Ella Podmore

Ella Podmore MBE is an award-winning engineer who is currently working for McLaren Automotive Ltd as their Senior Materials Engineer, a position she was promoted to after only 4 years working for the company. As one of few women engineers, Ella has become a passionate advocate for women in STEM and balances her time between her career and inspiring the next generation to pursue a career in science. With an eloquent and engaging speaking style, Ella has significant experience in speaking to both the media and the public on the topics of technology, engineering, mathematics and women in STEM.

Whilst studying Materials Engineering at the University of Manchester, Ella completed several internships including an Insight Week Intern for Shell, and two internships with McLaren Automotive Ltd: a Quality Process Engineer Internship and a Project Engineer Internship. Upon graduating, Ella first joined the automotive giant as a Materials Engineer where she was responsible for all material-related investigations including leading analysing both the component analysis and the resource and development of new material technology. During this role Ella had to frequently present to executive boards which greatly developed her confidence in speaking in front of an audience. As an avid STEM advocate, Ella is also part o McLaren’s women’s society and engages in media and PR events to encourage other women to enter STEM.

In 2020 Ella then became a Fault Analysis Engineer and is McLaren Automotive’s lead Stem Ambassador. As a testament to her innate engineering ability, in 2022 she was honoured in the late Queen’s Jubilee Birthday Honours List for her services to engineering, Innovation and Diversity. She also won IET’s Young Women Engineer of the Year 2020, Surrey 40 Under 40 Winner, and is part of the McKinsey Next Generation Women Leaders 2022. In 2023 Ella also announced that she is taking part in the international awareness campaign celebrating the work and achievements of women engineers (INWED).

For someone so young, Ella has already achieved so much in her career – acting as a role model for all young girls and women who aspire to work in STEM subjects all over the world. Ella provides a refreshing insight into working in a STEM based subject and shares her story of success in a male-dominated field with her audience. If you are looking for an inspirational speaker who can share her first-hand experience as a woman in Stem, look no further than Ella Podmore to hire at your next event.