Angeliki Rigos

What’s the most important leadership lesson you’ve learned?

You do not need a title or position of leadership to be a leader. You just need to be passionate about working on something that will make the world a better place.

What do you consider to be your most important career achievement or milestone?

Starting the nonprofit Epistimi mostly on my own, and wearing all the hats: president, grant writer, website manager, events coordinator, accountant, teacher, mentor, logo designer, newsletter writer, and more.

What do you aspire to accomplish in your career and why? What obstacles will you overcome?

My goal is to help women in STEM find their power to lead to make our world a better place. I face financial obstacles which prevent me from scaling the leadership workshops I offer through Epistimi. I hope to offer workshops to 250 women in STEM each year.

Describe an amazing opportunity in your STEM career.

After I served as President of the Faculty Senate at Merrimack College, I was given the opportunity to attend a 2 week leadership institute for senior women in academia. This experience changed my life. The boost to my confidence encouraged me to reach new positions.

How was AWIS helped you professionally and/or personally?

AWIS was where I first began to teach leadership to other women in STEM and witness the benefits in the careers of my students. It is the safe space where transformational growth can take place.

What is your favorite word? (only one word)

Equanimity

How do you define it?

Calmness within that allows me to better perceive reality, make good decisions, and handle the storms of the world around me.

How has this word influenced or inspired your career?

I experienced equanimity after I learned to meditate. Equanimity is contagious. Other people feel your calm and makes it possible to help them in a crisis.

How does AWIS impact your career journey?

AWIS has provided friends and allies, and given me the opportunity to take on leadership roles in a safe space.

What are you currently reading or listening to?

I am currently reading The Dharma in Difficult Times by Stephen Cope. It is about finding your true calling in times of loss, change, struggle and doubt.

What do you consider the best professional or personal advice you’ve ever received?

Create your own next job based on what you are passionate about. You can do this in an existing organization by starting to do the things that you are passionate about that are not in your job description. Or you can start a new organization.

Angeliki Rigos was born in Athens, Greece, and came to the US to study chemistry at Cornell and MIT. Her first job was a Principal Scientist at Physical Sciences Inc. She then became an Assistant and Associate Professor of Chemistry at Merrimack College. In 2017, Angeliki became the Executive Director of the MIT Tata Center for Technology and Design. In 2019, she co-founded the MIT LEAPS Program and, in 2021, I founded the nonprofit Epistimi (Greek for science).