From Aerospace to Coaching: Insights on Career Growth and Mentorship

Last week on Mavens of Manufacturing, we highlighted the journeys of two incredible women—Angela Kimber Ehlich, a trailblazer in aerospace, and Corinna Freitag, an expert in STEM coaching. Their stories highlight the power of career pivots, mentorship, and resilience, offering valuable insights for anyone looking to break barriers, find their voice, and thrive in the ever-evolving world of manufacturing and engineering.

Shaping the Future of Aerospace: Angela Kimber Ehlich’s Journey

Angela Kimber Ehlich’s story is one that will resonate with anyone who’s ever had to juggle competing priorities. Starting as a non-traditional student and single parent, Angela pursued engineering degrees while raising her daughter. She faced the challenges of balancing school, parenthood, and career ambitions—and still managed to thrive.?

Her journey shows that taking a “left turn” in your career can open up new doors, and she shares how leaving her PhD to dive into the industry ultimately shaped her success.

But what really struck me during our conversation was Angela’s commitment to mentorship and networking. She truly believes these relationships—both as a mentor and mentee—have been essential to her journey.?

Her nonprofit work in aerospace, including co-founding the Women of the Aerospace Industry Association of Michigan, has helped elevate women in the industry. Angela’s passion for creating opportunities and advocating for women in STEM is inspiring.

My key takeaways from the episode:

• Career pivots can lead to unexpected success: Sometimes, taking the “road less traveled” is exactly what you need.
• Mentorship is a two-way street: Angela emphasized how being a mentor and having mentors creates a cycle of growth and support.
• The power of nonprofit work: Angela’s nonprofit initiatives have had a tangible impact, creating more opportunities for women in aerospace.

If you’re looking to pivot in your career, connect with a mentor, or get involved in advocacy, Angela’s story shows how powerful those moves can be.

Call to Action: What’s your story of a career “left turn”? Or maybe you’re thinking about mentorship in your field? Drop a comment, and let’s talk about how we can all elevate women in aerospace and STEM!

Watch Angela’s full story here: https://www.youtube.com/live/fH5dMsRVdS4?si=1vVLTe2wZlzctFqp

Building Better Workplaces in STEM: Corinna Freitag’s Coaching Approach

I also had the chance to chat with Corinna Freitag, a woman whose work is all about helping STEM professionals thrive at work. Corinna’s background in chemistry and leadership in the automotive and chemical industries eventually led her to executive coaching. She shared with me her journey and what it really means to “Thrive at Work & Love Mondays Again.” Spoiler alert: it’s all about mindset and communication.

Corinna’s work centers around helping professionals navigate some of the most common struggles in STEM fields—feeling stuck, navigating workplace conflict, and communicating effectively. We talked about how communication challenges can hold professionals back, especially in technical fields, and Corinna offered practical solutions for rethinking how we approach these conversations.

Her coaching methods focus on team collaboration and mindset shifts. What I loved most was her emphasis on confidence-building—she encourages people to reframe their thinking so that they can feel more in control of their careers. She’s seen clients go from feeling unheard to leading successful teams, and it’s clear that her approach works.

What stood out to me:

• Breaking free from the “pigeonhole”: Corinna’s advice on breaking out of a career rut is something every professional can benefit from.
• Communication is key: Whether it’s resolving conflicts or getting your point across in a meeting, how you communicate makes all the difference.
• Confidence changes everything: When professionals start to believe in their abilities, it completely transforms their career trajectory.

If you’re feeling stuck or facing communication challenges at work, Corinna’s coaching insights might be just what you need to take your career to the next level.

Call to Action: Corinna is doing ongoing research on how poor social skills can hinder chemists and engineers from getting promoted. If you’re interested in participating in her research, send her a note via LinkedIn or email to info@corinnafreitag.de.

Your benefits:

★ Most people gain valuable insights on how to navigate their social skill challenges more effectively.

★ Plus, participants receive the research findings once they're available.

If you want to join – reach out to me via LinkedIn or email.

Watch Corinna’s full story here: https://www.youtube.com/live/2G5fSjbi2dI?si=XDiScut_X9M5NedB

Final Thoughts

These two episodes reminded me that the path to success isn’t always linear—and it’s okay to take a detour. Whether you’re pursuing a career change, facing communication challenges, or working to create opportunities for others, these conversations highlight that growth is possible when we invest in ourselves and each other.

Both Angela and Corinna are proof that embracing mentorship, communication, and confidence can lead to incredible transformations in both individual careers and entire industries. If you haven’t already, I highly recommend checking out both interviews for more insights and inspiration.

What’s your next step in your career journey? Let’s connect in the comments and keep this conversation going!