Every March, International Women’s Day is a moment to reflect on how we can build more inclusive pathways, especially into traditionally male-dominated industries like engineering and technology. This year’s theme, “Give to Gain,” highlights a powerful idea: when we invest our time, knowledge, and support in others, we grow alongside them.
At Bright Machines, that spirit comes to life through our partnership with Missfits Robotics, an inspiring all-girls high school robotics team. From hosting events to providing hands-on mentorship, our team members are helping create a space where young women can explore engineering, build technical skills, and gain confidence in a field where representation still matters.
We spoke with some of Bright Machines mentors about what inspired them to get involved, what they hope to pass on, and what they have gained from the experience. Here are their stories.
Riona Yoshida, Mechanical Engineer:
“I decided to mentor the robotics team because I was once in their exact shoes. I participated in FIRST Robotics Competition in high school, and it was one of the experiences that inspired me to become a mechanical engineer. When the team came to the Bright Machines office to see a robotics demo, it immediately brought me back. I remember how impactful that program was for me, and I knew I wanted to be part of that community again, this time on the other side.
When I mentor, I try to approach it in a way I would have appreciated at their age. I do not want to treat them differently or micromanage them. Instead, I offer advice when needed and then step back so they can decide what they want to build and how they want to build it. The entire team is already incredibly confident and capable. My role is to support that confidence and give them space to experiment, problem-solve, and take ownership of their ideas, while knowing they can always come to me with questions.
This experience has also reinforced for me how important it is to have spaces like this for young women in engineering. In mechanical engineering especially, I have often found myself one of the few women in the room, whether in classes, in engineering clubs, or in professional settings. Seeing these students collaborate in an environment where they feel supported, where they can test ideas and learn in a safe space, is powerful. It reminds me how much representation and community truly matter.
It has been incredibly rewarding to watch their progress. I am only there once a week, but every time I return, I am amazed at how much they have accomplished. As they head into competition season, I am excited to see the results of all their hard work. Mentoring feels like a full-circle moment for me, a way to give back to something that once shaped my own path.”
Logan Boulet, Mechanical Engineer:
“In high school, I did not have the chance, or perhaps did not fully take the chance, to be part of a robotics program like this. Being able to help create that kind of space now feels meaningful. It is an opportunity to provide students with the support and encouragement I might have benefited from myself, while also being part of something that expands access and confidence in engineering.
Through mentorship, I hope to show the students that robotics is not just technical or intimidating. It is creative, collaborative, and genuinely fun. Robotics is also a strong foundation for learning design. The systems are complex, which means you have to break them down into simpler components to understand them. In that process, you build knowledge of core mechanisms and engineering principles. I want them to feel more comfortable in the field and to see how much opportunity there is within it, especially as young women exploring a space where representation still matters.
Mentoring has also challenged me to grow. It has taught me how to guide without being overbearing. There is a balance between offering advice and giving students the space to experiment and make decisions on their own. Especially at that age, it can be difficult to support their work without closely monitoring everything they do. Learning how to provide input while still allowing them to take ownership has been an important lesson for me.
One of my favorite parts is when I can take a design or mechanics principle that seems simple to me and break it down in a way that really lands for them. I remember walking them through camera mounting and modeling different viewpoints, breaking it down into simple sketches so they could visualize it clearly. Watching everything click, when they understand not just the how but the why behind it, is incredibly fulfilling.”
Taha Krarti, Mechanical and Testing Engineer:
“When I was growing up, FIRST Robotics Competition was what first pulled me into engineering. It was the entry point for everything that followed. Because of that, mentoring feels personal to me. I feel a real sense of responsibility to give back to the same community that shaped my path. Robotics opened the door for me, so being able to help hold that door open for someone else feels important.
When I work with the students, I focus a lot on helping them build strong foundations, especially in CAD. Learning how to use three-dimensional design tools is incredibly empowering. Once you understand how to model and design in that space, you can start building, experimenting, and solving problems independently. That kind of hands-on capability is hard to replicate in any other way. Robotics naturally creates that environment. It pushes you to think through real systems and real constraints. I also try to help them develop the mindset of designing within limits. The world has constraints, whether it is materials, space, time, or physics. If you do not account for them, things simply will not work. Learning to think that way early on is invaluable.
Even though I have only been mentoring for a few weeks, the experience has already shifted my perspective. Working with the students has reminded me not to take everything so seriously. No matter where you are in your journey, whether in high school or further along in your career, you are still learning. There is something refreshing about being in an environment where experimentation and curiosity take priority over perfection. It has helped me reconnect with that mindset in myself.
That has been the most rewarding part for me. Mentoring goes beyond sharing technical skills. It is also about reconnecting with the excitement that drew you to engineering in the first place. Being able to support the same community that introduced me to this field, while rediscovering a sense of play and curiosity along the way, has made the experience deeply meaningful.”
Taha and Logan during a hands-on build session with the Missfits Robotics team.
Mentorship is often seen as a one-way exchange, but as our team members shared, it is far from that. By investing their time and experience in the next generation of engineers, they are also gaining fresh perspective, renewed curiosity, and a deeper connection to why they chose this field in the first place. “Give to Gain” comes to life through partnerships like Missfits Robotics, where creating space and opportunity for young women in engineering strengthens our broader community. As these students prepare for competition season and continue building their skills, we are proud to stand alongside them and excited to see where their journeys will take them next!
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