Before I started at BioBuzz I was on a podcast kick, Financial Feminist being one of my must listen to series (and I’m not alone – it’s the #1 money podcast for women). While there were MANY things that I took from it, one of the most impactful episodes for me was Episode 3 “Overcome Your Psychological Bullsh*t Around Money” where Tori Dunlap, money expert, NY Times Bestselling Author, and CEO/Founder of Her First $100K, shares that your relationship with money is cemented by the age of seven. 7!
As a mom of three boys, ages 9, 7 and 3, that blew me away and really challenged me to examine how my husband and I were parenting and talking about money with our kids. Fast forward a few months [or 11 to be more exact] and this same conversation holds true for the incredible science that surrounds me as Head of Marketing for BioBuzz.
If you’ve met me, you’ve definitely heard me share…
- The fact that I don’t have a life science background.
- That I love being a part of BioBuzz’s incredible community and the life science community that surrounds it (you all really do rock).
- And last but certainly not least… that the mission-driven desire to innovate within the life science industry is incredible and I am BLOWN. A. WAY. (note the all caps) by the innovation that’s happening now and the innovation that’s coming down the pipeline within the industry.
Which, of course, continues to have me wondering, how I as a parent can share this with my children. Because if the same can be said for science as money… time is ticking.
So, I sat down with some awesome parents in the industry as they shared ways that they’ve been able to instill a love of science and innovation within their family and their daily lives.
Jennifer Yingling
10+ year healthcare and life sciences sales, marketing and communications leader
Gettysburg, PA | Son, age 7
As someone who supports the life sciences industry from a non-laboratory role, I’ve discovered that the best way to nurture my son’s potential is by cultivating an innovation mindset. This approach recognizes that children are inherently innovative thinkers, a trait that unfortunately tends to diminish as we age. To counter this, I believe in the power of ‘yes’ – saying yes to messes, experiments, and even mistakes.
We embrace the journey of learning, especially through failures. For instance, we recently embarked on making homemade slime, which turned into an iterative experiment. Our first few attempts weren’t perfect, but that’s the beauty of it. It’s a low-risk, hands-on way to show my son the importance of evolving his approach based on previous outcomes. Each version improved slightly, and his decision to gift his latest creation to a friend for a birthday present was an encouraging sign of his growing confidence and understanding. We say, “you have to be willing to be bad at it before you’re able to be great at it.” (Yes, it is met with eye rolls sometimes…)
Questions also play a critical role in our household to foster curiosity and thorough exploration. Instead of shutting down ideas with ‘no, because…’, we use ‘yes, and…’ to expand his thinking. “Can I climb that tree?” becomes an opportunity to think about safety and strategy – “Yes, and how will you ensure the branch is strong enough? How will you plan to get down safely?” When he comes to us for advice, we first ask him to share his thoughts, and often, we are the one’s asking “why,” valuing his perspective as an integral part of the conversation. This approach echoes the ‘5 Whys’ technique, a method I often use to delve deeper into his reasoning, rather than jumping to conclusions and making assumptions.
In these small, everyday interactions, I see my son embracing the lessons of innovation and critical thinking. By fostering this mindset, I believe we’re not just preparing him for a future in science but any other field he chooses, and equipping him with the tools to be a thoughtful, creative, and resilient individual both in and outside of his future career.
Sarah Boynton
Owner, Biopharma Staffing and Consulting Solutions, LLC
Baltimore, MD | Children ages 6, 4, and 3
Exposing my children to the world of science reinvigorates my own love for the subject. Children are naturally curious, which is one of the most important traits for any scientist. Curiosity is what drives the desire to learn and test theories, leading us to important revelations. For a few years now, my kids and I have conducted various experiments, from making our own slime to working with test tubes and liquids to understand states. More recently, my oldest has begun building Roblox worlds using their built in studio, gaining a better understanding of technology and coding. STEM and the innovation associated with these disciplines frame the world we live in, so exposing our children to them at a young age helps them in better understanding their world.
Nick Droste
Program Manager, Operational Excellence/Human Performance, Emergent, Vice President Board of Directors, Reveille Grounds
Baltimore, MD | Children ages 26, 20, 17, 16, 12 (all daughters, #girldad)
We have pushed our young women to explore their worlds using scientific questioning throughout their lives. This sometimes gets them in trouble with their teachers at school, but we remind them that change is disruptive and not always embraced by all. We also help them understand what it means to be strong role models for their peers and to always pursue deeper knowledge in their passions. These are tools that will help them whether they choose careers in STEM or not, and providing them with the space and support to explore their world is what we always seek to do.
Stephanie Brandford
Validation Consultant, Brayearst Validation Consulting
Baltimore, MD | Daughter, age 11 (I’m like an All-Star college basketball player… one-and-done!)
