Akshata Mayekar

I have to give that to a multitude of mentors that I have come across from beginning my career to where I am right now. I have had my immediate supervisors and my coworkers who have been an absolute support system for me. My first biggest mentor is Nancy Han, my closest friend from the New York City office. Then Chris Colford and Brian Carroll, who have taught me it's okay to make a mistake as long as you have a solution and have invested in my professional and personal development.

Science and technology is an amazing field if you love science. It's scary because people tell you it's a male-dominated industry, but a lot of women are breaking those barriers every day. If anyone says you have to act like a man to be in the field, don't listen to them. Be yourself, as polite as you can, and still earn their respect. I'm learning every day how to be my authentic self and still come out of the room without having to be the macho person.

As a woman progressing in careers, there are challenges like playing different roles, and once you become a mother, you may need to pivot and it might delay your leadership journey. The lack of support sometimes is a challenge. On the opportunities side, as a woman you see things with a different perspective and can bring a fresh perspective and different ideas, and talking about your feelings can help connect with clients better.

Being authentic, being my true self to my work, personal life, and family. Also being nimble because the field is so dynamic and constant change happens, so learning to adapt as we go. One big thing I've learned is that I don't always have to be right.