International Women’s Day - Five questions to three inspiring women of our cluster

Prof. Ghazaleh Tabatabai is a research group leader in the field of Neurooncology in our cluster. She has a W3 Professorship of Neurooncology and is Medical Director of the Department of Neurooncology at the University Hospital of Tuebingen.

Prof. Judith Feucht is a research group leader in the field of "Cellular Therapies" in our cluster and physician at the Children's Clinic of the Universiry Hospital of Tübingen. She also has a W2-Professorship for Cellular Immunotherapies in Cancer.

Prof. Lisa Sevenich just recently joined our cluster. She has a W2-Professorship for Experimental Neurooncology.

Here are Ghazaleh's answers:

1.What did you dream of doing when you were a little girl?

Discovering, creating, shaping and making a difference. So, a kind of adventurous spirit has been deeply anchored in my being. 

 2. Is there a particular female figure that inspires you?

Clear NO. What has always been impressing me in general, are courageous people (regardless of gender) who stand up for injustice or for disparity. But my own path was neither inspired nor shaped by any specific (female/male) role model. 

3. Define a great leader - What are three traits you think great leaders possess?

Great leaders inspire, create and make a difference towards a brighter future. Three traits? In my opinion, essential traits of great leaders include authenticity, empathy, as well as a combination of analytical and strategic competences.  Authentic leaders stay true to who they are and to their inner core values. People can really connect and trust them. Authentic leaders demonstrate a credible sense of responsibility for their actions and results. I think empathy is an important trait because it is essential to understand and connect on an emotional level with people, to actively engage and appreciate their challenges and struggles as well as their ambitions and goals. True empathy is a prerequisite for creating a nurturing and supporting environment. Needless to say, leaders constantly face new challenges. Analytical thinking is a must. It includes analyzing complex situations very thoroughly, breaking them down to facts, being alert for (implicit) bias, understanding underlying causes before connecting the dots and developing new and sustainable solutions. This analytical competence needs to go hand in hand with strategic thinking which includes creating future opportunities and an inspiring and impactful vision.

4. What does gender equality mean to you?

That everyone can develop their potential. Of course, it is already great to see that gender equality is on the political agenda. However, there is also still a lot to do. Very specifically, in an academic career in medicine, for example, we need to ensure in the near future that there is no female dropout edge after the doctorate. I would like to see that women's achievements receive equal recognition and visibility. That the interests, needs and priorities of both women AND men are given equal consideration, while recognizing differences and diversity without a sense of devaluation and a kind of “know-it-all attitude”.

 5. Based on your own experience, what advice would you give to women considering pursuing a career in science?

Believe in yourself and your abilities! Embark on the adventure, shape your future with passion, courage, discipline and hard work. Find out what is important to you and go for it. Keep going and constantly developing yourself, keep exploring and learning wholeheartedly. Don`t be afraid of failures. Things usually do not work out right away, this is normal. I think it is crucial to develop a positive attitude towards effort, because any development requires you to leave your comfort zone, and that is of course very exhausting and tedious at first! With courage, perseverance, consistency and discipline you will master these valleys and grow towards a better version of yourself. Along this infinite journey, stay true to yourself.

Here are Judith's answers:

1. What did you dream of doing when you were a little girl?

I was dreaming of pursuing a career as a professional gymnast (or at least as a professional athlete).

2. Is there a particular female figure that inspires you?

I certainly take inspiration from impressive female figures in history or today such as Rut Bader Ginsburg, Marie Curie, Michelle Obama or Naomi Osaka. But in general, it is not a specific female figure, but rather inspiration from many different women on a daily basis – there is my female colleague with her endless energy, with excellent work ethic and expertise, my humble friend who just ignores negativity and keeps shining, the friend who is passionately fighting for her dreams, the hard-working woman who has three kids and still helps everyone, the woman in my neighborhood who speaks up and doesn’t accept injustice, the colleague who is not scared of going her way etc…

3. Define a great leader—What are three traits you think great leaders possess?

Smart, dedicated, resilient.

4. What does gender equality mean to you?

Everyone should have the same opportunities and rights and should be taken equally serious, irrespective of your gender.

5. Based on your own experience, what advice would you give to women considering pursuing a career in science?

Dream big, keep striving towards your goals and do not give up. Stay curious and keep questioning (also unacceptable behaviour!). Be true to yourself and go for what you think is right (and not what you are told to do, or what others think). Follow your heart, have fun and be authentic. Ask for help if you need it.

Here are Lisa's answers:

1.What did you dream of doing when you were a little girl?

It may sound a bit a cliché but I was indeed dreaming of becoming a researcher already in kindergarten. I was always eager to observe, question and understand things that happened around me. Therefore, becoming a biologist wasn’t a big surprise.

2. Is there a particular female figure that inspires you?   

Rosalind Franklin. Even though she never officially received the scientific awards she deserved, she undoubtedly laid ground for one of the most impactful scientific discoveries. Her dedication to science had such an enormous impact on modern medicine and biology that it changed everyone’s life.

3. Define a great leader—What are three traits you think great leaders possess?

In my opinion a great leader is someone who leads by example and motivates by their vision and inspiration. It is also critical to be empathetic towards individuals and support their strength instead of emphasizing their weaknesses and to be fair in acknowledging the contribution of each individual.

4. What does gender equality mean to you?

To me gender equality means that everyone regardless of her or his gender can fulfill professional and societal goals without any restrictions or prejudices. Of course, we have to achieve equal pay and prevent leaky pipelines as framework conditions for equal opportunities in our professional environment. But in my opinion, gender equality is only achieved if we appreciate the added value of diversity in our society and do not force individuals of any gender into currently accepted behavioral norms in order to succeed.

5. Based on your own experience, what advice would you give to women considering pursuing a career in science?

Live up to your dreams and don’t let setbacks prevent you from pursuing your goals. But be cognizant to certain obstacles that you might face. Be proactive and team up with others to find solutions to overcome those limitations.