From an early age, I’ve exposed my daughter to science with home-based experiments. Well, probably too young considering how often “Let’s make play dough!” was followed by “Don’t eat that!” I’ve boiled red cabbage for pH experiments, bought contact lens solution exclusively for slime, and made a disturbing number of foaming messes with volcano-style experiments. I have a bin full of science kit leftovers that I’m pretty sure OSHA would cite me for storing together. I hope that my daughter embraces STEM as her legacy given the degrees in her lineage: paternal aunt (S – biology), father (T – information systems), mother (E – chemical engineering), and maternal grandfather (M – math/accounting). At the very least, it’s fun to have “Science!” as a shouted call to action. For those of a certain age, good luck getting that song out of your head.
Simone Ammons
Founder, QuneUp
Philadelphia, PA | Two under 10
For us, it’s important that our children see people who like look them in STEM. We make it a priority to purchase items that are STEM-focused from Black-owned business owners and/or creators. Everything from puzzles to science kits to books focus not just on STEM but on the many contributions made by Blacks to the field of science and engineering. That way they know that future careers in STEM are for everyone.
Kashif Haque
North America Regional Marketing – Translational Medicine, QIAGEN
Washington, DC | Son, age 3
We always make it a point to check out/read science and tech-related books from the library with my toddler son. It is always a challenge navigating this against screen time, but I am trying to stimulate my young one’s imagination. We end up buying toys related to the books that he most enjoys, for example construction trucks after reading construction-related children’s books or a model train set related to trains we have read about. Trying to find ways to both spark his imagination and then grow his curiosity from that.
Emanuel Ortiz
Founder, Pristinology, and Senior Scientific Operations Coordinator, Carisma Therapeutics
Philadelphia, PA | Daughter, age 5
Introducing my five-year-old daughter to the wonders of science has become a treasured part of our lives. This journey, first illuminated by my mother’s teachings, is now a shared adventure with my daughter. Her eyes, bright with excitement and curiosity as we delve into simple science experiments, mirror my own childhood wonder. A memorable moment was when she discovered a Kid’s Chemistry Set at Target and with wide-eyed excitement, she yelled, ‘Daddy’s job!’ The echo of her voice in the aisle was a clear sign – of course, I bought the set!
She playfully thinks of me as a doctor because of the lab coat I wear at work. I’ve started to share snippets from the lab, making science a natural part of her world. Her excitement and genuine enthusiasm for learning are truly priceless. It’s crucial for me that her understanding and love for science grow organically, nurtured by her own curiosity rather than imposed.
I’m excited for the day she joins a STEM program, but no matter her path, my support for her is strong. My commitment goes beyond just our family; it’s about nurturing an environment where women in bio are uplifted and recognized. This commitment, a legacy from my mother, is what I strive to pass on to my daughter and the next generation of scientists.
Tara Little
Account Manager, Mid-Atlantic, Proteintech Group
Baltimore, MD | Daughter, age 1
My daughter is obviously too young to understand the concepts of science or innovation, but we still try to encourage her sense of creativity as much as possible. We love getting her STEM-adjacent toys like magnetic blocks and puzzles. And we read her lots of toddler-friendly books on science, the environment, and strong female role models.
Matthew Dykes
Vice President, Head of Growth, Salute Safety
New York, NY | Daughter, age 2, Son on the way
Navigating the world of biotech safety software sales and marketing, I’ve carved a niche for myself by helping labs streamline their processes with cutting-edge technology. It’s incredibly rewarding to see the lightbulb moments when clients realize our software can transform their tedious tasks into efficient, seamless operations. This journey through innovation and efficiency is not just limited to my professional life; it plays a significant role in how I raise my children, especially in fostering a love for science and curiosity.
At home, my mission is to instill the same sense of inquiry and innovation in my kids. Seeing my daughter challenge conventional ways of solving problems—whether it’s piecing together a puzzle in a unique way or exploring the immersive experiences at the Liberty Science Center—reflects the essence of my work. These moments of discovery aren’t just about learning science or technology; they’re about teaching my kids to question the status quo and think outside the box, much like I do in my role. It’s about showing them that, sometimes, looking at a problem from a different angle can lead to the most innovative solutions.
In blending the lessons from my career in biotech with my parenting, I aim to cultivate a household where curiosity drives innovation and where asking “why” and “how” is part of our daily dialogue. This synergy between work and home life not only enriches my understanding but also hopefully sows the seeds of lifelong curiosity and a passion for science in my children. It’s a testament to the idea that the principles of problem-solving and innovation are not confined to the lab—they’re essential skills for navigating the complexities of the world around us.
