Discover the remarkable journey of Irene White Sharpe, who rose from poverty in rural Virginia to become a pioneering Black female electrical engineer in the 1960s, breaking barriers and achieving financial independence.
Her Story
About Irene
Irene Sharpe is a retired Principal Engineer with a distinguished career spanning over 36 years in the automotive and engineering industries. She began her professional journey in 1963 as an electrical engineer and went on to serve at leading organizations including the U.S. Government, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, and United Technologies Automotive. Throughout her career, Irene specialized in electrical systems design, project management, technical documentation, and engineering supervision, mentoring the next generation of engineers along the way. Irene’s professional philosophy centers on technical curiosity, perseverance, and mutual support. She has been an advocate for women in engineering, actively supporting and hiring women engineers in her teams and participating in professional organizations such as the Society of Women Engineers, Society of Automotive Engineers, and the American Association of University Women. Her commitment to excellence and mentorship has inspired many to pursue engineering careers in traditionally male-dominated fields. A proud alumna of Howard University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, Irene further honed her skills through professional development in Engineering Management at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. Her career achievements have been recognized through awards including designation as a Notable American of the Bicentennial Era, Charter Member of the National Women’s History Museum and the Extraordinary Woman Engineer recognition. Even in retirement, Irene continues to serve as a mentor and advocate, exemplifying the values of determination, independence, and empowering others.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Irene
01What do you attribute your success to?
I had support. My husband was very supportive - when things got rough at work and I was talking about quitting, he said, don't quit! Stay there and make the bastards miserable! There were some times when I thought I would quit, but I didn't, mostly because of support from the women in the Society of Women Engineers. It was really the support of other women engineers that got me through it. When I was still a student, there was a lady who was an engineer at Westinghouse who would come and get me to take me to the Society of Women Engineers meetings, pick me up at the dorm. So I had that connection. When I graduated and went to Denver to work, one of the women from those meetings notified the Denver Section that I was coming, and I was welcomed with open arms there. The support and the fact that they were going through the same thing is what kept me going.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
One of my professors at Howard University advised me to ensure that the engineering program I attended was accredited. Additionally, my peers and husband consistently encouraged me to persevere and not quit during difficult times, which was invaluable guidance throughout my career.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't let anybody tell you what you can and cannot do. Follow your own dreams. That was my motivation - people telling me I couldn't do stuff. The women in the Society of Women Engineers say, if somebody tells you you can't do it, do it, or die trying.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Historically, engineering teams were overwhelmingly male, which made networking and peer support essential. Today, there are opportunities to increase recruitment, visibility, and inclusion of women engineers, and to expand professional networks that support diversity and mentorship.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Determination, independence, perseverance, and mutual support for other women are the values I hold most important in both my professional and personal life.
Her Content Hub
Articles by Irene
Her Story
How she did it
Irene White Sharpe was born at home on a farm in rural Campbell County, Virginia. At her birth, the farm did not have electricity or running water. She attended a one-room segregated school that also did not have electricity or running water for her first four grades. From this humble beginning, she became an electrical engineer and amassed enough wealth to retire at age 57.
How she did it is an amazing story, based on the reactions of people who hear just pieces of it. She does not see it as amazing in the same way as those who tell her she should write a book. Why she became an engineer is fascinating to many. What it was like being a Black female engineer in the early 1960s is also fascinating to some. How she navigated a work environment predominantly made up of men at that time is a story unto itself.
To keep this brief, I will not go into much detail. I have spoken to a number of audiences about my experiences. I did not have to prepare a speech; I could usually say I am an electrical engineer and then move into a Q&A session. That alone could easily fill the allotted time for my presentation.
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