Can you share your journey into a STEM career? What initially drew you to this field, and how did you navigate your pathway into it?

I knew very early that I wanted to be a physician, as I knew I wanted to be in a profession that helped people. Growing up in India one had to apply to medical school when you were in high school, and had to sit for a competitive examination to get in. I was very focused and spent an entire year just studying for those examinations. I moved to the US once I finished medical school and wanted to get into an OB/Gyn residency which was not easy to get into. In order to become a competitive candidate, I spent time doing research in a lab and got to know the faculty of the OB/ Gyn program at Yale. Eventually I was able to get into the Ob/ Gyn residency at Yale, which opened a lot of doors for me. I went onto doing a fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and infertility at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre / Harvard Medical School program. I practiced as an Infertility specialist in both private and academic settings for over 20 years. When this opportunity with Ferring came I decided to move to industry as I felt I had a chance to make an impact on a larger scale than I did as a physician.

Have you had a mentor or role model who influenced your career trajectory? How important do you think mentorship is for women in STEM?

I did have mentors, role models at different stages of my training/ career. It is important at each stage to have someone more experienced who can guide you, and I don’t think that it is only for women.

As a woman in STEM, have you encountered any challenges or barriers along your career path? How did you overcome them?

Yes, there are challenges as a woman due to other responsibilities which we have to deal with. One has to decide what compromises to make and at what cost. It is important to have open lines of communications and good relations with your bosses who can help you reach your full potential.

 What are key skills or qualities that you believe have contributed to success in your career? How can aspiring professionals develop these or similar skills?

Perseverance, hardworking, ability to get along with others, being a good listener, always learning and educating oneself to keep up with what is going on in the field, being an authority and expert in your area of work.

What advice would you give to young women who are aspiring to pursue careers in STEM fields?

Be focused on what you want to do, and don’t be afraid to put in the hard work to become the expert in your field. Don’t underestimate yourself and be intimidated by others. Seek out mentors at each stage who can guide you.