A Finger-Pointing Reality Check
As a NASA executive and mathematician, I’ve spent years telling young girls in STEM: “You can be anything you want to be.”
At a STEM event in New York, surrounded by eager 8-year-olds, one girl turned my words into a leadership lesson I’ll never forget.
She asked if I had ever been to space.
I said no.
She asked why.
I said I was too old.
She pointed her little finger at me and said: “You can be anything you want to be.”
She wasn’t wrong. And she wasn’t just talking about space.
The Growth Mindset Connection
Carol Dweck’s research shows belief isn’t fluff—it’s science.
- Girls with growth mindsets in STEM perform better, take on harder challenges, and stay engaged longer. (Springer Research)
- Stanford studies show that confidence + skill-building early in STEM careers lead to higher starting salaries and greater long-term growth. (Stanford GSB)
Belief is the door-opener. Skills, preparation, and opportunity are what make success walk through.
Belief Isn’t Just for STEM
This lesson didn’t stop with math or rockets.
Last week, I dreamed I applied to medical school—
and was accepted.
That would make me a septuagenarian medical student. Don’t laugh. Because belief isn’t limited to STEM, to age, or to “practical” goals.
Belief applies to any dream, any career leap, any next-level goal. It fuels innovation, reinvention, and resilience.
The Next-Level Paycheck Mindset
The next-level paycheck isn’t just about money. It’s about what happens when confidence meets preparation and opportunity:
- You ask for the raise.
- You apply for the role you think is out of reach.
- You pursue the dream you shelved years ago.
Like that little girl reminded me—the first step isn’t opportunity. It’s belief.
Why This Matters for Women in STEM
Women in STEM often face stereotypes, underestimation, or doubts (from others and from themselves). Belief is the first countermeasure:
- It combats imposter syndrome.
- It reframes setbacks as challenges, not verdicts.
- It inspires others to see what’s possible when you refuse to dim your brilliance.
Belief is contagious. And when women in STEM lead with belief, they change not just their own careers—they change the culture of STEM itself.
What about you?
- Which dream have you quietly labeled “too late” or “too big”?
- What would change if you believed it was possible?
Drop it in the comments. Because whether it’s STEM, business, medicine, or the arts, belief isn’t just inspiring—it’s a growth strategy for your career and your life.
