"Thriving in STEM: Rethinking Career Pathways for Women with Cassie Leonard

Beyond the Leaky Pipeline: Redefining Success and Keeping Women in STEM with Cassie LeonardThe episode of Multiple Hats, hosted by Angelique, addresses why women leave STEM,.Citing a global survey where 50% leave due to burnout and lack of support, 40% for greater fulfillment, and 30% because of bias in career advancement, the authors of beyond the pipeline argue that the real challenge is retention rather than recruitment. The host introduces a three-episode series on the “leaky pipeline” with authors of Beyond the Pipeline, a collaborative book carrying insights from 25 women in STEM worldwide and grounded in lived experience. Guest Cassie Leonard, an aerospace engineer who left a senior management role at Boeing, discusses her identity shift in decoupling self-worth from paycheck and title, her FIRE-based financial choices, and how the book rejects the outdated pipeline metaphor in favor of a Rubik’s-cube model of complex, non-linear careers, organizing chapters around values/thriving, drivers of attrition, and solutions, and building an ongoing community via LinkedIn and Slack.00:00 Why Women Leave STEM00:46 Beyond Cupcakes Real Support01:24 Series And Guest Preview03:25 Meet Cassie Leonard03:50 Why Write Beyond Pipeline05:15 Rethinking Leaky Pipeline06:54 Leaving Boeing Identity Shift09:05 Redefining Success And Money12:29 How 25 Authors Wrote Together16:56 From Pipeline To Rubiks Cube18:48 Community And Book Tour20:01 Biggest Attrition Factor Bias21:26 Ideal Worker Parent Paradox24:17 Closing Takeaways Next EpisodeWant 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.