Conference Insights from the 2025 Women in Manufacturing (WiM) Summit

The Society of Innovators at Purdue Northwest partnered with the 2025 Women in Manufacturing Summit (WiM), held in Chicago from October 12 to 14, 2025. Representing the organization was Angela Perez, a rising manufacturing leader, Purdue Northwest graduate student and CEO of AJ Mechanical Design.

The annual WiM Summit brings together women from across the manufacturing ecosystem for three days of learning, professional development and community.

This year’s program featured inspiring keynotes, industry-led breakout sessions, peer networking and plant tours, all designed to empower and advance women in the sector.

“The energy in the room was incredible,” said Perez. “It felt like a space where women were not only encouraged to grow, but given tangible tools to do it.”

Angela was recently named to Conexus Indiana’s Rising 30 Class of 2025, recognized for her leadership and impact in the state’s advanced manufacturing and logistics sector. Attending WiM Summit added to her journey.

“This experience helped broaden my horizons,” Perez shared. “As both a business owner and an emerging leader, I left with ideas I can apply directly and a network that will continue to open doors.”

Angela’s Top 5 Insights from the Summit

1. Leadership Inspiration – The opening keynote set the tone for the summit, offering encouragement, motivation and a reminder that women belong at every level of manufacturing leadership, including the C-suite.
2. Professional Growth & Branding – Sessions such as “Build Your Brand” offered practical strategies to elevate professional presence, whether advancing within an organization or building a business.
3. Translating Innovation to the Plant Floor – Angela highlighted the value of sessions focused on aligning technology with business outcomes and “Plant Floor to Profit.” These workshops emphasized how innovation on the floor can directly fuel revenue and efficiency.
4. Real Conversations on Barriers & Breakthroughs – Breakout discussions addressed real life challenges women face in the industry, not just conceptually, but with actionable tactics for overcoming obstacles and advocating for oneself and others.
5. Community & Relationship-Building – “The networking alone was worth attending,” Angela said. “Connecting with women who share similar goals expanded my perspective, my confidence and my support system.”

Looking ahead, the 2026 WiM Summit will take place in Las Vegas, and Angela is already encouraging others to consider attending. Angela’s advice to future attendees: “If you want to grow personally, professionally, as a leader or problem-solver, events like WiM Summit accelerate your development. You never know which conversation or session might change your trajectory.”

The Society of Innovators is committed to elevating voices and advancing innovation across Northwest Indiana. Partnering with events such as the WiM Summit allows the Society to expose regional innovators to national best practice and strengthen the region’s talent pipeline. We extend our appreciation to Women in Manufacturing for welcoming the Society and for supporting innovation through representation, education and community-building.