When developing, designing, and deploying autonomous vehicles, women offer a unique and varied perspective — from ensuring flooring materials in vehicles can withstand stiletto heels to thinking through the entire rider journey to increase personal safety from pick up to drop off. Yet, according to a recent study by Catalyst Research, only 23.6% of the US’s automotive workforce is made up of women. This number drops to 17.6% in leadership positions.

In this panel, female leaders from across the automotive industry discuss the opportunity for women within this space, offer advice to women looking to take a more active role in the industry, and address why it is necessary to ensure the female perspective is represented in automotive and AV development.