Boston Common - Niche Media - A side of Boston that's anything but common.
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/498400
where we've worked. It's this legacy now, wouldn't you say, Samantha? Samantha Landino: It's like a pipeline from Bates to these labs. I completely agree that there are fewer women as you advance up, especially in leadership positions. I'm going to medical school in the fall, and of all the physicians I've shadowed, I think 99 percent have been male. One specifically said, "Samantha, you should reach out to some women, because it's a totally different ball- game as a female in this industry." LG: It's interesting to me now at 44, having always viewed women's mentorship as a necessary compensa- tion for the disadvantage of a boys' club, that there's another way to look at it. It's actually a tremendous opportunity, because the poor men don't really get to talk about life balance; they're just expected to be totally driven at one thing for their entire lives. As a woman, you're able to talk to other women about other creative ways you could use your education and training that would lead to a fulfilled life. SL: I'm in a lab surrounded by postdocs and grad students, and many don't know what they want to do next, or realize that the lab might not be the place for them. I feel so grateful being able to speak to Lisa about how she has been able to launch her career in a nontraditional way, become so success- ful, and make an impact on the field. LG: When you're young, you think, Whatever I choose now is what I'll do forever. There's so much pressure and anxiety surrounding that decision. But you don't have to continue what you were doing in your 20s. And you don't have to worry about how you're going to use that degree when you're 40. Just learn everything you can now. Your education will never be wasted; your training will never be wasted. Because, my God, I'm a novelist. That's completely crazy. When I was working 50 to 60 hours a week in a lab, I would have never guessed in a million years. But I know it's exactly what I'm supposed to be doing. bostoncommon-magazine.com 103