East LA & Academic Probation to NASA Flight Engineer for ISS & Moon to Mars—Irene Chan |Ep43

From the streets of East Los Angeles, raised by a single mother as a first-generation American, to becoming a Flight Planning Engineer supporting NASA’s International Space Station and Moon to Mars programs — Irene Chan’s story is proof that your background doesn’t define your ceiling. With over 20 years in aerospace, Irene shares her powerful non-traditional path: falling in love with flight, facing academic probation and job termination, and pushing through with resilience, mentorship, and curiosity. In this inspiring episode, she reveals: ​ What a Flight Planning Engineer actually does on real space missions ​ How love became her unexpected motivation into engineering ​ Overcoming barriers as someone from an underserved community in STEM ​ The excitement and complexity of working with international partners on Moon to Mars ​ Practical advice for young people who feel “NASA isn’t for someone like me” This conversation is for dreamers, first-gen students, and anyone needing proof that persistence beats perfection. Irene Chan is a NASA Flight Planning Engineer with deep experience in space operations and mission coordination. Timestamps below ⬇️ #NASA #WomenInSTEM #SpaceEngineering #InspiringJourney #MoonToMars #FirstGenSuccess Connect with Irene Chan Website:https://ireneschan.com/ LinkedIn :https://www.linkedin.com/in/ireneschan Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/ireneschan If conversations with Sekani sparks something in you, do well to share to someone who you think might need this. Subscribe so you don’t miss new episodes. If you have a minute leaving a review helps more people discover these everyday unique voices and the insight they carry. Your support means the world. Want to be a guest on Conversation with Sekani? Send a message to Joy https://www.podmatch.com/member/conversationswithsekani Chapters 0:00 - Intro: Welcome Irene Chan 1:45 - From East LA to Aerospace: A Love Story 6:30 - Not Knowing What Engineering Was – What Drew Her In 11:20 - Academic Probation, Job Termination & Pushing Through Failure 18:45 - The Role of Community & Mentorship 25:10 - What Does a NASA Flight Planning Engineer Actually Do? 31:50 - Misconceptions About Space Mission Planning 37:40 - Coordinating with International Partners on ISS 44:15 - What Excites Her Most About Moon to Mars Program 50:30 - Barriers Faced Entering Aerospace from Underserved Backgrounds 57:10 - Unique Strengths Non-Traditional Students Bring to STEM 1:03:45 - Message to Young People Who Think “NASA Isn’t For Me” 1:10:20 - Practical Steps from STEM Dreams to Real Careers 1:17:50 - Biggest Failure & Lessons Learned 1:24:30 - Continuing Growth After 20+ Years in Aerospace 1:30:15 - What Success Means Now 1:35:40 - Rapid Fire Questions 1:40:20 - Outro & Final Words