In this episode you’ll hear from Melanie Stewart, Lead Structural Welding Engineer at Merit.

Has a single moment defined the rest of your life? For Mel, it was looking out of an office window and seeing the sparks fly as some people were welding. Mel was amazed. The magnetism of that moment – the sound, the light, the creative power – pulled her away from a mundane office job and into a challenging yet deeply fulfilling career path she never knew existed.

Mel reveals that she was always arty and into crafts but struggled with academia. She left school without qualifications which later became a barrier to entry for her into some professions. She admits, had she known she’d need them to be a welder she’d have worked harder.

Mel recalls how she faced relentless bullying during her apprenticeship years, being assigned menial tasks while male counterparts received proper training. She also encountered systemic barriers like job rejections due to her gender. Yet through it all, her passion for welding never dimmed.

To learn more about STEMazing, and this week’s guest, head to https://www.stemazing.co.uk/podcast

In this episode you’ll hear from Monisha Gower, Assets Director for Northumbrian Water Group.

Originally from Nigeria, Monisha developed an early fascination with how things worked—taking apart VHS players and televisions, only to reassemble them with a few "spare parts" left over. Despite her father being a chemical engineer who inspired her interest in engineering, cultural expectations initially limited her options. In an act of defiance that would define her approach to barriers, Monisha secretly changed her university registration from her father's choice to electrical engineering, causing a temporary rift that healed only when her excellent grades proved her capability.

Monisha talks extensively about her experiences defiantly persuing a career in a male-dominated industry. She recalls how she ‘went on strike’ for not being allowed to do the things the boys could do, like change a lightbulb. Monisha doggedly pushed the boundaries. ‘When you don't push, you don't get’, Monisha says.

Monsiha also describes how she’s looked after her own wellbeing throughout adversary, recognising her ‘sheer workaholic willpower’ at the start of her career. She reflects also on how she found resilience through her faith: “it's work, it's life, it's spirituality, and I definitely have a lot more equilibrium”. The most revealing aspect of Monisha's journey is her evolution from trying to "be a guy in a man's world"—adopting an aggressive persona she thought necessary for success, to discovering the power of authentic leadership.

To learn more about STEMazing, and this week’s guest, head to https://www.stemazing.co.uk/podcast

In this episode you’ll hear from Kat Parsons, Group Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Centrica.

Kat reflects on her childhood love for the outdoors, which led her to the challenging field of contaminated land management. She describes making ‘mud pies’ as a child, only to end up doing the same thing as an adult in a more professional capacity!

Kat’s story of discovering the power of authenticity is inspirational. Working in male-dominated industries like construction Kat explains how she adopted the ‘chameleon effect’, becoming more masculine and swearing to try and fit in.“I'd turn up to site, put my hard hats and rigger boots on and I'd be a different person”, Kat says. She would also shy away from being honest about her sexuality.

Kat moved from Construction to facilities management, and was surprised to learn the organisation had an LGBTQIA network, something she hadn’t experienced previously. She also reveals how this was the most diverse workforce she has ever been a part of; “It was actually just such a breath of fresh air that I could be the same person inside and outside work”. Kat then became Head of Diversity and Inclusion and, with insight from her own personal experiences, took the company to Highly Commended at the European Diversity Awards.

To learn more about STEMazing, and this week’s guest, head to https://www.stemazing.co.uk/podcast

In this episode you’ll hear from Elina Militello Asp, Transport and Scenario Modelling Group Leader at UK Atomic Energy Authority. From her earliest days in a rural Swedish village to leading a team at the forefront of nuclear innovation, Elina’s journey is fuelled by a passion for science and inspired by the many strong female role models in her family (her grandmother was one of the first female pharmacists!).

Elina reveals how her first foray into STEM saw her want to become an Astronomer. It was only after she began training that she realised that wasn’t the right course for her. Elina demonstrates how it’s never too late to change direction or choose the specialise in something new. She chose to pivot to particle physics and took a summer student-ship at CERN. Then it was the discovery of fusion plasma physics as an abundant energy source hat really ignited Elina’s passion for STEM. ‘Don't be afraid to change track’, Elina says.

