Ordinarily Extraordinary - Conversations with women in STEM

Lisa Fennell shares her non-linear career path—from studying police science at a technical college, to restaurant work and administrative roles, to becoming a business analyst and eventually a sales and marketing leader in utility tech. Along the way, she opens up about confidence, mentorship, being “the only woman at the table,” and what it’s like building a career without a traditional four-year degree.
What you’ll hear in this episode
What Lisa does today
Lisa explains Ping Things and the need for high-resolution, high-density grid data that can actually make it into the hands of data scientists—so utilities can train machine learning algorithms, understand what’s happening on the grid, and decide what to do next.
“Reflex vs reason”
A standout analogy the grid needs both immediate “reflex” at the edge and deeper “reason” centrally. Lisa compares it to touching a hot stove—your reflex pulls your hand back, but your brain learns “don’t do that again.” Ping Things supports the “learning” layer.
A career journey that didn’t follow the typical script
Lisa walks through her path technical college → a mentor encouraging her to rethink shift-work policing → customer service/restaurant leadership → an office role → recognized technical aptitude → business analyst → writing software requirements/specs → utility industry tech roles → sales leadership.
Working in a technical field without a four-year degree
Lisa talks candidly about how long it took to admit she didn’t have a college degree—and how mentorship, opportunity, and her own tenacity shaped her success.
Sales in technical spaces
Lisa describes the gift of translating “engineer language” into “normal language,” the importance of listening more than speaking, and how relationship-building is often the real differentiator.
Married to an engineer in the same industry
She and her husband Kevin have traveled together for industry events and customer dinners, and Lisa shares how she brings levity and connection—often with fun icebreakers that instantly melt the room.
Proud moment
A sweet moment Lisa’s dad tells Alexa about her career story (including the no-four-year-degree part), and Lisa shares how meaningful it is to feel that pride from a parent, no matter your age.
Not Expert” listener question
Kathy, Linda, and Lisa share not-expert perspectives on timing, preparation, and how workplace culture has evolved (and still has a long way to go).

In this episode of Ordinarily Extraordinary: Conversations with Women in STEM, host Kathy Nelson sits down with Dr. Elizabeth Mendes, a newly minted PhD and postdoctoral researcher whose work focuses on rare and aggressive pediatric cancers.
Dr. Mendes recently completed her PhD at Duke University, where she spent over five years researching rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare childhood soft-tissue cancer. Her goal: identify new biological targets that could one day lead to better, more effective treatments for children. Kathy and Liz explore not only the science behind pediatric cancer research, but also the deeply human reasons that drive this work.
What We Talk About in This Episode
What pediatric sarcomas are—and why they’re so challenging to treat
Liz breaks down complex cancer biology in an approachable way, explaining how sarcomas differ from more common cancers and why their ability to “change form” makes them particularly dangerous.
A non-traditional path into science
From archaeology and zoology to teaching middle school math and science, Liz shares how curiosity—and not a straight line—ultimately led her to molecular biology, cancer research, and a PhD.
Choosing pediatric cancer research
Liz explains why she decided to focus on rare childhood cancers that receive less funding but have devastating outcomes—and how personal experiences with cancer shaped that decision.
Science close to the patient
We discuss the importance (and rarity) of researchers interacting directly with patients, families, and clinicians—and how those experiences fundamentally change how science is done.
Life after the PhD: postdocs, fellowships, and moving to the UK
Liz shares what it’s like to finish a PhD, move countries, start a new research position, and navigate life and work during a major transition.
Being your whole self in STEM
From makeup and music to mental health and social media, Liz talks about rejecting outdated stereotypes of what scientists “should” look like—and why authenticity matters for the next generation.
Representation, mentorship, and science communication
Liz reflects on why visibility matters, especially for women and first-generation students, and how platforms like social media can help make science more accessible and human.
A Conversation About More Than Science
This episode goes beyond lab work and credentials. It’s a candid conversation about grief, resilience, identity, and the responsibility scientists carry—not just to discovery, but to people. Liz’s story is a powerful reminder that STEM careers don’t require fitting into a mold—and that compassion belongs in science.
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In this episode, Kathy sits down with Vinayasri Nidadavolu, a specialist engineer in offshore wind energy at Siemens Energy. Vinaya’s story spans continents, megawatts, and life stages — from earning a rare degree in wind engineering to climbing offshore turbines hundreds of kilometers out at sea, and now navigating her career as a new mother.
Vinaya takes us inside the fascinating world of offshore wind turbines — explaining how today’s turbines have grown from 2–3 megawatts to an astonishing 14–15 megawatts, and what it actually looks like to work on machines that can produce enough energy for two households with a single blade rotation.
We talk about what it really takes to work offshore: the extensive safety and survival training, life aboard service vessels for weeks at a time, and what it feels like to climb, ride lifts, and work inside turbines that are now larger than many apartments. Vinaya shares vivid details about the physical, mental, and emotional demands of the job — and why she still considers it the best career decision she’s ever made.
The conversation also explores Vinaya’s path into engineering, beginning with childhood curiosity and fixing broken appliances, through being the only woman in her mechanical engineering class, to choosing sustainability and renewable energy as her long-term focus. Her story is a powerful reminder that representation matters — and that girls belong everywhere curiosity leads them.
As a new mom, Vinaya reflects on balancing motherhood with a demanding technical career, why she chose not to “compromise herself” professionally, and how leading by example matters more than ever. Her reflections on identity, resilience, and modeling possibility for the next generation are honest, thoughtful, and deeply relatable.
In the Ask the (Not) Expert segment, Vinaya shares practical, no-nonsense advice on how to ask for a raise — especially for women — emphasizing documentation, advocacy, and the importance of asking more than once.
We wrap up with rapid-fire questions that touch on self-care (never underestimate a single cup of coffee), courage, and why Vinaya believes her own life story may one day become her favorite STEM “book.”
This is a wide-ranging, inspiring conversation about engineering at scale, renewable energy, confidence, and choosing not to shrink — even when life changes.
Topics We Cover:
What offshore wind engineers actually do
How wind turbines have evolved from 2 MW to 15 MW
Life, safety training, and work on offshore service vessels
The physical reality of climbing and working inside turbines
Choosing sustainability and renewable energy as a career path
Being the only woman in the room — and staying anyway
Motherhood, identity, and not compromising your career
How (and why) to ask for a raise
Leading by example for the next generation of girls in STEM
Music by Kay Paulus

