The story of women's struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights. We want to say something, we want to do something.

On this International Women's Day, Westwell invited some women from R&D departments to share their experiences as professionals at Westwell. We celebrate this wonderful day to honor all women who have strived and struggled for life and ideals.

Illustrated International Women’s Day greeting featuring flowers, speech bubbles, and colourful floral designs.

Q: Could you describe your feelings when you work at Westwell?

Ying：I'm a software engineer working on high-definition maps to help autonomous vehicles navigate tricky intersections perfectly. Civil engineering was actually my first major in college, with computer science as my second major. After continuously learning more about computer science professionally, I discovered my passion for it far exceeded my imagination. So after graduating, I have been engaged in R&D work, and I'm very satisfied with it.

Xin: Working at Westwell is very empowering. My R&D job allows me to continuously explore new areas, learn cutting-edge knowledge about intelligent driving, optimize existing functions, and apply them to our products. You know, this application process gives me a distinctly hands-on feeling compared to purely theoretical research.

Min: I am a researcher in autonomous driving products at Westwell. Working here often gives me a sense of accomplishment and happiness. I think one of my strengths is being able to identify problems and propose solutions. For example, sensor calibration requires arm values, but in the industry, the arm values of conventional vehicle sensors are measured one vehicle at a time, which takes time and labor. After noticing this situation, I utilized intelligent tools to record the designed arm values of vehicle sensors in real-time, helping to save time and labor for sensor calibration.

Q: What does "Inspire Inclusion" mean to you?

Ying：I dislike it when people say around me that women don't need to work hard, and it's enough to marry a good husband. I want to say that the rights for women to receive an education and have a career are ones that have only been granted in the past few hundred years, so through my own actions and perspectives, I hope to inspire more women to join the workforce, encourage workplace women to deeply leverage their own strengths, and promote gender diversity to push for greater gender inclusiveness.

Xin: I once read a white paper on gender equality in the workplace that mentioned although the proportion of females in the workplace is increasing, males will still account for the majority in some high-value-added industries or rapidly developing professions in the future, which means that the incremental development of females in the workplace may not be as great as males. I hope that organizations such as society, enterprises and universities can do more to encourage underrepresented genders by giving more encouragement to the growth of female capabilities and achievement of accomplishments based on equal pay, equal promotion conditions and equal admission conditions.

Min: Gender has never been a limitation for technological innovation. On the contrary, certain unique capabilities of females can bring new perspectives and talents to break industry perceptions and boundaries. In high school, I wanted to apply for non-STEM because I had previously wrongly believed that I would not be able to learn STEM subjects well as a female. However, my teacher at the time saw my potential in STEM and strongly encouraged me to apply for STEM. If not for that teacher's strong recommendation, I would not be engaged in the industry and position that I am passionate about now. I want to say that underrepresented genders may need more encouragement and inspiration to have the courage to make choices and firmly enter industries or professions that still have gender biases at the current stage.

Q: Any advice you'd like to share with young women just entering the workforce?

Ying：Do not let others define your potential or limit your aspirations. Stay true to your own goals and vision for the future. While the path may not always be easy, have faith in your abilities and work hard each day to learn. Focus on continual self-improvement rather than comparing yourself to others or dwelling on past mistakes. Listen to your inner voice - it will guide you to the right path.

Xin: Keep challenging yourself to grow in your skills and perspectives. Learning is a lifelong process that will open many doors of opportunity. If you give your best and stay determined, success will surely follow. You have so much wonderful potential to offer - now go out and make your unique mark. The future is bright when we inspire inclusion.

Min: Don't feel like you need to hold back or worry about what others may think. Your experiences and points of view are just as valuable as anyone else's. I believe in diversity of thought, and that is how we will make the best decisions and create the most innovative solutions.

Media