Marking this year’s International Women in Engineering Day, Sigrun Gisladottir, director of engineering at Deltek, reflects on her career, creating an inclusive environment and building strong relationships with female colleagues
Based in Iceland, Sigrun Gisladottir has been with Deltek for over fifteen years in various leading roles, with specialities in Continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD), automation, DevOps and Containers and Ssoftware development leadership.
Engineering is all about collaboration, and International Women in Engineering Day is a timely reminder of the difference we can make when we come together.
Too often, the focus in engineering is on systems, tools and processes. But its people that drive progress. When we create space for varied viewpoints, shaped by gender, culture, age, or experience, we open the door to richer conversations, better decision-making and ultimately, more balanced solutions.
Throughout my career, I’ve seen how inclusive environments strengthen team cohesion and innovation
Whether it’s leading teams in creating ERP platforms, coordinating across global offices or maintaining product quality at scale, diverse perspectives have consistently strengthened design discussions, team cohesion and the broader workplace culture.
I prioritise small group and one-on-one conversations to build trust, especially with colleagues who might otherwise hesitate to share their thoughts. This fosters psychological safety allowing more people to contribute meaningfully.
“When we feel seen and heard, we’re more likely to thrive and stay”
“It’s also important to acknowledge the less formal, human side of inclusion. Some of the most valuable interactions I’ve had with female colleagues have come from candid conversations about topics that are often difficult to bring up – such as pregnancy, health, or personal experiences in a male-dominated field. These moments help build deeper understanding and stronger working relationships. When we feel seen and heard, we’re more likely to thrive and stay.
That said, there’s still more work to do
We need more women in leadership, more mentors to inspire the next generation of female engineers, and more diverse perspectives to drive technical innovation.
We have a responsibility to lead change, champion inclusion, support future engineers and create environments where everyone can thrive. That’s how we will build a better industry.
The post International Women in Engineering Day- Deltek’s Sigrun Gisladottir speaks on feeling ‘seen and heard’ appeared first on Planning, Building & Construction Today.
