Fairygodboss Women in Technology

GIRL POWER!!!!!! LOVE THIS

I love "paying it forward' to talented women all around me at Johnson & Johnson - a simple compliment or 'shout out' at a meeting or town hall goes such a long way to 'shine the light' on talented women/colleagues. Key takeaway: PAY IT FORWARD!

Q: What advise would you give to a woman wanting to pursue a career in STEM2D? A: First, which everyone has probably heard before, is to find female mentors. Talk to them about what you want for your career and how to get there. You need women that believe in you but aren’t afraid to tell you how to do better. Second, don’t compare yourself to others. We are the best versions of ourselves when motivated from within.

Q: What do you see as the biggest challenge for women in STEM2D and how have you overcome that? A: A big challenge is being around and addressing those who do not acknowledge gender inequalities. To overcome this, I’ve done my best to stay educated on the topic. This prevents gaslighting and helps me stay true to my beliefs and experiences

Q: Looking back at your career, what are you most proud of? A: At the beginning of both grad school and my postdoc, I was in a situation where there was little to no existing peer leadership or structure in the group I had joined. This gave me a big role in developing the culture of these young and growing groups. I’m proud to have helped create environments that emphasize camaraderie, transparency, and scientific excellence.

Q: Why do you believe it’s important to have more women working in STEM2D? A: Women in STEM2D are an example of success to other women who may need persuading that they, too, can overcome the challenges in a STEM2D career. As more women join these fields it will be the norm, rather than an insurmountable obstacle, to achieve personal goals while smashing through the glass ceiling. The ultimate goal, of course, is to dismantle the ceiling; to ensure that no one, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation, is consciously or unconsciously suppressed in the pursuit of a career in STEM2D. And I think it starts with getting more women in these fields.

Q: Looking back what or who inspired you to pursue a STEM2D career? A: A lot of my family is in STEM. My dad is an engineer, my mom is an actuary, and my older sister is an engineer as well. I was heavily influenced by this and pursued an engineering degree in undergrad. While there, I discovered that my favorite classes and research projects were healthcare-related fields of STEM2D, like biochemistry, biology, and oncology, which is what led me to pursue Chemical & Biological Engineering in grad school. My PhD adviser is passionate about science and mentoring, and even though it was not the focus of her lab, supported my interest in cancer biology. She became a strong female role model for me in science and in life, and gave me the confidence that I could succeed in STEM2D.

Q:Please share your current role and career path in J&J A: I am a Postdoctoral Fellow in Janssen Biotherapeutics, researching how we can use large molecule drugs to modulate the immune system to treat cancer and autoimmunity. I began at J&J nearly two years ago after earning a PhD in Chemical & Biological Engineering at Princeton University.