Elina felt she lacked support in the early days and only completed the course through sheer determination on her part. From then on, she vowed to carefully choose her bosses in the future. She also reveals how she made the transition into leadership at the UKAEA. Through her experiences, she champions the importance of mentorship and personal development, offering insights into how these tools have shaped her leadership style and bolstered her confidence.

To learn more about STEMazing, and this week’s guest, head to https://www.stemazing.co.uk/podcast

In this episode you’ll hear fromHeather Tymms, an advisor for global engineering consultancy GHD. Her love of STEM began at an early age when a guest speaker at her school explained how you can count to 30 on one hand. Heather also had a strong passion for puzzles and is able to solve a Rubik’s Cube in under a minute!

Heather recalls her struggles at school and how she didn’t achieve the grades she hoped for. She advises that you should never rule out a STEM career based on feelings of academic inadequacy: “A-levels are not the be-all and end-all of everything” she says. Heather went on to achieve a 1st Class Bachelors degree.

Heather describes her visual impairment and the struggles she faced as she adapted to her disability. She says her proudest moment was collecting her degree at her graduation ceremony alongside everybody else; something she had feared she wouldn’t be able to do as there were stairs to the stage. Now she strives to be a role model to support young people into STEM, the same way her school introduced her to the sector.

To learn more about STEMazing, and this week’s guest, head to https://www.stemazing.co.uk/podcast

In this episode you’ll hear from Kelly Stone, Head of Airport Operations at Heathrow. Kelly’s career began at Gatwick in the 80s and has spanned electrical and water service engineering at both Gatwick and Heathrow.

Kelly recounts her early experiences of STEM; being encouraged to ‘tinker’ alongside her Dad’s passion for amateur car racing (he enlisted Kelly and her sister to be his unofficial pit crew)!

It was an outing to Gatwick Airport that ignited her passion – as soon as she got a glimpse behind the scenes of an airport she was hooked on all things aviation. She reflects on the apprenticeship programme she loved, despite a few humorous mishaps along the way like nearly missing her interview or her ill-fitting safety boots that made her look like ‘Ronald McDonald’ (her words!). She reveals how proud she is that similar programmes are still running today to mentor the next generation of airport operators.

After 37 years, Kelly still loves being in an airport environment; no two days are ever the same, she finds she is still learning and is challenged by new ‘gifts’ every day.

To learn more about STEMazing, and this week’s guest, head to https://www.stemazing.co.uk/podcast

In this episode you’ll hear fromaward winning Engineer and Innovator Yewande Akinola. Yewande has worked on the design and engineering for sustainable systems and large projects spanning water, energy, construction and more.

Yewande reveals how her initial interest in STEM began with architecture, as she was fascinated by the buildings she could see from the back seat of her Mum’s Passat! Yewande reflects on the relationship she had with her Mum and how that has shaped her perspectives on work and the world – it was her Mum that ultimately suggested a career in Engineering!

Yewande admits that she was ‘oblivious’ when she started her studies that she was entering a male-dominated career. She reflects on how she felt as she realised she was a minority in the industry and how she responded when people doubted her. She shares some brilliant advice for other women beginning their career in STEM.

To learn more about STEMazing, and this week’s guest, head to https://www.stemazing.co.uk/podcast

In this episode you’ll hear Anna Preston, Chartered Civil Engineer, currently working at Mabey Hire as a Team Leader in the Product Development Department. She has nearly 30 years experience working in the construction sector.

Anna has always had a fascination with STEM. She reveals how she dismantled the family television at a very young age (much to the frustration of her mother) just to try and discover how it worked!

Anna recalls her experiences as one of the few women on construction sites in her early career and the discrimination that she faced, ranging from jokes from her male colleagues to not even having access to female toilets.

Anna also candidly discusses her journey with autism and the importance of embracing neurodiversity in the workplace. She explains how her diagnosis 6 years ago has changed the way she sees herself and helped her better understand some of the challenges that she faces. Anna calls for greater inclusivity and support for neurodivergent individuals, particularly in STEM careers where their unique skills can truly shine.

To learn more about STEMazing, and this week’s guest, head to https://www.stemazing.co.uk/podcast