Early exposure to engineering careers, information about the workplace and career paths, as well as female role models and supportive family and community environments can go a long way to opening engineering career pathways for women, says automotive industry education initiative High Gear’s employer partnership officer Angelina Govindsamy. Under the High Gear initiative, industry body the National Association of Automotive Component and Allied Manufacturers (NAACAM), in partnership with global youth education organisation the International Youth Foundation (IYF), conducted research and compiled case studies of young women’s individual pathways into advanced manufacturing production careers, and the barriers and opportunities they encountered in a historically male-dominated industry.