What if the future of STEM isn't about choosing between creativity and logic but realising they've always belonged together?

In this special episode, host Kelly Shungu brings you our first-ever live Women in STEM Podcast event — recorded in front of a sold-out audience at Somerset House, London. This panel discussion features three remarkable women who've each been guests on the podcast before, but this time, they're in conversation together.

Joining Kelly are Dr. Sabrya Carim (Editor at Nature Cell Biology, Chair of Springer Nature Muslim Employee Network), İlayda Bakare (Founder of Exhibits, self-taught coder), and Emily Wood (Software Engineering Leader, Code First Girls advocate). Together, they explore creativity, innovation, and unconventional paths in the STEM field.

We dive into:

✨ When creativity becomes essential to solving problems in STEM and why it's not separate from logic

Whether you're considering a STEM career, navigating an unconventional path, or believe that diverse perspectives drive innovation forward, this conversation will remind you that your unique journey is your greatest asset.

This event featured one keynote speaker, a panel discussion, seven hands-on workshops, and was sponsored by Engineering Tomorrow and Girl Dreamer. We have so much more planned for this year!

Follow the Women in STEM Podcast:

• Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-ann-shungu/
• Podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/women-in-stem-podcast/
• All Links: https://linktr.ee/womeninstem_podcast
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womeninstem_podcast/

Previous Episodes: Want to dive deeper? Listen to each panellist's individual podcast episode:

Dr. Sabrya Carim: "Is a PhD Right for You?"

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabrya-carim/?originalSubdomain=uk

İlayda Bakare: Building Exhibits and Self-Teaching Code

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilayda-bakare/

Emily Wood: Media Representation and Making Tech Accessible

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-wood-software-engineer/

What if refusing to "pick a lane" is exactly what makes you unstoppable?

In this episode, host Kelly Shungu sits down with Fionnghuala "Fig" O'Reilly — systems engineer, NASA Datanaut, first woman of colour to win Miss Universe Ireland, CBS Mission Unstoppable correspondent, Broadway producer, and the youngest Honorary Fellow in the 186-year history of Engineers Ireland.

Fig holds a Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering from George Washington University, worked in NASA's data science program, and has flown in zero gravity as an aspiring citizen astronaut. In 2019, she made history by winning Miss Universe Ireland. In 2021, she shattered another ceiling, becoming the youngest Honorary Fellow at Engineers Ireland. And most recently? She made her Broadway producing debut as Co-Producer for the revival of The Wiz.

If you've ever been told you can't be brilliant and beautiful, technical and creative, or that you need to choose between STEM and the arts, Fig's story will prove otherwise.

We dive into:

✨ What a NASA Datanaut actually does and what it feels like to fly in zero gravity

✨ The decision to compete for Miss Universe Ireland as a systems engineer with NASA on her resume

✨ Navigating the "pick a lane" pressure when people can't reconcile all the parts of you

✨ The actual barriers women of colour face in STEM spaces beyond awards and recognition

✨ How systems thinking and engineering connect to producing a Broadway show

✨ What imposter syndrome looks like at the highest levels and how to handle it

✨ One action you can take this week to start building a multifaceted STEM career

Whether you're constantly told to dim one part of yourself to shine in another, or you're about to walk into a room where you'll be the only one who looks like you, this conversation will remind you that you never had to choose. You can be all of who you are.

🎧 Listen now: [Add podcast link]

Follow the Women in STEM Podcast:

• Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-ann-shungu/
• Podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/women-in-stem-podcast/
• All Links: https://linktr.ee/womeninstem_podcast
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womeninstem_podcast/

Connect with Fionnghuala "Fig" O'Reilly:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/figoreilly/?hl=en
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/figoreilly/

What if your biggest obstacle isn't lack of confidence — it's that you're stuck in your own thoroughness?

In this episode, we sit down with Atty Cronin, CPD-certified career coach for women in tech, ex-software developer, and the woman who's allergic to pros and cons lists, with host Kelly Shungu.

Atty shares her journey from 15+ years in web and software development at Time Warner, Capgemini, and the Civil Service to becoming the coach who helps brilliant women stop making spreadsheets and start making decisions. After multiple pivots in and out of tech — and navigating ADHD, perimenopause, miscarriage, postpartum depression, and mum guilt in male-dominated spaces — Atty now coaches women who trust everyone's opinion except their own.

We dive into:

✨ The pattern that keeps accomplished women stuck: it's not confidence, it's thoroughness

✨ Why pros and cons lists are keeping you paralysed instead of moving you forward

✨ How ADHD showed up in her tech career and what she had to learn to succeed

✨ The invisible load women carry in tech that no one talks about professionally

✨ Her three-step process: exit the thought spirals, trust yourself, take action that fits your real life

✨ How to make career decisions in days instead of months

Whether you're months into analysing a decision, making endless lists that lead nowhere, or ready to back yourself the way you back everyone else — this conversation will give you permission to stop overthinking and start trusting what you already know.

Don't miss our Women in STEM event on November 19th, 6-9 PM at Somerset House! Atty is generously providing a coaching session as a giveaway prize for attendees. Event Link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1839543166129?aff=oddtdtcreator

Follow the Women in STEM Podcast:

• Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-ann-shungu/
• Podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/women-in-stem-podcast/
• All Links: https://linktr.ee/womeninstem_podcast
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womeninstem_podcast/

Connect with Atty Cronin:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/attycronin/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/attycronin/
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@attycronin
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AttyCroninCoaching
• Here is the shop: https://shetechs.io/