Q&As

Creative thinking is central to complex problem solving so make sure you don’t leave your creativity at the door!

It's not that people don't believe in your value or don't see your worth. Your resilience, intelligence and kindness will intimidate some people.

Follow your passions, trust your gut and don’t ever doubt your contributions, as everything you have to offer is valuable and unique!

You don’t have to be Einstein’s cousin to do science subjects. All you need is a knack for asking questions, thinking about how to solve problems, and perseverance. That’s the same for any job really – stick with it and you will get there.

While I think it’s important to find a field that interests you, it’s equally important that you explore those skills in different environments. What might work for some might not work for you, and that’s okay!

Build up a support crew of people that will stand by you and encourage you, people who will lovingly let you know when you’re wrong, people who look nothing like you and people who have different life experiences to you.

Believing in yourself is so important, and if you have a question in class, always just ask. You can guarantee someone else will be wondering the same thing.

The path is not necessarily a straight one, and a diverse set of experiences is your best tool for excellent problem-solving in the future.

I find it’s really helpful to remember WHY you want to do what you want to do. Why do you love science? Why do you want to achieve that particular goal? If you remember the ‘why’, that will motivate you to keep going and smashing those challenges!

It's ok to fail, and it's ok to get discouraged. Those are normal things, especially for students in STEM. I've found that the most important thing is to keep reminding yourself why you're doing this.

I'm super passionate about the environment and the problems of climate change, biodiversity loss and poverty facing our world.

It’s okay not knowing what you want to do or what you’re good at, but never let the feeling of ‘not knowing’ stop you from trying new things. You never know what you could discover.

Looking back, I can now see that a lot of my choices were, in many ways, unusual. For example, I was the first in my family to be interested in studying computer science. I was also the first to want to pursue my bachelors abroad. In high school, I decided to take the ‘path less travelled’.

You know more than you think you do and you’re more capable than you believe. If it doesn’t feel that way it's only because others underestimate you. Other women aren’t your competition either — they are your allies. Help each other, support each other, and lift each other up. Success isn’t a zero-sum game. You’ll also find yourself making good friends along the way!

My only goal is to make sure whatever I am doing is helpful and useful, and I am sharing my skills and knowledge to help others do what I do.

Be bold in what you wish for, and don't be afraid to ask for it... you'll need to work hard towards your dreams, but it is equally important to get help along the way.

I loved maths in school, but I wasn’t sure what kind of job I could get with that. I wanted an exciting job but, in my mind, everything related to maths sounded so boring. When I finished high school, I didn’t know what to study – I thought engineering was only about big machines and working in a man’s world.

Commit to learning and reflecting on what energises and drains you. Developing a strong sense of self, and finding the intersection of the things you’re good at, the things you enjoy doing, and the things the world needs and will pay you for will keep your skillset adaptable and future ready.