From Lab Work to Leadership: Dr. Jen Heemstra’s Guide to Thriving in Science Careers

My Favorite Mistake: Business Lessons from Failures and Success

🎙️ In this bonus episode of My Favorite Mistake, Mark Graban welcomes back Dr. Jen Heemstra, Charles Allen Thomas Professor and Chair of Chemistry at Washington University in St. Louis. Jen joins us to talk about her new book, Lab Work to Leadership: A Concise Guide to Thriving in the Science Job You Weren’t Trained For.

She shares how the book was inspired by her favorite mistake—realizing that a research career in science unexpectedly came with a leadership role she wasn’t trained for. What began as a personal challenge turned into a passion for mentorship and a practical guide to help others in the sciences (and beyond) succeed as “accidental leaders.”

👉 Learn how Jen approached this transition, what others in academia and technical fields can take away, and why leadership training is essential—even if it’s not part of your job description (yet).

🧪 “People are counting on you to get this leadership thing right.” – Jen Heemstra

🔁 Listen to Jen’s original episode (#262) where she shares her favorite mistake:
http://markgraban.com/mistake262

🎧 Listen to all episodes at https://www.markgraban.com/mistake