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

“A good leader is like the fireman on a steam locomotive,” able to master the right balance of when to pour on the coal to maximize the output and when to reduce the fire for a much-needed break!

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

I am grateful for all the amazing opportunities and achievements so far. As the goalposts keep moving, it’s hard to point out one.

Describe an amazing opportunity in your STEM career.

The very first opportunity during my Master’s to work as a JRF (Junior Research Fellow) at National Institute of Immunology, opened doors to my PhD. My PhD and post-PhD experiences had a great impact on a seamless transition to the biotech industry. Grateful for all the excellent opportunities that led me to who I am today.

How was AWIS helped you professionally and/or personally?

AWIS is an excellent forum to volunteer, gain peer mentoring experiences, and for networking. AWIS offers opportunities to invest in STEM and shape the future, meet like minded professionals, and give back to the scientific community.

What is your favorite word? (only one word)

Balance.

How do you define it?

From riding a bike to a balanced diet, to balancing body position,to keeping calm during a skydiving freefall; it is all about striking that right balance. And to keep the balance, we must keep moving.

How has this word influenced or inspired your career?

The word has influenced me to keep mastering the art of balancing:

Warmth and competence
Clarity and compassion
Strategic vision and pragmatism
Decisiveness and collaboration
Accountability and recognition
Flexibility and stability

What are you currently reading or listening to?

I’m mostly engaged in attending/listening to cell and gene therapy seminars, which are related to my work. I love hiking and Southern California is a hiker’s paradise. I’m currently reading Survival 101 by Nat Lambert and Mike Jarmain, and  Strengths Based Leadership: Great Leaders, Teams, and Why People Follow by Tom Rath.

Meena Narayanan holds a PhD in Allergy/Immunology from the Medical University of Vienna, Austria. Currently, she is working as a Principal Scientist in CMC/Process Analytics at Genentech (Roche group, Legacy – Poseida Therapeutics). She has more than a decade of academic experience and four years of industry experience. During her downtime, she loves serving at selected biotech forums including AWIS and Biocom as a Mentor, Co-Chair and in Board Leadership roles. She strongly believes in giving back to the scientific community at the same time expanding the breadth and depth of her experience in mentoring, team building and leadership.