Aishwarya Kundu

I attribute my success to turning adversities into advantages. From a very high level, that's what I have really worked for throughout my time here and before I came to the U.S. Adversities are an inevitable reality in life, but how we deal with them and how we turn them in our favor is a choice, a conscious decision that we make. When I came to Berkeley as an international student without a stipend, I had to teach my way through, but I turned those hardships around in my favor and earned the Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor Award. I have always maintained an unwavering focus on my dream to build a career and life in the U.S., chasing the opportunity to realize my full self without judgment and do impactful science. This ability to transform challenges into opportunities is something I want my children to learn from my life, and it's a principle I continue to practice every day.

For someone entering into academia and research, I would say they should be fueled by their own dream and be ready to lay their own path that will be unique to them, because it is a path that leads to their unique story. They should not be blinded or distracted by worldly noise, because they are on their own path. Perseverance, honesty, and vision are very, very critical as people enter into academia. For those going down the professor tenure track, it is super hard and super competitive, and sometimes not as well remunerated compared to industry. But people in academia should realize and understand that they are fueled by a fuel of a very different nature. They have the power to impact future generations. It's not just technology or a drug. They have the power and influence over the future of the human species, which is very different from industry where we chase tangible goals. If they remember that they have the power and influence over the future of the world, other distractions will not derail them. That's a great fuel to keep them going.

Kindness is the most important value to me, and I believe it should be considered a merit in today's world. It is so underestimated, but in leadership, kindness should be a driving force. True leaders bring kindness as a priceless, invisible asset to the table, and especially for women in leadership positions, the ability to be kind to each other and to people reporting to you is very mission critical. My leadership style has always been to lead by example and empathy. I always try to get to know the people behind the face and their resumes, understanding who they are as a person, their family background, and their outlook on life. This human element and knowing a little bit more about the person who is your colleague has helped tremendously in decision making, collaboration, and talent retention. The three E's of good leadership to me are example, empathy, and empowerment. Beyond work, motherhood has been my biggest teacher and most empowering experience. It has given me a rare courage where I'm so powered and fueled by my love for my children that I'm unafraid of walking paths I would have previously shunned. I want to live my life as an example for them so they understand that their definition of who they are is just dependent on them, not what the world tells them. I want them to unbox themselves and find their true potential without being limited by societal standards and expectations.