Meet 11 Women Leading Manufacturing into its Fourth Age (Pt. I)

The gender gap in STEM fields is constantly under the microscope when it comes to examining U.S. industry. And although it’s true that there are far fewer women than men in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields, today’s women are making their voices heard in an unprecedented way. There are strong female leaders from all corners of manufacturing, shaping not only the growth and success of the companies they work for, but the Fourth Age of manufacturing as a whole. Here’s a look at the first five women on our list of the 11 most influential women in manufacturing.

Marillyn Hewson is on both Fortune’s and Forbes’ lists of Most Powerful Women

Source: fortune.com

1. Marillyn Hewson, Chairman, President, & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Lockheed Martin Corporation

Lockheed Martin Corporation is one of the top manufacturers in the U.S. and globally — a stalwart in the aerospace and defense industry. Leading the company is Marillyn Hewson. She’s on both Fortune’s and Forbes’ lists of Most Powerful Women and is a prime example of the potential of women in STEM.

Mary Barra became the first female CEO of any automaker in the world

Source: gminsidenews.com

2. Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors

Another honoree on Forbes’ list of Most Powerful Women, Mary Barra became the first female CEO of any automaker in the world back in 2014. Not only is she a thriving example for women in STEM, she’s a force for change. GM is innovating within the industry and is one of only two global businesses with no gender pay gap.

Barbara Humpton has taken dominance over the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) market

Source: bizjournals.com

3. Barbara Humpton, CEO of Siemens USA

Barbara Humpton joins elite company as a female CEO at a multinational corporation. Her leadership has firmly established Siemens as a leader in multiple thriving sectors, including security, aerospace, and automation. Barbara is one of the key decision-makers behind Siemens’ foray into and dominance over the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) market.

Elizabeth Barry paved the way for innovative new production strategies and market opportunities

Source: deltasystemsinc.com

4. Elizabeth Barry, CEO & Former President, Delta Systems

Elizabeth Barry is a great example of what women with vision can do in STEM. She’s credited with completely reinventing Delta Systems, paving the way for innovative new production strategies and market opportunities. She started by changing the culture of the company.

Karen Norheim is a strong leader within the manufacturing industry and a crucial piece to the future of STEM

Source: linkedin.com

5. Karen Norheim, Executive Vice President at American Crane

Not only is Karen Norheim a strong leader within the manufacturing industry, she’s an evangelist for the future of STEM. She’s won awards for distinguished leadership at American Crane, and works closely with Women in Manufacturing to educate young women on STEM opportunities.

These are just the first five women on our list. Be sure to check out Part II to see the remaining six, and to learn more about how women are shaping the future of industry today!

Women are driving the age of innovation and excellence. Companies like yours can benefit from it. You can always count on the professionals at Global Electronic Services. Contact us for all your industrial electronic, servo motor, AC and DC motor, hydraulic, and pneumatic needs — and don’t forget to like and follow us on Facebook!