusive. Formerly an Assistant Professor at Concordia University, she has a background in engineering, ethics, organizational development, and leadership. She holds a PhD from Concordia University, a Bachelor of Engineering from McGill University, and a Master of Arts in Human Systems Intervention from Concordia University.

Mary Howard

Mary Howard is a certified professional coach and former engineer in the energy sector. With a passion for creating meaningful and sustainable change, she helps individuals, groups, and organizations live in healthier relationships with themselves, others, and the planet. She also holds a Bachelor of Engineering from McGill University and a Master of Arts in Human Systems Intervention from Concordia University.

What others are saying about their work...

“Your work resonated deeply with me! Thank you for this very tough, very powerful, very important work.”

“Great forum. Seriously, I don't know that anyone else is doing something quite like this.”

“Keep doing what you are doing and please share if you can. :) It’s been a long isolating time.”

“Thank you for your presentation, it was one of the most captivating presentations I have heard on a topic relating to Gender Equity.”

This is more than a retreat—it’s a movement. A space to connect with only those who can truly understand, explore your shared experiences, and discover new possibilities.

Join us. You deserve this time.