What happens when you're qualified to be in the room, but you're still trying to convince yourself you belong there?
In this episode, Victoria Braithwaite and Dr Pennie Taylor APD are joined by sisters Christina Bruno and Sarah Bettcher, two engineers who have built successful careers in traditionally male-dominated fields.
They take us back to where that sense of belonging can begin, long before the workplace. From growing up playing with Barbies while their brothers built with Lego and Meccano, to arriving at university feeling as though everyone else already knew more, Christina and Sarah reflect on confidence, finding their voices and the pressure to prove themselves.
They share the moments they weren't heard, the meetings where speaking up felt impossible, the interview where Sarah's mind went completely blank and how those experiences have shaped the women and leaders they are today.
But this conversation isn't only about careers.
Christina joins us just two weeks after giving birth, rocking baby Harvey as we talk about motherhood, sleep deprivation, workplace flexibility, supportive partners, mental load, guilt, burnout and the invisible work that continues long after the working day ends.
We also ask what needs to change for the girls coming behind them. How do we encourage girls who love maths, science, building and problem-solving to back themselves? How do leaders create workplaces where quieter voices aren't simply invited into the room, but are actually given the space to be heard?
It's an honest, funny and very real conversation about confidence, careers, motherhood, leadership and learning that sometimes you don't need to become the loudest person in the room.
You just need to know that your voice belongs there.
The Parts We Hide. Because the parts we hide are often the parts that connect us.
Episode 5
