Embarking on a career is a transformative journey filled with opportunities, but also challenges. For early-career researchers, this path can often seem overwhelming, but timeless advice can provide life-changing guidance. Yesterday, OIST hosted a panel discussion on career development, specifically aimed at young students and early-career professionals. The panel featured distinguished scientists, innovators, and administrators—Vijay Krishnaswamy, James Riga, Monte Cassim, Akira Yoshino, and Rita Colwell—whose impressive careers offer a wealth of knowledge and experience. Drawing on their reflections, I have distilled a decalogue of recommendations that resonated with me or left a strong impression. I hope they will be useful for young professionals navigating the complexities of career development and personal growth.
1. Be Yourself, but Don’t Be Afraid to Fit In
“Be yourself, and pretend you are normal.” This may seem contradictory, but it highlights the importance of authenticity while recognising the need to adapt to cultural and social contexts. Being true to yourself is essential for building a fulfilling and meaningful career, allowing you to draw on your unique strengths and perspectives. However, blindly insisting on your authenticity without adapting to the norms and expectations of your environment can isolate you or create unnecessary friction. In contrast, understanding and navigating different cultural, social, and professional landscapes without compromising your core values helps you fit in, build connections, and ultimately thrive. If you refuse to adapt, you risk alienating yourself from valuable opportunities and limiting your growth.
2. Seek Environments Where You Are Valued and Respected
Your work environment significantly influences your professional growth. Always aim to be in places where your contributions are valued, and where respect is mutual. When you find yourself in a space that recognises your potential and appreciates your work, your confidence grows, allowing you to take on more challenges and make meaningful contributions. In opposite circumstances you will most likely not grow to your full potential. On the other hand, in circumstances where your work is overlooked or under appreciated, your growth is likely to be stifled. Without the support and recognition needed to thrive, you may struggle to fully engage, innovate, or develop, limiting your ability to reach your full potential.
3. Choose the Right Partner in Life
“Marry the right person.” This advice includes but also extends beyond the literal sense of marriage. Surrounding yourself with the right people, whether in personal relationships or professional networks, is essential. The right partner or close associates provide support, stability, and encouragement, empowering you to pursue your goals with confidence. In contrast, surrounding yourself with negative, unsupportive, or toxic influences can drain your energy, undermine your confidence, and hold you back from reaching your potential. Your personal relationships shape your emotional resilience, which has a direct impact on your career. With the wrong people by your side, your progress will be slower, and the journey far more difficult.
4. Work Where You Can Make a Real Contribution
Find a career path where you feel you can make a meaningful contribution. It’s not just about the job title or the pay-check—it’s about the sense of purpose and fulfilment that comes from knowing you’re making a difference. Whether it’s through science, innovation, leadership, or creativity, aligning your work with your strengths and passions enables you to thrive. On the other hand, working in a role where you feel stagnant, unappreciated, or disconnected from the outcomes of your efforts can lead to frustration and burnout. Without purpose, even the most lucrative career will leave you feeling unfulfilled.
5. Surround Yourself with People Who Challenge You
“Surround yourself with people better than you.” Growth comes from being around individuals who challenge you intellectually, professionally, and personally. When you’re in the presence of those who inspire and push you, you adapt and grow to match their level of excellence. In contrast, if you surround yourself with complacent or less motivated individuals, you risk becoming stagnant, comfortable with mediocrity, and deprived of the challenges that fuel real growth. Those who fail to push themselves beyond their comfort zones often miss out on reaching their true potential.
6. Embrace Humility in Mentorship
When mentoring others, ask “stupid” questions. Don’t assume you know everything. Often, your students or colleagues might be more knowledgeable or have fresher perspectives. However, they may lack the broader vision that experience affords. By asking questions and showing humility, you encourage open dialogue and foster mutual learning. In contrast, if you approach mentoring with arrogance or the belief that you should always be the expert, you not only alienate those you’re mentoring but also miss opportunities to learn and grow yourself. True mentorship is about guiding others while remaining humble and open to new insights.
7. Rethink Work-Life Balance
“I don’t know what work-life balance is. I am a workaholic and lifeholic.” Rather than striving for a perfect balance, it may be more helpful to integrate both aspects of your life. Passion in work and life need not be mutually exclusive. If you love what you do, your work becomes a meaningful part of your life. On the other hand, if you rigidly separate work and life, viewing one as a chore and the other as an escape, you may struggle to find fulfillment in either. A life without passion in work often leads to a lack of purpose, while a life devoid of joy outside of work can lead to burnout.
8. Exercise Restraint as You Grow
As you rise in your career, you gain influence. With that influence comes the responsibility to show restraint. Your opinions and actions have wider implications, impacting your institution, colleagues, and community. In leadership roles, even casual remarks can be interpreted as directives. Without careful consideration, you may inadvertently cause confusion, disrupt plans, or diminish morale. In contrast, those who lack restraint and fail to consider the consequences of their words risk damaging not only their own reputations but also the cohesion and success of their teams. Exercising restraint ensures you lead with integrity and thoughtfulness.
9. Aim to Be a Leader, Not Just a Skilled Performer
“It’s fine to be a good music player, but you will make a greater impact if you become a conductor of the orchestra.” Being highly skilled in your craft is valuable, but the ability to lead, inspire, and bring out the best in others is what sets great professionals apart. As a leader, you can amplify your influence by orchestrating collective success. In contrast, those who focus solely on individual excellence may achieve personal success but will have limited impact. By striving to be a leader, you transcend individual contributions and create opportunities for broader, lasting change.
10. Love Conquers Rage
There is a powerful lesson in the story of Okinawan war survivors who went to study abroad in the US, and later had children who became American citizens. It’s an eye-opening reminder that love, understanding, and education can bridge divides that seem insurmountable. Compassion and forgiveness create opportunities for healing and growth. In contrast, holding onto rage, resentment, or bitterness can perpetuate conflict and limit your ability to move forward. In your career, remember that compassion and love will always outlast and outshine rage and resentment. Let these qualities guide you in your interactions, even in the most challenging situations.
Final Thoughts
Career development is a lifelong journey, and it is not without its challenges. The advice shared here emphasizes the importance of authenticity, growth, and leadership. Stay true to your values, surround yourself with the right people, and strive to be in environments where your potential is nurtured. Along the way, remember that your influence extends beyond your immediate circle—so lead with love, humility, and a vision for the greater good.