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Best Practices: Becoming a Leader Through Conference Organization [Women in Engineering]

The IEEE Robotics and Automation Society (RAS) organizes or co-organizes roughly 78 conferences and workshops each year, including 11 fully sponsored conferences, 19 financially cosponsored conferences, and 48 technically cosponsored conferences. Additionally, several positions within the RAS help with conference content and activities, including committees such as the Conference Activities Board (CAB), Member Activities Board, and Technical Activities Board. There are many opportunities for individuals to volunteer and become the next leaders by contributing to the organization of these multiday events. In 2019, four such individuals were interviewed by the Women in Engineering Committee at the IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS). This article shares their perspectives of, and experiences with, becoming involved with RAS-sponsored conferences and earning their high-level leadership roles.