Empowered women in STEM demonstrate self-leadership, driving innovation and achieving strategic success. (Illustrative AI-generated image).
- The ‘wobble’ experienced by women in STEM is a sign of lacking a strong internal foundation, not personal weakness.
- True leadership begins with self-leadership: understanding your values, strengths, and purpose before leading others.
- Expand your career goals without fear, setting ambitious targets aligned with your core foundation.
- Act with confidence by staying connected to your values and trusting your ability to navigate challenges.
- Practical application includes daily grounding practices, setting personal goals, seeking mentorship, and celebrating small wins.
- Building a strong internal foundation is crucial for sustained leadership and preventing burnout in STEM fields.
The Wobble: Why Leaning In Without Roots Fails
You know the feeling. You are in a lab meeting, or perhaps presenting your research at a conference. Someone tells you to “lean in” – take more space, speak up, go for that promotion. But internally, you feel unsteady. Your instincts signal that something is off.
This wobble is real. It is not a sign of weakness or unpreparedness. It indicates you are being asked to lean without a solid foundation. Without strong roots, leaning too far risks a fall. You don’t lead; you wobble.
This is the core message from Anna Frebel, a German professor and author with a PhD from MIT. She studies the universe’s oldest stars but also examines how women in STEM can lead without losing their footing. Her advice, published by the Society of Women Engineers in March 2026, is titled “The Rooted Leader: Self-Leadership as a Strategic Advantage for Women in STEM.”
Frebel argues that before leading a lab, clinic, or tech organization, you must first lead yourself. This involves building a strong internal foundation: knowing who you are, what you stand for, and where you aim to go. Without this, extensive efforts to “lean in” will be ineffective.
For women in STEM, the pressure to lean in is particularly intense. You often face challenges men do not, such as imposter syndrome, a lack of role models, unconscious bias, and the constant need to prove yourselves. These issues exacerbate the wobble. Frebel’s framework offers a solution: not to lean harder, but to grow deeper roots.
Who Is Anna Frebel? An Astrophysicist Leading the Way
Anna Frebel is not a conventional leadership coach; she is an astrophysicist. Her work involves studying the night sky to understand the universe’s origins, having discovered some of the oldest stars ever found, dating back billions of years.
Frebel’s career at MIT has presented challenges. As a woman in a male-dominated field, she has experienced the same wobble many others feel. However, she found a way to stand firm, realizing that effective leadership is about being grounded, not necessarily loud or aggressive. Like the stable stars she studies, she needed a solid core to shine.
In her article for the Society of Women Engineers, she shares five shifts that helped her transition from wobbling to rooted leadership. These are practical steps applicable to any woman in STEM, from graduate students to senior executives.
The Five Shifts: A Framework for Grounded Self-Leadership
Frebel’s five shifts are designed to help you expand your goals and move forward with confidence. While the full list is in her SWE article, we focus here on three core shifts crucial for women in science and engineering. Each shift builds upon the last, guiding you from self-doubt toward effective self-leadership.
The shifts are:
- Shift 1: Know Your Foundation Before You Lead – Understand your core values, strengths, and purpose.
- Shift 2: Expand Your Goalposts Without Fear – Set ambitious, aligned goals that stretch you while maintaining your grounding.
- Shift 3: Step Forward with Grounding, Not Hesitation – Act with confidence, rooted in your self-awareness and values.
The remaining two shifts, focusing on building networks and embracing authenticity, complete Frebel’s toolkit for rooted leadership.
Shift 1: Know Your Foundation Before You Lead
Effective leadership begins with self-leadership. This requires understanding your foundation: your core values, your key strengths, and your aspirations, both professionally and personally.
Frebel recommends dedicated reflection. Document your answers, consult a mentor, and ask yourself: What makes me feel steady? What depletes my energy? When have I felt most confident? These insights form your roots.
For instance, if collaboration is a core value, a loud, aggressive leadership style will feel unnatural. Instead, you can lead by fostering teamwork. This grounded approach is not weaker; it is simply a different, effective style.
Many women in STEM feel pressured to adopt leadership styles that don’t fit them, often mimicking male colleagues. This is like planting a tree in unsuitable soil – it may survive but won’t thrive. Knowing your foundation allows you to grow authentically.
Shift 2: Expand Your Goalposts Without Fear
Once your foundation is clear, you can begin expanding your goalposts – setting bigger, more ambitious goals that excite you and align with your values, rather than conforming to external expectations.
Fear often hinders women, manifesting as doubts about qualifications, fear of failure, or perceiving ambition as arrogance. Frebel encourages setting these bold goals regardless of fear. You don’t need a precise roadmap; just define the direction.
Consider aiming a telescope: you don’t need to see every star before pointing. A general target is sufficient, with adjustments made along the way. Similarly, set a challenging career goal. Your established foundation will provide stability as you pursue it.
