Our history, our actions

« Elles bougent » history begins in 2005, when two industrial companies decide to communicate their engineer women recruitment need to Marie-Sophie PAWLAK, formerly Director of External Relations of an engineering school and furthermore, comes from an engineering education herself.

To attract more young girls in these sectors, the idea is to organize meetings with engineer women. The organization mission is clear; “Elles bougent” was formalized in 2006.

In short order, several industrial companies in lack of scientific female talents join the adventure. First, in the transportation sector (Airbus, PSA, Dassault Aviation, SNCF…), then in many other sectors (energy, digital, construction…).

Engineering schools also mobilize and several Ministries provide sponsorship to the organization (Industry since 2006, before National Education, Higher Education and Research, Labor Ministry and Ministry of Women's Rights).

From the start, « Elles bougent » first major events drawn attention, with for example the invitation of 100 young ladies to many events like (Paris Auto Show, Paris Air Show and Eco Mobility Rally).

For these events, more than 400 actions are pursued everywhere in France, thanks to Elles bougent delegations, that were created in 2012 in many regions and since 2016 in Spain.

Generate vocations thanks to experience sharing

Job fairs, industrial sites visits, challenge, rallies, conferences, interventions in secondary and high schools… Whatever form it may, “Elles bougent” put meetings between its female mentors and young girls at the heart of its events. For this to happen, the organization gathers almost 3000 female mentors everywhere in France to : 

• Promote exciting scientific and technical professions to schoolgirls and female students
• Demonstrate that these professions (with a predominantly male occupation) are accessible to women
• Allow them to identify and project themselves into engineer women experience sharing
• Generate vocations!