EPISODE · Mar 23, 2026 · 1H 7M
Building support network in STEM, leadership leaps and big career pivots as a Boeing aerospatial engineer with Cassie Leonard
from MULTIPLE HATS: STEM Careers | Reinvention | Entrepreneurship |Thought Leadership
Building Your STEM Safety Net: Cassie Leonard on Being the Only Woman Engineer at Boeing and Leaving Corporate to Coach and PublishThe episode of Multiple Hats, released for International Women’s Day 2024, revisits a recorded interview with aeronautical engineer Cassie Leonard, who spent 16 years at Boeing after entering a 35-man team as the only woman. Cassie describes her path from aerospace study at UCLA to persistence in applying to Boeing, early intimidation, and career growth through frequent internal “bounces” that stretched her technically and as a leader, supported by an organic network of mentors and advocates. She recounts a difficult double-stretch role during her mother’s stage-four brain cancer diagnosis and how her network helped her recover by finding a new position. Cassie explains leaving Boeing methodically to focus on developing early leaders and supporting STEM parents, self-publishing her book STEM Mum, starting Elm Coaching and Publishing, learning marketing, redefining success beyond paycheck, and aiming to amplify underrepresented voices in STEM.00:00 Only Woman at Boeing01:41 Meet Cassie Leonard03:29 Engineering Roots and Role Models04:38 What Aerospace Engineers Do06:30 Culture Shock in Engineering Classes08:14 Landing Boeing Through Persistence09:55 Finding Your Voice on the Team11:23 Career Growth in Two Dimensions14:44 Support Networks as Safety Nets17:38 When Life Forces a Reset21:07 Why She Left After 16 Years22:50 Motherhood in a Male Workplace27:13 Building a Methodical Exit Plan29:18 From Pro Bono Coaching to Business30:50 Yoga Detour and Finding a Niche32:54 Marketing Through Community and Boards34:11 Book Framework Origins35:00 Science Mindset Coaching37:12 Whole Life Career Stories37:54 Holistic Planning YOLO39:39 Writing Editing Timeline40:26 Self Publishing Elm Press42:32 Money Mindset Metrics46:36 Building Business Systems48:07 Pricing Coaching Services50:10 Marketing Website Authenticity54:31 Targeted Volunteering Myths56:53 Presenteeism Performance Debate01:01:39 Redefining Work Life Balance01:04:02 No Going Back01:04:23 Inspiration Book Song01:05:28 Final Takeaways VillageWant to craft a career story that opens doors?I help STEMM professionals speak with clarity, confidence, and purpose and show up as thought leaders —so the right opportunities find you.📬 Let’s connect: angeliquegreco.com.au | LinkedIn ⭐️ Help More People Reinvent Their CareersIf you enjoyed this episode, please:✅ Leave a quick ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify 🙏♻️ Share it with a friend who's questioning their path in STEM Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What this episode covers
Building Your STEM Safety Net: Cassie Leonard on Being the Only Woman Engineer at Boeing and Leaving Corporate to Coach and PublishThe episode of Multiple Hats, released for International Women’s Day 2024, revisits a recorded interview with aeronautical engineer Cassie Leonard, who spent 16 years at Boeing after entering a 35-man team as the only woman. Cassie describes her path from aerospace study at UCLA to persistence in applying to Boeing, early intimidation, and career growth through frequent internal “bounces” that stretched her technically and as a leader, supported by an organic network of mentors and advocates. She recounts a difficult double-stretch role during her mother’s stage-four brain cancer diagnosis and how her network helped her recover by finding a new position. Cassie explains leaving Boeing methodically to focus on developing early leaders and supporting STEM parents, self-publishing her book STEM Mum, starting Elm Coaching and Publishing, learning marketing, redefining success beyond paycheck, and aiming to amplify underrepresented voices in STEM.00:00 Only Woman at Boeing01:41 Meet Cassie Leonard03:29 Engineering Roots and Role Models04:38 What Aerospace Engineers Do06:30 Culture Shock in Engineering Classes08:14 Landing Boeing Through Persistence09:55 Finding Your Voice on the Team11:23 Career Growth in Two Dimensions14:44 Support Networks as Safety Nets17:38 When Life Forces a Reset21:07 Why She Left After 16 Years22:50 Motherhood in a Male Workplace27:13 Building a Methodical Exit Plan29:18 From Pro Bono Coaching to Business30:50 Yoga Detour and Finding a Niche32:54 Marketing Through Community and Boards34:11 Book Framework Origins35:00 Science Mindset Coaching37:12 Whole Life Career Stories37:54 Holistic Planning YOLO39:39 Writing Editing Timeline40:26 Self Publishing Elm Press42:32 Money Mindset Metrics46:36 Building Business Systems48:07 Pricing Coaching Services50:10 Marketing Website Authenticity54:31 Targeted Volunteering Myths56:53 Presenteeism Performance Debate01:01:39 Redefining Work Life Balance01:04:02 No Going Back01:04:23 Inspiration Book Song01:05:28 Final Takeaways VillageWant to craft a career story that opens doors?I help STEMM professionals speak with clarity, confidence, and purpose and show up as thought leaders —so the right opportunities find you.📬 Let’s connect: angeliquegreco.com.au | LinkedIn ⭐️ Help More People Reinvent Their CareersIf you enjoyed this episode, please:✅ Leave a quick ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify 🙏♻️ Share it with a friend who's questioning their path in STEM Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Building support network in STEM, leadership leaps and big career pivots as a Boeing aerospatial engineer with Cassie Leonard
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