Innovation Beyond the Script
How breaking free from societal expectations led to unexpected success and personal fulfillment.
The Courage to Choose
“You are throwing your future away.”
That was the prevailing reaction 13 years ago when I decided to abandon a secure path in engineering to pursue social science.
For many Iranian families, the path to success is narrowly defined. From an early age, societal expectations often push students toward two primary careers: engineering or medicine. Art, literature, and the social sciences are frequently dismissed as lacking financial stability or long-term potential.
Growing up, I faced that exact pressure from my father and society. Guided by external expectations, I sat for the Konkur, Iran’s highly competitive national university entrance exam, and secured a place in an engineering program.
But after my second semester, I came to a quiet realization: I was following a script written by someone else.
I made the controversial decision to leave the program, study again, and retake the entrance exam so I could pursue social science. To many people around me, it seemed reckless—as if I were deliberately sacrificing my future.
Yet making my own decision, even if it had turned out to be wrong, was far better than following the “right” decision someone else had made for me.
Stepping off that pre-approved path remains one of the best choices I have ever made.
Breaking the Mold
Years later, after moving to the United States and earning my Ph.D. in Quantitative Sociology, I encountered a different version of the same conventional wisdom.
The expectation was clear: Someone with a doctorate must remain strictly within traditional academic research or conventional sociological roles.
To me, education is a tool for innovation and expansion—not a cage.
Innovation comes from breaking through barriers and challenging the socially accepted comfort zone. Instead of staying within a predictable career model, I stepped into entrepreneurship and founded Hadis-Studio, an art technology company that builds specialized generative AI models to help galleries prototype commissioned artwork.
Building a business at the intersection of social science, art, and technology did not fit a standard narrative, but it drew directly upon the analytical rigor, self-reliance, and discipline I had cultivated through years of study.
Taking Ownership of Your Trajectory
When navigating new environments—whether as an immigrant, a female founder in tech, or someone bridging distinct fields—you quickly realize that conventional pathways are rarely designed for unique visions.
Waiting for permission, perfect conditions, or external validation only delays progress.
Not only must you accept your own agency, but you must use it to your advantage. No matter who gives you advice or what society tells you, ultimately, you are responsible for your choices.
Your decisions impact your life—not theirs.
Empowerment comes from taking full accountability for your path, trusting your unique combination of skills, and relying on merit and hard work to create the opportunities you want to see.
You pick your path.
Own your choices. Embrace the risks. And do what you know is right for you.