For example, a junior engineer might aim to lead a major project within two years. This goal, while daunting, can be pursued by leveraging known strengths in project management, communication, and technical skills, guided by values like innovation and teamwork. Mistakes are inevitable, but strong roots aid recovery.
Shift 3: Step Forward with Grounding, Not Hesitation
This shift emphasizes action. Many women hesitate, waiting for perfect readiness or second-guessing themselves. Frebel advises against this, urging you to take the step with grounding.
Grounding means staying connected to your foundation. When speaking in meetings, speak from your values. When applying for promotions, do so based on your ability to contribute. When disagreeing, do so respectfully yet firmly.
Hesitation stems from fear, while grounding arises from confidence. True confidence isn’t about having all answers but trusting your ability to find them, a trust built on knowing your foundation.
Imagine presenting research to a skeptical audience. Without grounding, you might become flustered or apologize unnecessarily. With grounding, you present clearly, acknowledge limitations without undermining your work, and stand firm. This is rooted leadership.
Applying These Shifts in Your STEM Environment
These shifts are practical tools for your daily work. Here’s how to apply them:
- Start meetings with a grounding check-in. Ask your team: “What is one thing that grounds you today?” This fosters self-awareness.
- Set personal goals each quarter. Define one goal that expands your horizons and share it with a trusted colleague for accountability.
- Practice grounding before high-stakes situations. Before a major presentation or negotiation, take a few minutes to breathe and reconnect with your core values and priorities.
- Seek a mentor or sponsor. Find someone who can help you recognize and strengthen your own roots. Frebel herself highlights the importance of mentors.
- Acknowledge small victories. Celebrate each instance you step forward with grounding to build momentum and reinforce positive action.
Organizations can also support women by offering leadership development programs focused on self-awareness, creating safe spaces for sharing challenges, and actively reducing bias in promotions and assignments. Healthy environments nurture deeper roots.
Relevance for International Women in Engineering Day
International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) celebrates the achievements of women engineers and inspires future generations. In 2026, the theme #EngineeringIntelligence highlights the need for practical tools to navigate STEM’s unique challenges.
Frebel’s rooted leader framework is a valuable resource, addressing a key reason why many women leave engineering: feeling unsupported and unsteady. This framework provides a path toward more sustainable careers.
On June 23, 2026, the Adafruit blog featured Frebel’s advice as part of #INWED26 and #EngineeringIntelligence, linking her work to broader efforts to close the gender gap in engineering leadership.
Additional resources exist, including those from the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), MIT Physics, and Nature. Global perspectives, such as those from Guardian Nigeria News on impactful women leaders, show this conversation is widespread.
Ultimately, your own foundation and roots are your most important resources. This INWED, reflect on your foundation, how you can lead from a place of grounding, and how you can support other women in doing the same.
Anna Frebel’s study of ancient stars reveals their longevity due to stability. You can cultivate similar stability within yourself through self-leadership. It begins with being rooted.
So, the next time you are encouraged to lean in, first ask yourself: Am I rooted? If not, take a moment to build your foundation. Then, step forward. You will lead with confidence, not wobble.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 'wobble' Anna Frebel describes for women in STEM?
The 'wobble' refers to the feeling of instability or uncertainty women in STEM experience when encouraged to 'lean in' or advance in their careers without a strong internal foundation. It's a sign that external pressures don't align with their internal sense of self.
Why is self-leadership important for women in STEM?
Self-leadership is crucial because it builds the internal foundation needed to navigate the unique challenges women face in STEM, such as imposter syndrome and bias. It ensures that advancement is authentic and sustainable, preventing burnout.
What are Anna Frebel's five shifts for rooted leadership?
Frebel's five shifts are: 1. Know Your Foundation Before You Lead, 2. Expand Your Goalposts Without Fear, 3. Step Forward with Grounding, Not Hesitation, 4. Build Networks with Purpose, and 5. Embrace Authenticity. These guide women toward grounded leadership.
How can I apply the 'Know Your Foundation' shift?
To apply this shift, reflect on your core values, strengths, and aspirations. Ask yourself what makes you feel steady and confident. Documenting these insights helps build a strong internal base for decision-making and leadership.
What does it mean to 'Expand Your Goalposts Without Fear'?
This shift encourages setting ambitious career goals that align with your values, even if they seem daunting. It's about defining a direction and trusting your ability to figure out the path, rather than waiting for perfect conditions or qualifications.
How does grounding help in high-stakes situations?
Grounding connects you to your core values and strengths, providing a stable center during stressful moments like presentations or negotiations. It allows you to act with confidence and clarity, rather than hesitation or fear.
Can organizations help women develop rooted leadership?
Yes, organizations can foster rooted leadership by offering self-awareness-focused development programs, creating safe spaces for women to share challenges, and actively working to reduce bias in promotions and opportunities.