In this episode, Kathy and Linda LaTourelle sit down with Linda Rhodes, a former large-animal veterinarian, pharmaceutical executive, entrepreneur, and author, to explore an extraordinary career path rooted in agriculture, science, and perseverance.
Linda shares her journey from being one of the few women working as a large-animal veterinarian to building a groundbreaking career in veterinary pharmaceuticals, biotech startups, and executive leadership. Along the way, she reflects honestly on the realities of being a pioneer in a male-dominated field, the personal tradeoffs that come with ambitious careers, and the importance of making intentional choices — even when there’s no clear roadmap.
This conversation dives into what really counts as STEM, why agriculture and veterinary medicine belong in the STEM conversation, and how women can redefine success on their own terms at every stage of life.
🌾 What We Talk About in This Episode
Why veterinary medicine and agriculture are often overlooked as STEM careers
Being one of the first women in large-animal veterinary medicine
Learning to balance — and sometimes choose between — career, relationships, and personal fulfillment
Writing Breaking the Barnyard Barrier and transitioning from scientific to narrative writing
Navigating male-dominated spaces in biotech, pharmaceuticals, and venture capital
Starting, scaling, and selling a successful animal health company
Why career paths don’t have to be linear — and often shouldn’t be
Advice for early-career professionals trying to figure out what they actually want to do
Redefining success, freedom, and fulfillment later in life
Breaking the Barnyard Barrier by Linda Rhodes
👉 Purchase the book on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Barnyard-Barrier-Woman-Veterinarian/dp/1647792355
👉 Purchase the book on Barnes and Noble here: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/breaking-the-barnyard-barrier-linda-rhodes/1147476620?ean=9781647792350
💡 Ask the (Not) Experts – Listener Question
“How do I find a career that I’ll like?”
Linda, Kathy, and Linda LaTourelle reflect on why it’s okay — and often necessary — to try different paths, reassess over time, and pay attention to what doesn’t fit just as much as what does.
✨ Favorite Moments
The moment Linda first realized she could be a veterinarian
A candid discussion about the pressure women feel to “do it all”
Why some of the most fulfilling decades of life can come later than expected
Have a question for Ask the (Not) Experts or want to say hello?
📧 Email us at ordinarilyextraordinarypod@gmail.com

🎙️ Or leave us a voicemail at ordinarilyextraordinary.com
Music by Kay Paulus

In this episode, Kathy sits down with Christine Hollis, the Chief Talent and Diversity Officer at Marshall Gerstein & Borun — one of the top intellectual property law firms in the U.S. Christine brings a fresh, energetic perspective to the often-misunderstood world of patent law and STEM-driven legal careers.
Together, they explore what intellectual property (IP) law really is, how STEM professionals are critical to patent work, and why careers like technical specialist, patent agent, and IP attorney can be incredibly dynamic, creative, and rewarding. Christine also opens up about her winding path from aspiring physician to industrial/organizational psychologist to talent leader in IP law.
This conversation is uplifting, surprising, and packed with insights on innovation, communication skills, resilience, and the future of STEM in law.
Topics We Cover
What intellectual property (IP) law actually is — and what it isn’t
How scientists, engineers, and STEM grads power patent work
The differences between technical specialists, patent agents, and patent attorneys
How patent agents can take the patent bar without a law degree
What prosecution means in the patent world
How to know when to contact a patent attorney about an idea
Why communication skills matter as much as technical skills
Diversity in IP law and building a more inclusive STEM-to-law pipeline
How remote work has shifted resilience, social skills, and workplace culture
Christine’s path from psychology to legal talent leadership
Why patent law is “like Disneyland” for people who love innovation
Key Messages
STEM backgrounds are incredibly versatile. Engineers and scientists aren’t limited to labs — they can build long, impactful careers in patent law and innovation strategy.
You don’t need a JD to work in patent law. Patent agents can draft and prosecute patents with only the patent bar + STEM expertise.
Communication is a superpower. The ability to translate complex science into everyday language is essential everywhere — especially in IP.
Career paths can be nonlinear and still land exactly where you belong. Christine’s story is a great example.
Humans need connection. Christine’s insights on resilience, mental health, and post-pandemic social shifts apply far beyond law.
About Our Guest
Christine Hollis is the Chief Talent & Diversity Officer at Marshall Gerstein & Borun LLP in Chicago. She leads recruiting, professional development, DEI strategy, and organizational culture for a firm filled with engineers, scientists, and attorneys working at the forefront of innovation. Christine has a master’s degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology and has built a career helping technical professionals thrive in people-first workplaces.
Links & Resources
Marshall Gerstein & Borun LLP: https://www.marshallip.com
Patent Pending Speakeasy in NYC:  https://www.patentpendingnyc.com/
Connect With Us
Podcast Website: https://www.ordinarily-extraordinary.com
Email: ordinarilyextraordinarypod@gmail.com
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Music by Kay Paulus