Authentic and Audacious with Renée Young; Where Leadership Begins with Resilience and Self‑Trust

In this episode, We're sitting down with mechanical engineer Renée Young, whose career spans New Zealand, Canada, and the US. In this episode, we unpack Renée unexpected entry into engineering, the courage it takes to trust yourself in a male‑dominated industry, and the resilience required to keep pushing forward.Renée shares how creativity, curiosity, and community shaped her path — from being one of only a handful of women in her engineering cohort to becoming a leader, mentor, and advocate for women in STEM. She reflects on the glass ceilings she’s shattered, the feedback she learned to rise above, and why authenticity is her greatest leadership tool.We also explore the parallels between boxing and engineering: discipline, character, stress management, and the confidence that stems from showing up for yourself again and again.Here's what's in your TAKEAWAY bagSelf-trust is a skill, especially in challenging or unfamiliar spaces.Community accelerates growth; no one succeeds alone.Resilience is built through doing hard things repeatedly.Leadership starts with authenticity, not titles.Physical discipline (like boxing) strengthens mental resilience.Financial stability creates freedom of choice and Engineering gives you thisMentorship and representation change what feels possible.Audacity in leadership creates impactChapters00:00 - Meet Renée Young06:20 - Navigating the beginning12:43 - Financial Freedom in Engineering19:03 - Overcoming Challenges and Achieving Fulfillment20:44 - The Power of Self-Validation22:16 - Leadership Beyond Titles24:30 - Navigating Leadership in Male-Dominated Spaces30:05 - Community as Currency33:49 - Lessons from Boxing: Resilience and Community37:45 - Finding Purpose in Impact39:53 - Trusting Yourself: The Key to Authenticitylove, mariefinah