Episode notes
I'm sharing the full, unfiltered story of the exit interview that finally let me say everything I'd been holding back. This episode covers workplace culture in male-dominated industries, engineering burnout, career change from defense to pharma, and the everyday sexism women in STEM face; from being called "sweetheart" during nuclear machinery briefings to watching less-qualified male colleagues get promoted first.
In 2023, I left a government defense engineering job - working on nuclear ships, compressed air systems, and high-pressure platforms - for a role in corporate pharma, after being repeatedly promised a promotion that never came. This episode breaks down what actually happened in that final exit interview: the receipts on cost savings and team output, the double standards in pay grade and recognition, and the moment my boss's boss got emotional hearing it all laid out.
Topics covered in this episode include:
- Women in engineering and STEM workplace culture
- Government to private sector career transition (defense to pharma)
- Engineering burnout and unsustainable workloads
- Gender bias and microaggressions in male-dominated workplaces
- How to prepare for and navigate a real exit interview
- Diversity and inclusion gaps in leadership
- Career change stories in tech and engineering
If you've ever been underestimated, overworked, or stuck in an environment where "diversity" means being allowed to speak first in a meeting, this one's for you. It's a reminder that leaving a job that doesn't value you isn't failure - it's one of the smartest engineering decisions you can make.
New episodes drop Mondays & Thursdays - subscribe for more real, unfiltered stories from women navigating engineering, STEM careers, and workplace culture.
IG: @shesbeenthroughsomeshit