Portrait of Caren Dripke

The Power of "Why Not?": My path into Engineering

I was genuinely surprised (and once it sank it, deeply honoured) to be named one of the "10 Women Shaping the Future of Robotics 2025" by the International Federation of Robotics.

First off, a huge thank you to the whole team at Lorch Schweißtechnik GmbH where I’ve received and continue to receive amazing support to develop our Cobot Welding World for bringing easy-to-use automation to the world of welding.

The journey to robotics and welding (which are traditionally very male-dominated working environments) wasn't always easy or straightforward. In this post, I want to share about the foundation that started me on this journey, the support I encountered and the continuous effort it takes to stop doubting oneself.

My Grandfather’s Basement Workshop

My connection to technical things started early: I was seven years old when my grandfather died. It wasn't until years later that I understood how much he had prepared me for the journey ahead.

When my brother, my three cousins, and I visited our grandparents, we could often be found in my grandfather's carpentry workshop in the basement. We always had a screwdriver, a file, or some glue in our hands, building, screwing, and sawing with him. That basement was the very first environment that encouraged us without question, essentially saying, "Why wouldn’t you be able to do this?".

Today, four of us are in technical jobs, and three of us (all females!) are engineers. I believe that early, hands-on experience and that unconditional support is the most crucial thing for building a technical interest. I was allowed to explore without being questioned or challenged; my path was fully supported. That simple “why not?” attitude stays with me today.

Facing (Self-)Doubt

I did well in school. I took advanced physics, did an internship in textile chemistry, and joined the Student Engineering Academy. People around me had faith in what I could achieve. This was all despite the fact that I was often the only girl in those courses.

The real moment of truth came right before university, during the maths preliminary course. It was tough, and for the first time, I started to seriously doubt myself: "Am I really in the right place? Can I handle this?". The guys next to me were talking about LEGO Mindstorms, coding their own software, and welding their own mopeds at home. I didn't have any of those hobbies, and my self-doubts grew.

Fortunately, soon after, I attended an event just for first-year female students. A senior student there told me something I'll never forget: "You chose this study for many reasons. Look around: Who are the other guys next to you? Many of them just asked their friends what they were going to study after school finished and decided to follow suit without putting as much thought into it as you did.". She reminded me that I had specifically chosen this path after evaluating my personal interests and goals and that I could definitely succeed.

Throughout my following studies and early career, having someone else believe in me was a constant driving force. When interviewing for a student research job, I had to work on motor parameters and virtual simulations. These were topics I did not yet know much about. But a mentor said, "I think this suits you. I believe you can do it.". I took the chance and it worked out. The same pattern applied to my Bachelor's thesis and even my Ph.D. I was approached with a complex topic and told, "I have faith in you.". I tried it and realized, "Oh, I really can do it!".

I received so much encouragement, especially from people outside my immediate circle. Step by step, I learned to not always trust that voice of doubt inside my head. I also actively sought out role models to see living proof that my goals were possible.

This support and belief from outside was crucial to me for finding and following my path. I was usually the only woman in the room and felt a lot of pressure that my behavior would be generalized as "how women are", and often felt I had to follow a strict script.

Today, I am grateful for those who saw my potential and helped me understand that with passion and the right support, women can successfully lead and innovate in complex fields.

My ask to you: Be the support, encouragement, and ally for a woman or girl in your circle

Welding, even more than robotics, is very male-dominated. There just aren't many visible female experts or role models, therefore furthering the concept that "this might not be a career for women".

I am proud to be an example that shows the opposite is true - with lots of passion for what I do, really positive and supporting feedback by my environment and a successful product to show for it.

My vision is simple: when a little girl shows interest in engineering or metalwork, her motivation should not be questioned; it should be celebrated and fully supported. Our industry desperately needs all the talent it can find. Far too often, we question young women on their path and plant the seeds (or even grow!) of self-doubt that make them walk away from technical careers.

My message to you is this:

• For the youngest girls: support their interests, show them what is possible and include them in the conversation.
• Be aware of stereotypes and support initial interests – no matter whether them being “typical male” or “typical female”
• We, as managers, colleagues, parents, relatives, teachers, and mentors, are the ones who can ensure girls have a choice about their career path that is truly free of bias.

Please carry this thought into your conversations with every girl you know. I am absolutely certain that more female talent will benefit all of us, whether in engineering, robotics, or welding.