Female Automotive Experts Driving Industry Advancements
Purpose & Mission
Women in Automotive Technology (WAT) was established to connect, educate, and drive the future of automotive. We offer programs and events for women to connect throughout the automotive industry. We foster leadership, deepen industry expertise, and facilitate meaningful connections.
WAT holds regular events to socialize, educate, and connect. We also offer our members the ability to deepen their knowledge in the automotive industry, take leadership roles, and increase valuable professional skills.
Our Story
Women in Automotive Technology (WAT) was founded in 2013 by Michelle Avary on a bet with the late Robert Acker. Robert bet Michelle that she could not find six other women in Silicon Valley working in automotive technology like she was. A few weeks later, she met Linda Campbell in the Women’s Restroom at an automotive event and asked her to join her in organizing a Happy Hour. From there, WAT was born with the goal to connect and raise the profiles of the women working in this space.
In 2024, WAT brought Women in Autonomy into the fold, creating an even more powerful platform to serve its mission of amplifying women’s voices to shape the future of automotive technology. Today, WAT is as a diverse community of women in the industry that holds educational events, networking opportunities, and more.
Our Advisors
Michelle Avary
Chairperson Emeritus and Founder
Manuela Papadopol
Strategic Advisor
Our Board
Linda Campbell
President & Co-Founder
Lissa Franklin
Director
Serena Chen
Director
Lisa Dolan
Director
Karolina Chachulska
Director
Michelle Gee
Past President & Director
Natasha Kachenko
Director
Sonya Shorey
Director
Ankita Sancheti
Director
Sarah Thornton
Director
Kathryn Mullins
Director
Katelyn Magney-Miller
Director
Kelsey Abdollahian
Director
Join Us
Tell us a little about how you want to participate in WAT.
Would you like to become a member of Women in Automotive Technology (WAT)? If you identify as female and work in automotive technology or surrounding fields, or if you simply wish to network with like-minded women, you’re welcome to join!
Registering as a member allows you to be notified of upcoming events hosted by WAT and by our partner organizations, and to participate in online discussions and other features to stay in the loop with our community. We’ll only use your info to stay in touch, and we’ll never send it to anyone else.