On her first co-op position as an undergraduate molecular biology student at Northeastern, Drishti Parwanda is working hard to get over her natural shyness and take full advantage of her time at Kernal. It’s a thrilling time to be at the company, and pioneers like Monia have so much to teach her, not only about the science, but also about how to navigate the world of biotech as a woman scientist. Drishti feels fortunate that her parents back in Delhi, India, are very supportive of her. But it’s not always the case that girls are encouraged. She wants to be bold so that she, herself can be a pioneering mentor to all her “sisters” back in India. Just like her parents, she will be a source of encouragement and, like Monia, an example of courage to make the leap into biotech.