STEM Self-Limiting Beliefs Holding You Back, Transferable Skills, Done vs Perfect, and Taking the First Step, Fire Chat with Catherine O’Mahony
MULTIPLE HATS: STEM Careers | Reinvention | Entrepreneurship |Thought LeadershipShow Notes
A rapid-fire reality check on why STEM professionals stay stuck, and how to move anyway
What if the real thing holding your STEM career back is not your skills, but the story you keep telling yourself?
🔍 What You’ll Learn: This short Fire Chat is for STEM professionals who know they have more range than their current role allows, but keep hitting the same mental brakes. In a fast, no-fluff format, we tackle the beliefs that quietly stall momentum. You will learn: Why “I’m just a scientist” is one of the most limiting stories STEM professionals repeat, and what actually transfers across roles and industries How to tell when perfection matters, and when it is just procrastination in disguise Why waiting until you have more time, money, or certainty is still a decision, and often the riskiest one
Action: Press play if you want a sharp reset on how to stop overthinking and start moving with what you already have.
🧠 About the Guest: Catherine O’Mahony is the CEO and founder of OnQ Recruitment. With 25 years of experience hiring across the life sciences, Catherine has seen firsthand why capable STEM professionals underestimate their value, and what actually helps people break out of narrow career lanes.
📌 Episode Highlights: 00:00 The self-limiting beliefs STEM professionals carry 01:10 Why science skills transfer further than you think 02:40 Analytical thinking, process discipline, and communication as hidden strengths 03:30 Working smart vs working hard, and when to stop doing everything yourself 04:40 Done vs perfect, how to judge what “good enough” really means 05:30 Will your work speak for itself, or do you need to advocate? 06:40 The first step, de-risking action and why inaction is still a choice
🔗 Resources Mentioned: OnQ Recruitment – https://www.onqrecruitment.com.au Full interview episode with Catherine O’Mahony on Multiple Hats
🤔 Reflection Time: Which excuse do you default to most often, time, money, skill, or certainty? Where are you aiming for perfect when acceptable would be enough to move forward? If not acting is still a decision, what is that decision costing you right now?
Want to craft a career story that opens doors? I help STEMM professionals speak with clarity, confidence, and purpose and show up as thought leaders —so the right opportunities find you. 📬 Let’s connect: angeliquegreco.com.au | LinkedIn
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