Welcome to Talent Unseen!
In this edition of Talent Unseen, I am excited to share the journey of Holly Pascal, the visionary founder of Women’s Aerospace Network and a true inspiration to many in tech. As a NASA engineer and author of “The College to Dream Job Blueprint.” Holly has broken barriers and paved the way for aspiring aerospace professionals.
Limitless Vision: Journey of a Women Founder
Holly Pascal, founder of Women’s Aerospace Network, shared, “Her unstoppable mission began in the early January of 2024. She was overwhelmed with the community growing by leaps and bounds. When they launched the Women’s Space Awards, she didn’t anticipate a large turnout, given that it was a new initiative. However, they concluded with over 150 nominees and received more than 25,000 votes from across 35 countries.”
She also specifies the need in the aerospace industry for amplifying the voices and providing a platform to highlight the trailblazers in the field.
Dwelling out of Comfort Zone: Route to NASA
Holly reflected on her journey to NASA, sharing that she struggled to find a job that truly excited her. At times, she felt that all the hard work she put into school wasn’t worth it. This drove her to become a role model, inspiring countless women by stepping into the spotlight herself.
She pushed her limits, dedicating time to developing strategies for optimizing her resume, applying to various jobs, and researching exactly what employers were looking for. She also focused on enhancing her personal brand. Her efforts paid off, and within six months of her carefully planned decisions, she was offered a position that truly excited her.
Holly Pascal’s hard work paid off when she was invited as the chief guest speaker at her university, addressing thousands of students. Her passion and dedication have led to truly exceptional achievements, time and time again.
Author of Tomorrow: College to Dream Job Blueprint’s Story
Holly Pascal, author of College to Dream Job Blueprint, shares the exact strategies that helped her land a position at NASA, making them accessible to students everywhere. Passionate about giving back, she dedicates much of her time to mentoring, helping college students build stable careers, and guiding those driven by their own passions. Holly has mentored countless students and remains deeply grateful to her own mentors, who have been unwavering supporters along her journey.
Nominations of the Women’s Aerospace Network:
The 2024 Women’s Awards feature a variety of nomination categories, celebrating exceptional achievements across multiple fields. The categories include Leadership, Business, Education & Outreach, Entrepreneurship, Medicine & Health, Pioneer, Science & Innovation, and Student Leadership. The Student Leadership category specifically honors students who are making a positive impact on society.
The next round of nominations will take place in spring 2025. This year, there were numerous nominations from NASA engineers, including Pam Melroy, Vanessa Wyche, Georgina Goode, Amelia Wolf, Shawnya Pandya, Roxy Williams, etc.
Never turned her way: NASA System Engineer
Holly Pascal shared that there are various paths to joining NASA. Some of these paths include working for companies like ASRC Federal and L3 Harris, which contract with NASA. She began her journey in a contractor role before transitioning to the customer side.
Holly recalled, “I worked for one of the components at NASA, where I exceeded expectations, which ultimately led to my role as a systems engineer at NASA.”
Challenges in building the Women’s Aerospace Network:
When asked about the challenges she faced while building the Women’s Aerospace Network, Holly Pascal remarked that all the mistakes she made were instrumental in her growth. She learned from her mistakes every day.
Target Audience: Power of her innovation
When asked about the target audience for her startup, Holly shared, “60% of our audience consists of aerospace professionals, while 40% are students.”
Surpassing Dreams: The Transformative Power of Writing
Holly Pascal shared, “Writing is incredibly difficult. I never realized that before; it requires a significant amount of time and commitment. However, it is one of the most valuable things we can do.” She drew inspiration from Dorie Clark, the author of Entrepreneurial You, who inspired her to elevate her personal brand. Holly’s statement, “Through our words, we can pass on knowledge,” is truly inspirational.
Long-Term Goal: Women’s Aerospace Network
Holly Pascal shared, “The goal of the Women’s Aerospace Network is to ignite a passion for aerospace among everyone. The voices of trailblazers should resonate throughout society.” Her mission is to create a positive impact on the world. Recently, she launched Women’s Aerospace Magazine, furthering her commitment to the field. Holly aims to leave a legacy that moves mountains and fosters a safe, enjoyable environment for future generations.
Motivational Insights: Inspiration for the Next Generation
Holly Pascal shared, “College students often experience imposter syndrome. It can be challenging when it seems like everyone else is solving problems and you’re not the fastest in the room. This can lead to feelings of self-doubt and the belief that you’re not the best. Students need to remind themselves that they are ‘unique’ and that what they bring to the table is incredible. Always remember to provide your value.”
From Idea to Impact: Mentoring Startups Through Change
Holly Pascal shared that she advises several startups. One of the toughest aspects is learning to detach yourself from your vision of what the company should be. Ultimately, it is the value that the company provides to its customers that matters most. They are the ones who steer the organization, expressing what they want and how they envision the network taking shape. If decisions are based solely on personal perspectives, the company may struggle to gain traction.
Seize the Day: Actionable Advice for Women
You have the opportunity to stand out and network with professionals. Every inch you crawl out of your comfort zone brings you closer to your passion, allowing you to leverage it to your advantage. She also shared that writing serves as an outlet for expressing her inner thoughts and emotions that are deeply rooted within her.
One word about Holly Pascal’s life: Driven
One word about Holly Pascal’s startup journey: Fun
Learnings from Holly Pascal’s conversation:
In this section, I reflect on our conversation to assist other students. My favorite part of our discussion was when Holly Pascal said, “Writing is tough, but it leaves a lasting impact even after we are dead.” Despite the struggles and challenges she faced, Holly is dedicated to helping the trailblazers of the aerospace community. Students can benefit from her The College to Dream Job Blueprint, which offers various techniques for effective job search strategies.
Stay tuned as we continue to uncover more stories from diverse startup founders. Until the next edition of the Talent Unseen blog, keep striving for your dreams and exploring the endless possibilities that await.