While the fields of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) are undoubtedly important for advancing society, women who long to enter these fields have faced many obstacles. With wage gaps not uncommon and gender bias still prevalent, many women face not only the reality that their pay may not be equal to that of their male counterparts but also a lack of acceptance within these crucial programs.
Nidhi Gupta, CEO and co-founder of SheT O , has spent over two decades in engineering leadership and has navigated the journey from early-stage startups to global tech enterprises. During that time, she has experienced the highs and lows of rising through the ranks in a male-dominated field.
Gupta and her team have strived to make diversity in tech leadership more accessible to women in engineering by creating a platform that allows women a support network of fellow professionals and helps them thrive.
Breaking the Director Ceiling
Gupta is not just an advocate, but a living testimony. Her experience has made her well aware of the hurdles women in engineering face. On her journey, she had a front-row seat to the systemic gaps affecting how one develops female talent and retains leading women in engineering.
After years of working in tech, Gupta witnessed firsthand how frustrated women were with their lack of advancement in their workplace. With many entering the field but few advancing, she saw talented and capable peers hitting the wall, otherwise known as the Director Ceiling.
As Gupta says, “the Director Ceiling isn’t just a statistic, it’s a systemic failure.”
SheTO: Women in Engineering Leadership Redefined A recent report , developed in partnership with Mayfield and Allstacks , revealed that women represent 14% of managers, but only 9% make it to the director level. This represents a portion of a larger problem, all of which stems from the lack of advancement for women in the engineering field.
“That’s not a pipeline leak,” Gupta says. “It’s a cliff, and people drop off cliffs.”
Three years ago, because of her own frustrations, Gupta was inspired to found SheTO, whose mission is to build intentional pathways that support, promote, and retain women from entry-level to the C-suite.
As the world’s largest vetted network of women as engineering leaders, SheTO is redefining how women receive support throughout the field in every aspect of their careers. With over 5,000 members in 65+ countries, SheTO is a community that doesn’t simply talk about change, but makes it happen.
To dive deeper, consider exploring SheTO online or read the full 2025 State of Women in Engineering Leadership report
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