The impetus for the first IEEE's Women in Engineering Group came from the IEEE Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control Society in 1993. The IEEE Technical Activities Board passed a motion on 28 February that "IEEE actively encourage participation of women in all its activities and that TAB request that the IEEE Board of Directors establish mechanisms to encourage greater participation of women, especially students, in engineering." This decision led to an inquiry into this issue. Funds were allocated for a project to increase the number of women in IEEE and to establish an ad-hoc committee to be known as the Women in Engineering program.

In 1997, the WIE group was formally elevated from an ad-hoc committee to a Standing Committee of the Board of Directors. By 2001, over 2,500 IEEE members world-wide had joined WIE. Membership had doubled by 2002 and seven WIE Affinity Groups had formed. Bylaws were changed to allow the formation of WIE Student Branch Affinity Groups.

In 2005, over 9,000 IEEE members worldwide had joined WIE. Coordinators have been appointed in Regions 1-9 and also to the major IEEE societies. Ninety Affinity Groups have been established around the world. In February 2005, the IEEE Board of Directors approved the updating of the WIE's scope to include voting representatives on Educational Activities, Regional Activities and Technical Activities Boards; and increase student involvement in the Group.