24/7 BIOPHARMA - issue 1 / October 2024

WOMEN IN SCIENCE

support, advice, and guidance during different stages of our professional journey. However, in the past, I’ve noticed that some senior women may be hesitant to help junior staff due to concerns about how they might be perceived by their peers. This kind of behaviour is often influenced by a company’s culture. Additionally, the strength and helpfulness of a network can vary based on personal factors such as an individual’s position, availability, willingness to support others, previous experiences and opportunities they’ve had. I don’t believe female entrepreneurs are at a disadvantage when it comes to securing funding. I know several female CEOs and CFOs who have successfully secured budgets on their own. However, the key factor often lies in having the right connections. Just as with other opportunities, having a strong network and knowing the right people can have more influence than gender. Unfortunately, this sometimes means that decisions are based on influence and social circles rather than merit. Do you think the Covid-19 pandemic has affected women disproportionately in terms of the unexpected rises in parental childcare and virtual schooling, which fell most heavily on mothers? Is that a general observation seen with women balancing a demanding career with family responsibilities? Although I’m not a parent myself, based on what I’ve seen from my female colleagues and my sister with young children, I would say that Covid-19 disproportionately affected women. Even when working from home, men often claimed they were “working” and didn’t want to be disturbed, whereas women, despite also working, felt the responsibility to manage school tasks, attend parent meetings, and handle other Do you believe it is difficult to secure funding for female entrepreneurs in the pharmaceutical industry? Why is that?

family duties. So, yes, I would agree that women generally struggle more with balancing demanding careers and family responsibilities, and the pandemic only heightened that imbalance. It is also important to recognise that there will be differences in different disciplines. For example, nutrition often has more females than other fields might have. Has that ever been a consideration in your career choices in the pharmaceutical field? No, the gender balance in different fields was never a factor in my career choices. organisations or companies ever been influenced by the gender balance of staff or programs in place that encourage equality, diversity and inclusion? No, I have never made career decisions based on equality, diversity and inclusion policies. My choices have always been driven by the institution’s ability to contribute to my scientific career and research field. Much of the workforce has been working online or WFH for the past couple of years. Have you noticed whether this new way of working has improved or hindered the situation of women in the workplace? I believe that working from home (WFH) is one of the best outcomes from the Covid-19 pandemic. It has shown that many of us can be just as, if not more, productive at home compared to working in an office. While some roles do require being on-site, such as lab work, many tasks – like meetings, data analysis and report generation – can be done remotely. Personally, I find that I’m more focused and productive when working from home, often achieving higher efficiency. For parents, regardless of gender, WFH can sometimes blur the line Likewise, have your choices of academic institutions,

between work and personal life. However, since remote work is now often a choice rather than a necessity, people can better decide what works for their individual circumstances. I, for one, wish I could work from home more frequently. Has having men as allies been particularly relevant in advancing in your field of work? For example, the roles of male mentors or colleagues who have helped you get funding and/or research opportunities – two areas that are considered male dominated. Honestly, I can’t say this has been a clear factor for me. Throughout my career, I’ve encountered both supportive and unsupportive people, regardless of gender. Some were my biggest cheerleaders, while others were jealous and sought to undermine me, making me feel unvalued. However, I’ve also had male colleagues who offered great support early in my career and men who, though I didn’t know them well, extended a helping hand when I needed it. How prevalent have outdated stereotypes or judgements been in your time in science? Have comments about women being unsuited to scientific disciplines and/or motherhood as a career barrier reduced or increased or has there generally been no change? I once heard that women shouldn’t smile if they want to be taken seriously, which is just another outdated stereotype. As I mentioned earlier, women often display gentleness and politeness, but these qualities are sometimes misinterpreted as signs of weakness, lack of fitness or unpreparedness. In my view, showing kindness and empathy reflects professionalism and is simply part of normal human behaviour. Being courteous doesn’t make anyone less competent, intelligent or suitable for a role. I smile a lot – it’s part of who I am. Have some people perceived me as incompetent or fragile because of it?

62 TWENTYFOURSEVENBIOPHARMA Issue 1 / October 2024