Irene Chan spent her childhood not quite fitting in — too different for the kids in LA's Chinatown, too different for the church her single mother relied on, too different for the unpredictable neighbourhood her mother worked so hard to protect her within. She carried that feeling of being "othered" into an aerospace engineering degree she nearly didn't achieve, and into NASA meeting rooms where she assumed the loudest voice always won.
In this episode, Irene — a flight planning engineer supporting NASA's International Space Station and Artemis programs — traces the path from an outsider kid with a stack of jigsaw puzzles to a leader who learned belonging was never about matching the room. She and host Serena Low unpack imposter syndrome in male-dominated STEM careers, the resourcefulness of immigrant families, and why the loudest person in a meeting rarely moves the work forward.
Questions Answered
- How do you deal with imposter syndrome as a woman of colour in a male-dominated STEM field?
- What does belonging look like when you don't fit the cultural mould around you?
- How can introverts be heard and visible in extrovert-dominated workplaces like NASA?
- What advice helps students pursue STEM careers despite grades that aren't top of the class?
- How did growing up as a first-generation American shape a career at NASA?
Key Takeaways
- The ache of feeling othered in every community Irene belonged to, even the ones meant to protect her
- The quiet relief of being embraced by youth leaders who saw potential she couldn't yet name
- The exhaustion of performing extroversion in early-career meetings just to be taken seriously
- The vindication of learning academic probation was never the end of the story
- The steadying realisation that curiosity, not confidence, keeps careers and relationships moving forward
Chapters
00:00 – Meet Irene Chan, flight planning engineer at NASA
00:58 – Growing up othered: a first-generation childhood in East LA
09:57 – The weight of filial piety and bringing honour through grades
15:44 – Community as classroom: how youth groups shaped her voice
21:26 – Zigzagging into aerospace: grit, probation, and finding her stride
29:38 – Imposter syndrome and learning to lead without shouting
39:08 – Advice for STEM students who worry their grades aren't enough
44:25 – Closing thoughts and gratitude
About Irene Chan
Irene Chan is a flight planning engineer supporting NASA's International Space Station and Artemis programs, where she collaborates with domestic and international partners to coordinate safe and effective space missions. She brings over 20 years of experience across aerospace engineering, space operations, and flight planning, holds a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering and a Master of Aeronautical Science, and is a lifetime member of the Society of Women Engineers and an Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. She is an active advocate for STEM education and outreach. [Guest link to be confirmed before publishing]
About The Quiet Warrior Podcast
The Quiet Warrior Podcast is a show for introverted professional women navigating visibility, leadership, and career and personal growth. If this episode resonated, please rate and review the show on your listening app. Your support helps more introverts become Quiet Warriors.
At A Career Crossroads?
Career Crossroads Counsel with your host Serena Low is a private 90-minute session for high-achieving introverted women deciding whether to stay and rebuild, or leave and reinvent.
Get underneath the overthinking. Identify what to preserve, release, and begin — and what your next chapter needs to honour.
Book Career Crossroads Counsel.
Loved this episode? Leave a review to help other Quiet Warriors find the show.
This episode was edited by Aura House Productions
