Kalaimathee Narasimhan

I attribute my success to grit. One of the things that helped me most to be successful is finding people who believe in you, people who say you have something to bring to the table. That comes from networking, and I network extensively. I go to people even if I don't know them, and especially when somebody's standing alone, not fitting in, whether young or old, it doesn't matter. I'm always connecting with them, and you realize this person is actually very shy and brings a lot to the table. So networking is critical for success. You need to strengthen your credentials and learn how to network. You need to make sure your space is not violated, and as a woman, that is a challenge. The prettier you are, the more challenges you will have. I remember a faculty member before I started as faculty who said, how can she be smart if she's pretty? And I'm like, what has that one got to do with the other? You mind your own personal space, but make sure your credentials are strong, you learn to network, and find what you're passionate about. My network, because of my international presence on either side of the pond and my activity among Asian scientists as well as European scientists, now spans over 90 countries.

The best career advice I ever received was to find what you're passionate about, and then nobody will feel like you're working hard. I always tell my students that everyone has to find their passion, and once you find it, you know, it's not work after that. It's just what you do naturally.

Whatever field they enter, whether it's my field or any field, just dive deep. Make sure you know your stuff, and don't let anybody question whether you really know it or don't know it. If I enter or start a particular project, I want to dig deep and find everything about it so that I know where I'm going. If you don't know where you come from, you will not know where you're going. So I would say, find what you're passionate about, dive deep into it, really understand the arena. And then, dare to be different. Don't follow the crowd. You make a mark by being different.

The biggest challenge is that we have come a long way, but as a woman, you're always constantly faced with a challenge to do twice as hard to get half as much, and that is still true even today. But at the same time, the opportunities exist if you be yourself, and have the grit, and be honest, and have enough emotional IQ. People will find you someone they can look up to, so I see opportunities as a woman because you bring a new angle, a new perspective. I think my new perspectives come from the plethora of people, cultures, and communities I'm constantly exposed to, and every one of them makes my life richer, and everyone I interact with makes my life richer and makes me who I am, what I am. Find a spouse or a partner who believes in you, who champions you along with you, and that also can help. Otherwise, stay single.

Honesty, transparency, and accuracy are most important to me. I'm very particular that we stay true to the truth. You do not tell lies because if you tell a lie, you need 10 more lies to cover the lie. So however it hurts, be honest. I believe in transparency and truthfulness, and tireless commitment to justice. I like to focus on bringing stories of unsung women and unsung heroines. You need to focus on that. It's hard to earn trust, so if you are always truthful, trust comes along. I think it's the triple T: truth, transparency, and trust.