Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.

We examine how women often navigate a complex intersection of passion, purpose and professional survival, frequently utilizing duality—altering speech, appearance, or behavior—to fit into male-dominated cultures. While driven by a desire to innovate, many feel pressured to conform to avoid negative stereotypes, which can lead to burnout.

Authentic leadership requires systemic change, moving from forcing adaptation to embracing diverse identities. We explore the roles we perform almost without thinking. At what point does the constant search for our authentic selves (or our passion) become exhausting rather than empowering? And when does the pressure to find a singular purpose start to feel like a trap instead of a guide?

Michelle Andersen spent nearly two decades at the intersection of engineering, product design and compliance at a global aerospace and defense company until hitting a reset in her career five years ago to become her own boss. She’s the founder and lead consultant of Andersen Advisory, LLC, based out of Connecticut. A fellow STEMinist and SWEster, she’s passionate about women and girls in engineering. She served as the President of the Hartford Connecticut Section of the Society of Women Engineers in the early 2010’s.