Episode Highlights:

• Core responsibilities of a software engineer vs. a manager

• When to prioritize in-person roles vs. remote roles

• How to build a fulfilling career without having it all figured out at the start

Timestamps:

0:27 - What is a Software Engineer?

1:47 - What does a typical day look like?

6:40 - What do you enjoy?

14:53 - What do you dislike?

19:48 - How does your career compare to your initial aspirations?

24:16 - What were your career milestones?

27:01 - What advice would you give an aspiring professional?

About Our Guest:

David Wu (he/him) is a Senior Software Engineering Manager at a mid-sized U.S.-based cloud storage and backup company serving over half a million users worldwide. Widely regarded as one of the best managers his colleagues have worked with, David is known for cultivating highly collaborative teams through a culture of trust, transparency, and honest communication. His leadership style is deeply informed by his work as a career and creativity coach—a role he shares with his wife at the company they co-founded. David holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, has completed graduate coursework in AI, and brings over 15 years of experience in software engineering, including more than a decade in management.

• Extended Interview - ⁠patreon.com/diverseroutes ⁠

Looking for career support?

Check out ⁠Success in Science Career Coaching⁠

Episode Highlights:

• Innovative devices that reduced the need for lifelong medication

• Working with and managing stakeholder expectations

• Why saying “yes” early in your career can accelerate career clarity

Timestamps:

0:36 - What is a Clinical Research Director?

5:39 - What does a typical day look like?

15:35 - What do you enjoy?

27:52 - What do you dislike?

42:06 - How does your career compare to your initial aspirations?

45:02 - What were your career milestones?

50:06 - What advice would you give an aspiring professional?

About Our Guest:

Stephanie Monza (she/her) is a Clinical Research Director with over 15 years of experience leading global clinical trials from early feasibility through pivotal and post-market phases. With a background in sleep diagnostics and pediatric respiratory care, she began her career at the intersection of clinical need and research innovation. Her career has included a decade in industry and key milestones such as presenting pediatric-focused IDE protocols to the FDA. Stephanie is known for her collaborative leadership style, cross-functional team development, and commitment to designing trials that advance medical science and improve patient outcomes.

• Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniemonza/

• Extended Interview - ⁠patreon.com/diverseroutes ⁠

Looking for career support?

Check out ⁠Success in Science Career Coaching

Episode Highlights:

• Navigating school as a non-traditional student

• The best and worst parts of working the night shift

• The critical role MLS professionals play in a hospital ER

Timestamps:

0:19 - What is a Medical Laboratory Scientist?

5:26 - What does a typical day look like?

9:42 - What do you enjoy?

12:42 - What do you dislike?

15:05 - How does your career compare to your initial aspirations?

23:04 - What were your career milestones?

27:39 - What advice would you give an aspiring professional?

About Our Guest:

Haley Gooch is a board-certified Medical Laboratory Scientist working night shifts in blood banking at a level one trauma center in Kansas City. After earning a degree in criminal justice, she returned to school as a non-traditional student and discovered her passion for clinical lab work through microbiology. Haley now advocates for greater public awareness of the vital, behind-the-scenes role of MLS professionals and is committed to bridging communication gaps within hospital systems.

• Connect with Haley on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/goochhb

• Extended Interview - ⁠patreon.com/diverseroutes ⁠

Looking for career support?

• Check out ⁠Success in Science Career Coaching⁠

Episode Highlights:

• How to turn your love for writing and drawing into a science career

• Why you should read those random university emails

• Why scientists shouldn’t stop at publishing in journals

Timestamps:

0:55 - What is a Science Communicator?

7:42 - What does a typical day look like?

13:16 - What do you enjoy?

25:33 - What do you dislike?

37:08 - How does your career compare to your initial aspirations?

43:35 - What were your career milestones?

45:08 - What advice would you give an aspiring professional?

About Our Guest:

Aarati Asundi is the founder of Sykom, a science communication startup that bridges the gap between scientists and the public through accessible, engaging media. She’s also the co-host of the Smart Tea podcast, where she explores the lives and legacies of scientific innovators throughout history. With a passion for transforming complex ideas into clear, creative stories, Aarati brings science to life through illustration, writing, and visual storytelling. Whether she’s building explainer videos for biotech companies or coaching researchers on how to communicate their work, her mission is simple: make science make sense—for everyone.

• Connect with Aarati on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/aarati-asundi/

• Aarati’s Website - https://www.sykommer.com/

• Aarati’s Podcast - https://www.smartteapodcast.com/

• Extended Interview - ⁠patreon.com/diverseroutes ⁠

Looking for career support?

