The Path of Least Resistance Led Me to a Rewarding Career
I often jokingly say that my career happened by following a path of least resistance because I was fortunate to come across wonderful opportunities offered by many amazing people I met along the way. I was invited to join my PhD advisor’s laboratory at the University of Illinois. I was invited to join my post-doc advisor’s laboratory at Northwestern University. And I was invited to apply for a position at Marshall, Gerstein and Borun LLP, the law firm in Chicago where I am a partner today.
Joking aside, I know that I was afforded these wonderful opportunities both because of the generous people I met and because of work and preparation to meet the opportunities throughout my academic and professional career. I also know that not everyone is so fortunate to have been given the same opportunities and the support I had from family, friends, and mentors along the way.
Thankfully, my career affords me the opportunity to do interesting and meaningful work in advising clients and obtaining patent protection for clients in the biotech/life sciences field. It also offers me the opportunity to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and perform pro bono work to help those who have not had the same opportunities as I. It turns out that helping to create opportunities for others is one of the most rewarding aspects of my career. So following the path of least resistance sometimes provides one a very worthwhile journey and opens up even more opportunities.
