The future is built, not given: International Women's Day at HERE

Tech and engineering are growing fast, but there still aren’t enough women in these fields. That’s why increasing female representation in technical roles is such an important focus at HERE.

But gender equity isn’t just about tech. It’s about creating opportunities, leadership and a sense of belonging in every area of work.

To make real progress, HERE is building a stronger pipeline of women in senior roles. In 2026, the company is committing to expanding women’s development programs, launching a mentorship platform, scaling inclusive leadership training to tackle unconscious bias and promoting artificial intelligence (AI) literacy so future skills are accessible to everyone.

HERE is also collaborating with organizations like Women+ in Geospatial and supporting girls and women through fundraising, community events, and empowerment programs led by its women’s employee resource group (ERG).

This International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating the real impact these commitments are having by talking to four colleagues about the programs that helped shape their careers and what they hope the future holds.

Building trust

Dorothea Cooper, HERE Senior Spatial Engineering Manager, calls RISE, the company's women’s leadership accelerator, a turning point in her career. It helped her sharpen her leadership presence and step confidently into her role as a Data Governance Leader within Trust and Analytics Engineering.

“The program has been a transformative part of my journey at HERE,” Cooper said. “It reaffirmed my commitment to mentoring others and uplifting the next generation of leaders.”

Looking ahead, Cooper hopes the industry starts treating data governance as a true foundation:

“I envision data governance becoming fully embedded into the fabric of how we design and deliver solutions.”

“I also hope to see more diverse voices shaping the future of analytics and AI, ensuring our innovations reflect the communities they impact.”

Read more — Mixing maps with mindfulness: what agentic AI means for automotive and logistics

Stronger guardrails

IMPACT is HERE's talent development experience designed to unlock new perspectives, break down silos and accelerate growth through cross-functional collaboration. This is where talented people grow their capabilities and build the confidence to shape what’s next.

For Neha Dharia, HERE Senior Market Intelligence Manager, the program delivers on its promise. “It allows me to break through silos, gain a clearer view of different parts of the business,” Dharia said.

“I’m excited about the shift to AI. But I also hope the next five years prioritize technological progress without compromising sustainability. Innovation shouldn’t come at any expense, and I’d like to see the industry make that non-negotiable.”

Staying curious

Patricia Brink Baggerman, a Senior Global Spatial Engineering Manager, has spent nearly three decades at HERE. Her career began in a junior purchasing role and expanded, over time, into senior global leadership.

Recently, Baggerman joined RISE, and what stands out for her is the community as much as the curriculum. “We are with a group of talented women from all over the world and each of us has a story to tell,” said Baggerman. “This program supports us on our journey toward senior leadership and expanding our impact across HERE.”

“With AI, we are at the beginning of creating new workforces. Everyone is included.”

Shaping what comes next

Viviana Ionita, HERE Learning and Development Manager, credits the HERE Leadership Pathway program with a simple shift that changed how she leads. “Leadership styles are hats you wear, not fixed identities,” Ionita said. “Channeling a certain persona, when done with intention, can benefit specific situations and drive positive outcomes.”

“The program did not just give me new skills,” she added. “It gave me a new level of professional agency.”

Looking ahead, Ionita wants women to be recognized as essential architects of GenAI, not as late adopters of someone else’s future. “The equity of tomorrow depends entirely on the diversity of the voices shaping AI today. If we are not at the table now, the algorithms of the future will lack the perspective required to be truly fair.”

One shared story

When leadership development isn’t just a one-off workshop but something you build into the system, it starts to snowball. It changes who gets promoted, who feels confident speaking up, and who gets a real say in what’s built next.

International Women’s Day 2026 isn’t the end of the journey—it’s a moment to take stock. The future these women are talking about isn’t some vague idea. It’s about data that’s handled responsibly, innovation that lasts and AI that opens doors instead of closing them. And it’s about leadership that actually reflects the world it’s meant to serve.