In this new edition of MCPride, we bring to you an exclusive interview section. Our first interviewee is Dr. Usha Mahadevan. She has been working in Molecular Connections since 2003 and holds the position of Chief Scientific Advisor. Let’s get to know more about her thoughts and experiences through this interview.
What inspired you to join MC?
I was actually in Monsanto, in a division on content development for a database. It was all about plants and here in MC it was mammalian system and this was a good opportunity that came about and hence I chose to join MC.
What has been the best/significant thing you seen in MC since the past few years?
When I joined the company in JP Nagar office we were about 20 people. From then to see this company grow to so many members in different buildings and branches, it is very satisfying and I feel proud of having being associated with it.
If not this, what would have been your alternate profession?
I wanted to be a bench scientist in a lab and having my own research questions and work on them.
What is the best mantra for work/life balance?
It’s all about your attitude and how much you want your career, as well as spend time with your family. And it’s just in you, but there is also a need for a good support system when you’re raising your children. Also, you need to be ready for some sacrifice or other either in work or personal life.
What in your opinion is the best management style for this new/millennial generation?
I think they want to fly very fast and particularly when talking about different kinds of industries, opportunities and growth, everything is different. To motivate them and tell them to find satisfaction in what they’re doing and to groom them, it’s more of personal interaction that matters a lot with respect to management.
If a truth serum is given to them what question would you ask
Jignesh: Do you really like this kind of stress that you’re going through, working day and night?
Venugopal: How do you really think you can keep the attrition down?
Bharath: Are you happy with the opportunities that have come along?
What do you think about the new 4 day work week that few countries are adopting?
No way! We are in a stage where all over the world economy appears down, and we in India have a long way to go, so I don’t think it will work.
Have you done anything adventurous or crazy?
I have done hiking and I really like it and in my next birth I really want to climb Mount Everest. I don’t like water, but typically hiking and trekking. But also going back to my younger days, this is after I completed my PhD, I got a post doctoral fellowship at NIH, USA. This was in the year 1983 and in those days there was no internet or mobiles to guide you, all you had were trunk phone lines. I travelled to the US all alone with absolutely no guarantee whether I will make it to the right place and no known person to pick me from the airport also. For me that was a big adventure since I have never been on a flight or even visited an airport. I was determined to go through even though I was nervous and I did reach my destination alright.
Rapid fire round!
This is what I am!
Climb a mountain.. I always liked hiking!
Be with the family or maybe go to the wilderness
Saree is elegant but salwar is more comfortable
Unpredictable
Gulab Jamun, pani puri is not my favourite, other chaats yes
Neither!! But maybe if I was to be, it would probably be a Dog person
By and large untraditional, never do rituals.
I was in Boston for a long time and it’s a beautiful place.