What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Spending quality time with family and friends. I’d start the day with an aerobics workout and healthy breakfast with family, followed by a productive day at work and, lastly, a beautiful evening with friends.
 
What’s one of your guilty pleasures?
Coming from the land of festivities, I love to enjoy and celebrate each festival. Even for small occasions, I would organise feasts and make my dear ones dress up to celebrate with me, which I think is my guilty pleasure. [A very “Monica-from-Friends” trait!]
 
What section of the library/bookstore do you gravitate toward, and why?
The fantasy section. In this fast-paced competitive world, I find this section a relaxing getaway. Usually fantasies are vibrant, disseminate positivity, have happy endings and are a source of motivation. I think I owe my resilience to these fantasies. One favorite that I recommend is the Shiva Trilogy by Amish Tripathi.
 
What’s a favorite memory from the previous year?
2020 has been a great year for me, and a year of transition. On the personal front, I started my journey of motherhood; professionally I climbed another ladder, as I left Indian Council of Medical Research and joined my new role at Innovation -Technology Transfer Office.
 
What’s one piece of advice you would share with a college student about to graduate and start a profession, and one you’d tell them to not listen to?
Trust your abilities and just be yourself. It is time to get over the conventional pathways and try innovative interdisciplinary careers. Explore your interests and make informed decision. If you don’t know yet what interests you the most then enter the real world and try what fits best. Be passionate and love what you do for a smoother professional life leading to a happier you, as the world has lot of opportunities in each field and is in need of skilled professionals.

One must ignore the definition of success imposed by others as no two individuals or professions can be compared.

Which phone app do you use most often?
I use LinkedIn the most. I like to connect with people within and outside the innovation ecosystem. Most important as a technology transfer professional, I like to be the connector/ bridge/channel for the right flow of information from the sender to the recipient.
 
What’s one thing you’re currently trying to learn about tech transfer? 
Technology transfer is always new and exciting. The more you do the better you get. I am currently learning valuation. I believe the right valuation is the proof that we understand what we have and what we need to do with it. Valuation done right is the key to successful negotiations and success of deal by meeting the intended purpose.

How has being a recipient of AUTM's Howard Bremer Scholarship benefited you?

It was the turning point in my career. It was my first visit to United States and was a life-changing experience. I knew I liked this profession, but at the AUTM Annual Meeting I felt that I belonged and was with family. I was warmly welcomed by all. I made new friends, found great mentors who have constantly supported me and since then I have never looked back. Being a Howard Bremer Scholarship recipient has given me great recognition in the technology transfer profession.
 

What’s the last thing your TTO celebrated?
Our last celebration was for the success of the Saajhedaaree event, a virtual technology showcase and partnering event. It would be more appropriate to define it as a “platform of hope,” for innovators to find the right partner, and a “platform of excellence,” to find required expertise. Our office celebrated the efforts put into hosting such an event, the zeal amongst participants and the event’s success as we received increased interest in technology transfer and collaborations.