• Check out ⁠Success in Science Career Coaching⁠

• Follow us on Instagram @sciencecareercoach

Episode Highlights:

• The surprising power of knocking on a professor’s door (even if you’re an introvert)

• How to return to your career after 10+ years away—and still thrive

• This one mindset shift that will change how you see career paths and options in science

Timestamps:

0:22 - What is an Astrophysicist?

5:11 - What does a typical day look like?

9:59 - What do you enjoy?

11:29 - What do you dislike?

13:28 - How does your career compare to your initial aspirations?

15:56 - What were your career milestones?

21:18 - What advice would you give an aspiring professional?

About Our Guest:

Nicole Lloyd-Ronning is an astrophysicist at Los Alamos National Lab and a physics and astronomy instructor at the University of New Mexico–Los Alamos. Her research focuses on the explosive deaths of massive stars, black holes, and their role in the evolution of the universe. A passionate science communicator, she leads outreach programs across Northern New Mexico, collaborates on global STEAM initiatives, and actively advocates for equity in STEM. After earning degrees from Cornell and Stanford and completing prestigious fellowships in Canada and at LANL, she returned to science following a decade-long career break, supported by the APS Blewett Fellowship. Nicole has received multiple awards for mentoring, teaching, and community impact, and enjoys running, cooking, dancing, and spending time with her family.

• Connect with Nicole on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-lloyd-ronning-488160a

• Extended Interview - ⁠patreon.com/diverseroutes ⁠

Looking for career support?

• Check out ⁠Success in Science Career Coaching⁠

Episode Highlights:

• Leveraging the interdisciplinary nature of the tech industry

• A surprisingly important softskill you will need as a data engineer

• Top AI ‘assistants’ for coders and programmers

Timestamps:

0:27 - What is a Data Engineer (Specialist Solutions Architect)?

4:49 - What does a typical day look like?

9:18 - What do you enjoy?

10:45 - What do you dislike?

11:38 - How does your career compare to your initial aspirations?

13:30 - What were your career milestones?

16:23 - What advice would you give an aspiring professional?

About Our Guest:

Ram Goli is a Specialist Solutions Architect at Databricks, where he helps organizations make Data and AI simple. Prior to joining Databricks, Ram worked as a Data Engineer at other large companies, including Spotify and Vanguard. And in his early career, he was a Business Intelligence Developer in various contract roles. By training, Ram is a Molecular Biologist with a Bachelor’s from Grove City College and a Masters from the University of Maryland - Baltimore.

• Connect with Ram on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramgoli/

• Extended Interview - ⁠patreon.com/diverseroutes ⁠

Looking for career support?

• Check out ⁠Success in Science Career Coaching⁠

Episode Highlights:

• Creating your own job title, when the existing options don’t fit

• How one conversation can lead to your first job

• Unexpected benefits and drawbacks about entrepreneurship

Timestamps:

0:20 - What is an Earth and Space Educational Consultant?

2:27 - What does a typical day look like?

5:13 - What do you enjoy?

6:43 - What do you dislike?

9:55 - How does your career compare to your initial aspirations?

14:19 - What were your career milestones?

22:53 - What advice would you give an aspiring professional?

About Our Guest:

Dr. Kathryn Williamson earned a bachelor's degree in physics and astronomy from the University of Georgia and a doctorate in physics with an emphasis on physics education research from Montana State University. Her career includes roles as Public Education Specialist at Green Bank Observatory, and Teaching Professor and Planetarium Director at West Virginia University. Currently Kathryn operates her own business as an independent Earth and Space Science Educational Consultant and Project Evaluator.

• Kathryn’s website -https://www.kwilliamsonconsulting.com/

• Extended Interview - ⁠patreon.com/diverseroutes ⁠

Looking for career support?

Check out⁠Success in Science Career Coaching⁠

Episode Highlights:

Timestamps:

0:26 - What is a geologist (in industry)?

2:52 - What does a typical day look like?

6:12 - What do you enjoy?

8:59 - What do you dislike?

17:26 - How does your career compare to your initial aspirations?

22:16 - What were your career milestones?

34:01 - What advice would you give an aspiring professional?

About Our Guest:

Dr. Kelsey Crane is a geologist with expertise in planetary research and environmental geology. She earned her BS in Mathematics and Geology from the University of Tennessee, where she began studying planetary geology, and later completed her PhD at the University of Georgia, analyzing Mercury's tectonics for NASA's MESSENGER mission and conducting fieldwork in the Yakima Fold Province. After serving as a faculty member at Mississippi State University, where she achieved tenure and discovered her passion for mentoring students, Dr. Crane transitioned to Seres Engineering. There, she leads a GIS team, conducts innovative research, and thrives in a supportive environment that fosters collaboration and compassion.

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