Every idea starts with a spark. For Vanessa, Alexa, and Xouxa, that spark ignited in 2024 when they set out to find ways to improve inclusion and diversity within their own collegiate racing team, Cal Poly Racing. What began as a team-oriented effort soon evolved into something much larger— we saw an opportunity to connect and uplift women across Formula SAE, Baja SAE, and other SAE Collegiate Design Series teams nationwide.

These SAE competitions offer a one-of-a-kind experience– cultivating skills in engineering, project management, business, and leadership. These skills extend far beyond the track, yet the transition from student teams to industry isn’t always easy. WAE exists to bridge that gap, ensuring that students and alumni support, elevate, and empower each other professionally.

When we decided to bring WAE beyond our team, we asked ourselves:

• How can we, as students, bring about change on our teams and within SAE?

• How do we help more women secure jobs and internships in the automotive and engineering industries?

• How do we ensure non-engineers interested in automotive fields feel included and are welcome?

From these questions, WAE was born—a movement to connect, support, and elevate women in SAE teams and beyond.