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

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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

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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
• Voicemail: Leave a message directly on our website!
• Follow & Review: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform

Your ratings and shares help amplify women’s voices in STEM. Thank you for listening and supporting our mission!

Music by Kay Paulus

Support the show