Her Story
About Akansha
My love for food led me to chemistry in the most unexpected way. I was fascinated by Heston Blumenthal, a British chef who sits on the Royal Society of Chemistry board and runs his kitchen like a laboratory. That intersection of culinary art and science shook me alive and inspired me to pursue chemistry through my bachelor's, master's, and ultimately my PhD, which I completed in May 2025. I've been in the pharmaceutical industry on and off since 2017, and I started my current pharmaceutical journey in January. As an analytical chemist specializing in separation science, I work with the fundamental building blocks of pharmaceutical compounds. Think of it like a Starbucks coffee - it has coffee, milk, water, and I can separate those components and tell you exactly how much of each is present. I do the same thing with pharmaceutical drugs. I work for a generic pharmaceutical company where my days start around 7:30-8:00 AM and often don't end until 8:00 PM. I'm constantly in the lab designing R&D experiments for different medications, including ADHD treatments. The challenges are endless because we're always trying to create something new and better, improve what already exists, or make medications more affordable for people. I'm proud that I'm putting my PhD degree to good use and helping out in the healthcare system by making treatments more accessible to consumers.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Akansha
01What do you attribute your success to?
Honestly, I think my parents are the biggest reason for my success. They exposed me to so many things and never stopped me - sky's the limit, right? They never said no to me learning new things or experimenting, so that support at an early age really pushes you to push yourself. That foundation and encouragement were always there for me. I also have to credit my mentors who have guided me along the way. Having that support system from both my parents and mentors has been instrumental in getting me to where I am today.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I know it's a cliche thing, but I would say that you are your biggest competitor, support system, and encourager. If you set your mind to it, you can do it. And do your research - it is always good to ask questions. If you're entering something new, then it's always good to ask 10 people that you think are experts in it, right? That gives you different perspectives. But most importantly, surround yourself with the right people. I think I learned that the hard way, so choosing who you have around you really matters.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The challenges could be endless, because you're always trying to create something new and better and improve the existing. And that's also challenging, because you want to do more and it never stops. My day literally - I'm still in the lab, and I don't think I'm going home until 8. We're always in that experiment mode, where we're trying to make something unique, or improve the existing, or make things more affordable for people. The work is constant and demanding, but it's driven by the goal of innovation and accessibility in pharmaceutical development.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I would say integrity and transparency are most important to me. And being kind - it goes a long way, because somebody else can be in your shoes at some point, or you can be in that other person's shoes. Having that kindness really matters. I'm also a very goofy person, so I keep people engaged and try to bring lightness to what I do. These values of honesty, transparency, kindness, and not taking yourself too seriously guide both my professional and personal life.
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