However, it was very natural that a failed surgeon with little experience in molecular biology had a hard time finding a position. A turning point came when I got a fax from Thomas Innerarity at the Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases in San Francisco. After a short telephone conversation, Tom was brave enough to give me a postdoctoral position in his lab! Working at Gladstone was one of the best decisions I ever made in my life.

The desk helps, now that I have it. I’ve stacked piles of books that I love on it to act as talismans. They help, too. The desk makes me feel like I’m going to work, even though work is located in a cramped but bright corner of my living room. […] I used to think of myself as someone with a great deal of discipline, but I lost it in the air somewhere over the Rocky Mountains. Now, instead of discipline, I have a desk, and every day that I sit at it I dig a little deeper.

I threw my lot in with the theatre and in terms of the pleasure it's given me, I've never regretted it, not even for a second.

I did boxing because I needed to channel the pain. I did karate because I was being beaten up and I wanted to be able to defend myself.

I'm trying to be more organized.

Being grateful for what you have.

I had two options. One was to remain silent and wait to be killed. And the second was to speak up and then be killed. I chose the second one. I decided to speak up.

Biting my nails.

Losing my family. And fear that the world won't become a better place.

Women in leadership positions in every field who are using their advantages to inspire younger women.