Interview with Jasleen Kaur

Jasleen Kaur is an Associate professor at the University of North Carolina’s Computer Science Department. She has published several papers on networks and operating systems, and also mentors PhD students. She spoke with us about the challenges of balancing a life in academia with her personal life. Furthermore, she spoke about how women can be deterred from academic and professional careers because of both visible and invisible social pressures, and how women can counter these pressures.

Interview with Prashni Paliwal

Prashni Paliwal is a biostatistician. She has worked in senior positions at healthcare and health tech companies Bristol Myers Squibb and Flatiron Health, and designs and tests clinical trials. She tells GIST about the history of women in medicine. She also shares her personal experience and thoughts about the underrepresentation of women in STEM and explains why both men and women must play an active role in remedying this gender gap.

Interview with Ritu Gupta

Ritu Gupta is the founding director of IdeaNet Solutions, which is a structural detailing company. She shared how she feels science isn’t just a subject but a part of her life. She also spoke about how women in STEM  can struggle in their careers because they are expected to do housework and look after children with no support, despite their high aspirations and talents.

Interview with Yukti Jain

Yukti Jain is an investment analyst at the investment firm ResponseAbility. She is in charge of investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency firms in Asia and Africa. She spoke with us about how she was drawn to STEM because she believes science and technology are crucial for human progress. She also discussed how she sees fewer women in science and engineering roles around her, and why this is a problem.

Interview with Neelu Jain

Neelu Jain is a researcher at the Indian Institute of Agriculture. She is currently working on genetically modifying wheat to increase its shelf-life, and improve wheat’s resistance to disease and natural damage. She told us about the journey of how she got fascinated with biology and agricultural science. Furthermore, she spoke about how lucky she was to have parents and teachers who supported her passion for science instead of discouraging her from entering this traditionally ‘male’ field.

Interview with Priti Kataria

Priti Kataria is an HR specialist. Her calling is to help people develop and to create workplaces of diversity and inclusion. She pointed out the thorny issue of how offering women help can actually be demeaning if the help is offered under the assumption that the woman is weak or incapable of succeeding through her own ability. She also encouraged girls to follow their passion and believe in themselves, even if nobody else does.