Lessons in Leadership, Grit, and Growth

Five years ago, just two weeks before I was scheduled to return from maternity leave, I received a call that changed everything — I had been laid off. The world was on the brink of lockdown, and suddenly, everything came to a halt.

For some, those early pandemic months were isolating. For me, they were healing. My husband and I reconnected over garage workouts and shared laughter that had once gone quiet. I held tightly to that sense of closeness, believing we could rebuild what felt broken. And yet, despite the stillness, I missed the motion. I missed the lab — the science, the artistry, the quiet thrill of creating something entirely new.

When the opportunity came, I found myself walking into a dusty warehouse, stepping over sanders and power cords, headed to an interview with a nail polish start-up. I didn’t know what to expect — but I certainly didn’t expect to find creatives in aprons, mixing vibrant polish by the bucket, surrounded by shelves of color. It was scrappy. It was wild. And it was magic.

That was Lesson 1: Start-up life is scrappy — and that’s part of the beauty.

There’s a rawness to it, a freedom in building something from scratch. After confirming the lab was safe and viable, I said yes — not just to a job, but to a new chapter.

Lesson 2: Know your worth.

In my early career, fresh out of grad school during the 2011 recession, I took what I could get. My first job was a temp role. My next role was such a jump in salary that I didn’t think to negotiate. This time? I did. I had the experience. I had the data. I leaned into those YouTube salary negotiation tutorials I once watched on a whim. And I walked away knowing that I had advocated for myself in a real way.

Lesson 3: Culture shock isn’t always a bad thing.

Within days, I found myself on a call with the CEO. I was nervous — that kind of access and attention wasn’t something I’d known before. But the moment she spoke, I was captivated. Her vision, her energy — it was electric. It made me believe in what we were building. It made me want to go all in.

And so I did.

I helped expand the space, outfitted a full R&D lab with proper testing and batching equipment, and implemented protocols that brought structure and efficiency to our growth. We hired a second chemist. Together, we built an R&D engine that could power innovation at scale. And we didn’t stop there — we kept pushing.

Lesson 4: Finding my voice changed everything.

I’ve had the space and support to speak up, pitch bold ideas, and see them actually make it to market. I’ve been trusted to lead, to fail forward, and to explore uncharted territory. I’ve overseen full-scale manufacturing — from formulation to drum production, to watching that polish get filled, boxed, and shipped out into the world.

Some days, it’s chaos. There’s always a fire to put out. But in every challenge, I’ve found growth. In every misstep, a deeper understanding. In every launch, a spark of joy that reminds me why I fell in love with this work in the first place.

These past five years have been a masterclass in resilience, creativity, and leadership. I’ve built a lab from the ground up. I’ve helped bring one-of-a-kind products to market. And most importantly, I’ve found my voice — as a scientist, a collaborator, a builder, and a woman in STEM.

Startups aren’t easy. But if you let them, they’ll shape you into something stronger. More sure. More whole.

Here’s to the science and magic — and the journey still ahead.