When I joined the College of Engineering, Guindy, India, in 1966, I was one of a handful of women in a class of hundreds of men. I was singularly focused on getting an engineering education, and it never occurred to me that I didn’t belong there. I did not pause to question what it was like for women who entered the engineering field long before me and paved the way for me. Today, my alma mater boasts an almost 50/50 split of men and women.

I learned all about the women who came before me when researching and writing my book Roots and Wings. Their inspirational life stories demonstrate academic excellence, courage, perseverance, and resilience.

They broke many biases against women to do what they set out to do in their lives.

Let us celebrate these trailblazers today on # InternationalWomen’sDay.

Together, we can #BreakTheBias.