We Are The Value

I recently returned from 3DEXPERIENCE World 2026, where I spent three days with the largest engineering community in the world hosted by Dassault Systems. Being back in that environment among the drive and imagination that fuels this industry puts the work we do into a new perspective. From the technical keynotes to the breakfast conversations about Women in Technology, the event highlighted that we are no longer just talking about tools; we are living in a new era of industrialization.

Glimmer of Inspiration ✨

Walking through the conference floor, the feeling was a collective momentum shared by thousands of people. I reconnected with colleagues from my SolidWorks era and met new ones who are using virtual twins to simulate everything from cheese proteins to entire factories. These conversations made it clear that while technology is the multiplier,

WE ARE THE VALUE

Manish Kumar and Pascal Daloz both spoke about AI as a source of innovation and we remain the drivers. It was an observation of how diversity and imagination turn ideas into something with actual impact. When we use technology to amplify our own knowledge and experience, we move from just doing work and begin shaping the future.

Lightbulb Moment 💡

The conference was a series of realizations about the scale and heart of this community. I saw it in the commitment to increasing the presence of women in STEM during our breakfast discussions and in the sheer volume of people gathered to solve technical problems.

A specific highlight was hearing Gian Paolo Bassi discuss moving from Time to Market toward Time to Value. This alignment stood out because it mirrored the essential tool I was sharing in my own presentation. In leadership, we often focus on technical competence and we forget that our influence grows when we move beyond being just a problem solver.

Even in a room full of global engineering experts, the challenge is still the same.

We have to learn how to connect the technical work we do to the reason it actually matters to people.

When you make that connection, you are speaking the language of value. You are still doing the technical work, and you are explaining it in a way that shows the business value.

Shine Brighter: Your Growth Challenge 🚀

My challenge for you is to experiment with the language of value. We often get caught in the habit of describing our work by the technical how or the list of tasks we have completed and we forget to explain why those things matter to our stakeholders.

Take one task you have completed last week and run it through the value equation:

Task + to + Value + SO THAT...

This year’s offsite event was at Space Center Houston. We stood beside the Saturn V rocket, walked through the shuttle carrier aircraft, and took a VR journey in space. Imagine if you were an engineer on one of those missions and you were asked what you accomplished this week. If you simply said, I designed a valve, the statement wouldn't have much context.

Using the value equation, that same accomplishment becomes:

I designed a valve TO regulate fuel flow SO THAT the propulsion system can safely launch the crew into orbit.

Now it is your turn! Give the value a equation a try.

Bright Connections 🌟

I had the chance to meet a group of engineering students from Mexico and I was impressed by their energy and professionalism. Under the guidance of their mentor, Jose Ricardo Hernandez Mani, they developed a prosthetic heart and their work is a beautiful example of what happens when technology intersects with a living, connected system.

Their enthusiasm for solving future problems shows the kind of know-how that ensures technology creates value that lasts. They are moving beyond the digital design in CAD to iterate on physical solutions that can improve human lives.

Meeting them made it easy to see why this community is so vital for the future of engineering.

Meet the Mexatronicos Team: Jose Angel de la Luz Alejandro, Shaila Daniela Gomez Arzeta, Carlos De Gante Thome, Juan Carlos Alvarado Gonzalez.

A Final Spark ✨

Looking out at the thousands of people in the main hall, I thought about the passion I have for bridges. In engineering, a bridge connects two places that used to be separate. In leadership, our language does the same thing.

We have the most advanced technical tools in history at our fingertips and they only have an impact when we can communicate their value to others.

I look forward to hearing how you are using the language of value to find your own spark and I hope to see many of you in Nashville for the next one.

Here’s to finding your spark—and letting it shine.

Karen