I Stayed 10 Years to Prove I Was Good Enough (Part 1)

At 25 years old, I was the lead engineer responsible for compressed air systems on nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. I had a security clearance, a government pension, and the kind of career people spend decades trying to get.

So why did I spend years convinced I wasn't good enough?

In this episode, I'm sharing the story of the ten years I spent in defense engineering, from being handed major responsibility far too early, to a career-defining meeting that left me questioning my worth, to the health crisis that finally forced me to reconsider everything.

We talk about:

• Being promoted without a pay increase and real support
• Workplace cultures that mistake criticism for mentorship
• The hidden psychology behind staying to "prove yourself"
• How imposter syndrome keeps talented people stuck
• The physical toll of chronic workplace stress
• The moment I realized I was allowed to leave
• How I ultimately reinvented my career and landed in pharma

I also reflect on Gloria Steinem's passing and the women whose work made careers like mine possible in the first place.

If you've ever stayed in a job because you felt like you had something to prove, this episode is for you.

#CareerChange #ImposterSyndrome #BurnoutRecovery #WomenInEngineering #CareerDevelopment #WorkplaceCulture #ProfessionalGrowth