Let’s be honest: nobody builds a career alone. And if you think everyone else has it figured out? That’s cute. “Boss Moves in Bioinformatics,” hosted by Boston Women in Bioinformatics with Diamond Age and Lilly, was a night for cutting through that illusion—one real, raw, occasionally hilarious story at a time.
We opened with a simple question: How many of you have ever felt like you were going it alone?
Nearly every hand in the room went up. And just like that, the tone was set. This wasn’t about polished bios or shiny LinkedIn wins. It was about what it really takes to build a career—and a community—when you’re trying to stay afloat, show up, and still get dinner on the table.
The conversations were honest. Vulnerable. Tactical. We tackled big questions—like how to build a network when you barely have time to brush your teeth. Whether imposter syndrome ever goes away (spoiler: nope). And what leadership actually looks like when you’re juggling two sick kids and a Slack full of unread messages.
We got into the beautiful, messy truth: most people don’t “build a network”—they stumble into one. They vibe with someone. They stick around. And years later, that person becomes the one who makes the intro, lands the deal, or reminds them they’re not crazy. If your “strategy” is awkward coffee chats that drift into therapy territory…you’re doing it right.
I used to think I was an introvert. Quiet. Into my code, my cat, my calm. Then I started a company and realized: talking to people is the job. And surprise—I actually love it. Somewhere along the way, the introvert gave way to the reluctant extrovert. Sometimes you don’t find out who you are until you’re forced to. And maybe that’s the whole point.
There were gems I’m still thinking about. Like the woman who handed her boss a “future resume”—not a wish list of titles, but a real, five-years-from-now version of her CV. Skills she wanted, problems she planned to solve. Boom. Instant growth plan. Honestly? I’m stealing it.
And yes, we talked about money. Because the pay gap isn’t some abstract statistic—it’s happening. One panelist found out she was earning half what her male peers made. She walked into the CFO’s office, presented the data, and walked out with double the salary and a car allowance. No drama. Just data. It was a mic-drop moment and a reminder: know your worth—and when you can, speak up for the women around you, too.
As for balance? Please. These weren’t Pinterest-perfect stories of work-life harmony. These women told the truth: some days you crush a deadline, some days you cry in your car. Balance isn’t about a color-coded calendar. It’s about knowing when to push, when to rest, and when to leave the dirty dishes in the sink.
We talked imposter syndrome (still real), invisible labor (exhausting), and the myth of the linear path. We talked about how “find a mentor” can feel like a joke when you’re just trying to survive a week of sick kids, stakeholder updates, and seven meetings before noon.
The biggest takeaway? Growth is nonlinear. It’s rarely graceful. It takes community. And leadership isn’t about having all the answers—the strongest move in leadership is admitting you’re still working it out.
Sometimes, a boss move is launching a company. Sometimes it’s negotiating your worth. Sometimes it’s just raising your hand and saying, “I have something to say.”
That night, I sat alongside women I admire deeply—swapping stories, calling out the nonsense, and making space. For ourselves. For each other. For the next wave.
Because these are the conversations that don’t just move careers forward—they move the whole field forward.
And that, my friends, is the real boss move.