She is this year's Female Technical Engineer

Lovisa Hakeröd, a senior industrial engineering and management student, has been named Female Technical Engineer 2026.
“It’s been a lot of fun to participate in the programme, and I recommend that all female engineers nearing the end of their studies apply,” she says.

Female Technical Engineer is a talent program running from March to May. It is organized by CoGig, a recruitment firm that works to promote gender equality in the business world by creating a network for female engineers. The program is aimed at female civil and engineering students in their penultimate or final year who are aiming for a future career in technology and industry.

A total of 25 young women from various universities are participating. Selection is based on a resume, a personality test, and a logic test. During the program, students will participate in several case competitions where they test their skills in various areas.

“One case study focused on how to manage floods, which are becoming increasingly frequent due to climate change,” explains Lovisa Hakeröd.

During the program, they also visited this year’s partner companies: Vattenfall, Xylem, LKAB, Boliden, and Schneider Electric.

Of the 25 contestants, Lovisa Hakeröd was named the winner of the year “for her ability to combine technical analysis with a clear purpose and a structured approach.”

The jury’s full statement reads:

“Lovisa has distinguished herself through a calm demeanor, confidence, and clear technical competence that have made a strong impression throughout the entire process. With a thoughtful presence, she has shown that one does not need to dominate the room to impress—her contributions have been well-considered, relevant, and characterized by both curiosity and genuine interest.

She has demonstrated a strong understanding of research and development, while linking her ideas to broader societal challenges in a conscious and credible manner. Her visionary thinking was particularly evident in her pitch, where she combined technical excellence with new perspectives and the courage to think outside the box.

With her well-informed approach, her credibility, and her ability to combine technical expertise with social awareness, she is a worthy recipient of the title Female Technical Engineer of the Year 2026.”

The award, presented at Brygghuset in Stockholm on May 6 in the presence of some of Sweden’s leading business executives, consisted of a diploma and a free self-leadership training course led by Anna Landegren, a leadership consultant with a background as a civil engineer in mechanical engineering.

“It has been a fantastic programme where I’ve been able to expand my network with the other participants as well as with business representatives who contributed to the program. It has been rewarding to hear others’ perspectives and gain insight into what a typical workday looks like at different companies, as well as their goals and business models,” says Lovisa Hakeröd.

The engineering profession is male-dominated

She believes it is important to highlight young female engineers in this way

– The engineering profession is male-dominated. A balanced gender distribution in the business world is important because it benefits from different perspectives and experiences.

This summer, she will begin an internship at the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency’s industry unit, where she will work with the industry on environmental and climate data. This fits Lovisa Hakeröd like a glove, as she majored in energy and environmental engineering within the industrial economics program. Whether or not she continues at the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, energy and environmental engineering is a field she would love to continue working in.

She appreciates the combination of breadth and specialization in ndustrial engineering and management. In addition to her concentration in energy and environmental engineering, she has completed a master’s degree in innovation and strategic business development.

“Several courses have been developed in collaboration with the business community, which has made the program very practical.”

But it was by no means a given for her to apply for the Industrial engineering and management programme.

“Many people probably have, just as I did, a somewhat narrow view of what it means to study for a Master of Science in Engineering. I don’t regret for a moment that I chose this programme. There are so many different things you can choose to work with once you’re done.”

• Learn more about the Master of Science in Industrial Economics program