Breaking Through: My Journey as an Immigrant Woman in STEM

The hiring manager started dictating letters for me to write down. My hands shook. I had prepared for technical questions, not this. Words blurred together, my mind raced—and I failed.

I left that interview humiliated, wondering if I would ever build my dream career. When I moved to Canada, I had a Computer Science degree, intermediate English, and some experience in Data Analytics. But none of that mattered if I couldn’t prove my skills under pressure. At 27, I realized I had to start over.

So, I lowered my expectations and applied for internships. After multiple rejections, I finally landed a front-end developer role. It barely covered my expenses, but it was a start. Soon, I discovered my true strength in data analytics, a rising field. That pivot led me to my first paid job as an analyst—a small win but one that changed everything.

I worked relentlessly, improving my English and learning to navigate corporate politics. Promotions came quickly—three in four years—but the real battle wasn’t about skill. It was about influence, about proving I belonged in rooms where few looked like me. I had to work twice as hard to be heard, all while fighting the self-doubt that crept in whenever my ideas were overlooked or echoed by someone else.

It felt like a game I didn’t fully understand—racing toward my goals while dodging unseen obstacles. Anxiety became my shadow. I excelled at my job but used only a fraction of my potential, fearing that one misstep could erase years of progress.

Talking to other women helped, but few admitted they struggled. That silence made me question myself—was I the problem? The pressure to always be "on" was exhausting. Even with success, I felt isolated.

Then, life changed. Over the past two years, my career has stagnated as I navigated personal growth, grief, and motherhood. Balancing ambition with life’s evolving responsibilities has been its own challenge—one that forced me to redefine success.

That’s why I created this blog—to break the silence, share the unspoken struggles of ambitious women in STEM, and help other immigrant women find their voice, build confidence, and thrive in leadership without losing themselves in the process.

If you’ve ever felt overlooked, doubted your worth, or struggled to balance career and personal growth—you’re not alone.

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