What does it mean to grow up in a world that told you who you should be — and then choose to become yourself anyway?
In this episode, Hlulani sits down with Cécile Deprez, a scientific researcher at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) working on Europe’s next-generation satellite systems. Cécile shares their journey from a childhood shaped by gender expectations in Belgium to a career designing the future of space navigation.
They talk about breaking free from patriarchal norms, navigating queerness and neurodivergence in STEM, and finding belonging in spaces that weren’t built for them.
This conversation is tender, honest, and deeply human — a reminder that self-acceptance can be the most radical act of all.
✅ Growing up under rigid gender expectations
✅ Finding the courage to study science despite fear
✅ From geomatics to Galileo: how satellite systems shape our world
✅ Why Cécile left their PhD to protect their mental health
✅ Building inclusive workplaces and Employee Resource Groups that truly support people
✅ Challenging the “colonizing space” narrative and re-imagining exploration
✅ What real diversity and belonging look like in tech
“Belonging is not a slogan. It’s a practice.” — Cécile Deprez
Listen now on your favorite podcast platform.
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