The 5 Keys to Your Potential
An actionable guide for women in STEM
Christina Brugger
Description
Feeling undervalued and frustrated despite your hard work in a male-dominated environment? You’re not alone.
Many talented women end up leaving the industry and the job they once loved (and studied hard for) because it demands too much struggle to prove their value and does not offer them enough growth and opportunities.
In The 5 Keys to Your Potential, Christina Brugger shares science-backed insights and proven approaches for building authentic confidence and achieving success as a woman in male-dominated spaces.
Understanding the science behind the 5 keys – confidence, resilience, power, authenticity and care – puts you in control. By uncovering why being undervalued and overlooked happens in the first place, you can free yourself from self-blame and make changes that last – without having to wait for your company to catch up!
As a chartered engineer and senior product leader with over a decade of experience in manufacturing, engineering and technology, Christina Brugger deeply understands the challenges women face in male-dominated industries. Her Keys to Impact Academy helps women maximise their impact and advance in their career.
Endorsements
‘A refreshingly practical and deeply empathetic guide for women navigating male-dominated industries.’ – Alex Gold, Customer Success Manager at GoCardless
‘Required reading for organizations, leaders and individuals who want to understand what it means to create a workplace where everyone can fulfil their potential.’ – Andrea Dermody, Programme Director at Balance for Better Business
‘A brilliant resource, not just for women but also allies in STEM looking for ways they can support their female colleagues.’ – Alex Knight, MBE CEng FIMechE FWES
Contents
Introduction
Key #1: Confidence
Chapter 1: Overcoming your inner critic and fears
Chapter 2: Dealing with intimidating power and imposter thoughts
Chapter 3: Sharing your successes and presenting your work
Key #2: Resilience
Chapter 4: Dealing with the authority gap
Chapter 5: Tackling and responding to stereotypes
Chapter 6: Embracing conflict and disagreement
Key #3: Power
Chapter 7: Speaking and moving with power
Chapter 8: Analysing and shifting power dynamics
Chapter 9: Power mapping and finding sponsors
Key #4: Authenticity
Chapter 10: Asserting yourself without aggression
Chapter 11: Embracing vulnerability and mistakes
Chapter 12: Leading with your own unique style
Key #5: Care
Chapter 13: Leading inclusively
Chapter 14: Believing in others
Chapter 15: Sponsoring others
Conclusion: Best practice for using your keys
Editions
FORMAT / ISBN / PUBLICATION DATE / RRP
Hardback / 9781788609357 / May 26, 2026 / £24.99
Paperback / 9781788609364 / May 26, 2026 / £15.99
Ebook / 9781788609371 / May 25, 2026 / £7.99
Paperback and eBook Bundle / £17.99
Authors
Christina Brugger
As a chartered engineer and product leader with a decade of experience in manufacturing, engineering and tech, Christina Brugger has navigated the unique challenges women face in STEM industries. Her career spans senior roles including Venture Development Director at a tech scaleup and Head of Digital & Insights at a manufacturing company. Today, she runs a product and market insights consultancy advising similar businesses.
Drawing from her own experiences, Christina founded Keys to Impact Academy, delivering coaching and workshops to help women build authentic influence and progress. Her clients include women at organisations like Arup, AWS and GoCardless. Her work was recognised through inclusion in the Top 50 Women in Engineering 2025.
Christina is a founding member of Chief UK and cluster lead at the Women’s Engineering Society. She regularly facilitates workshops for engineering and tech corporations and writes a weekly newsletter for women in STEM to amplify their impact.
