21 Years of Women in STEM – The Small Things That Change Everything (Part Two)

In Part One of this post, I shared the stories I wish someone had told me when I was starting out. The simple, human shifts that would have changed everything: structured 1:1s, allyship, better onboarding, and a culture where ideas were safe to share—even if they weren’t perfect.

But I wasn’t finished.

Because so much of what held me back in those early years wasn’t just a lack of opportunity—it was a lack of visibility. I didn’t know how to move forward, who to talk to, or whether what I was feeling was normal. So in Part Two, I’m sharing more of the lessons that might help someone else—whether you’re leading women in STEM or already there.

A clearer understanding of how I get to the next step

I like to think of myself as a reasonably smart person who occasionally does some very silly things. One of those things? Believing that hard work would be enough.

When I started out, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my career. It took me ten years to progress to a Senior Engineer position. I worked in SMEs with low turnover and told myself there was “nowhere to go.”

But the truth? There was just no plan. No conversation about what the next step could look like. No visibility on the skills I’d need to grow—whether inside that company or elsewhere.

And let’s be honest: I didn’t have the confidence to ask. Every project lead and manager around me was a man. My imposter syndrome told me to knuckle down, work harder, and trust that it would all come to me eventually. (Spoiler: it didn’t.)

So here’s what I’d say: If you’re early in your career and unsure how to move forward—don’t wait for permission.

And if you’re managing or mentoring someone—don’t assume they’ll come to you. Start the conversation. Even one good chat can change everything.

Mentorship and coaching, early and often

I’ve only ever had two mentors. Both of them were men.

It’s still rare to find women in engineering ahead of me in age and experience, and I’ve spent the last few years collecting them like Pokémon. When I started SharpMinds, I made it a point to reach out and invite experienced women for conversations—not just for advice, but to see how they were navigating things too.

Regardless of where you are in your journey, mentorship matters. I’ve mentored through Kerning the Gap, and this year in 2025 I finally got my own mentor, Tris.

Having someone to ask the “silly” questions to—those things you feel like you should already know—makes all the difference. For me, it’s the difference between staying and leaving.

The first time I had access to mentorship was when the company actively encouraged people to ask for it. I jumped at the chance, and it changed everything.

So if you have women in your team, make mentorship the norm. And don’t stop there—consider coaching, too. In 2025, your LinkedIn feed is probably full of coaches, but back then, they weren’t a thing. I wish I’d had someone to help me sort through the fog of self-doubt and focus on what really mattered. If you have a professional development budget, ask for what you can use it for.

The misconception is that coaches tell you what to do. They don’t. They help you find your own answers. And sometimes, that’s exactly what you need.

If you want to know more about the difference between coaches and mentoring and what you might need right now, check out my blog on this topic.

Flexible working for real lives, not just for parents

We’re still stuck on the idea that flexible working is just about childcare. It’s not.

I’m child-free, so yes, I know I’m biased. But I’ve seen firsthand how flexible working can unlock creativity, loyalty, and energy in ways we don’t always value.

At the Royal College of Art, I experienced true flexible working for the first time. During my interview, I talked openly about running my own business in parallel, and for the first time, I heard: “We not only appreciate those who are working on something else, we actively encourage it.”

My colleague Carly was a Knowledge Fellow at the Design Age Institute while also lecturing part-time. Cherrelle ran her own cake business and was training to become a relationship counsellor. Others were juggling portfolio careers that brought them energy and meaning.

And all of it fed back into the team.

Flexible working gave people the space to bring their full selves to the table—and the work was better for it. They were better for it.

If you can offer hybrid or flexible working, you should. Not as a perk, but as a standard. The unexpected skills, the commitment, the confidence it builds—it’s worth far more than the outdated idea of bums on seats.

Secondments: Career growth without the leap

Early in my career, I envied friends in big companies like Rolls-Royce or Caterpillar who got to explore different departments through secondments. I didn’t want to leave engineering, but I did want to stretch, to try new things, to see what else I might be good at.

What I would have loved was a safe way to try something new without walking away from my current role. In the end, I created that pivot for myself by launching SharpMinds. But if I’d had the chance to shadow or step into another team temporarily, I might have found that clarity earlier.

Now I see more women asking the same “what if” questions.

Sometimes, all someone needs is the data point to make a decision. Don’t underestimate how powerful that can be.

Still building a better future for women in STEM

Twenty-one years into this career, and I’m still learning. Still reflecting on what would’ve helped me grow faster, lead better, and feel less alone.

Everything I’ve shared in this blog—just like in Part One—costs very little. They’re small, intentional actions that create space for someone to belong. That remind them they’re seen. That help them stay.

If you’re a woman in STEM, I hope these ideas spark something for you. And if you’re someone who leads or mentors women, I hope they offer somewhere to start.

What resonated most for you from this list?

What’s something small that made a big difference in your own career?

I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.