After falling seriously ill during my work in Ivory Coast, I was not in the right physical condition to pursue a PhD. During my long recovery process, due to my affinity with wine, I gradually started working with a friend that had started a wine festival a year prior. Initially, I started out organizing wine tastings and facilitating online communication but as time progressed I got more and more involved with the different levels of the organization. As the popularity of the festivals increased, we expanded over time and added different festival to our repertoire. This led to us starting the company ‘Vester Events’ together. Under this company name, we organized 5 different events yearly. 

Doing this work has taught me an inmense amount about working in large teams. Due to the periodic nature of the events, we predominantly worked with freelance employees (up to 50 per event). Since I owned the company, I was involved in every aspect of the business, such as finance, marketing, city permits, management, concept development, purchasing decisions, sound and stage management and much more… More importantly, it has taught me what it means to take ownership of  a process. A process that, in my opinion, is similar to taking charge of your own research project. This experience has prepared me for the indepence that is required to be an independent researcher. It has given me the management skills required for leading a research team, and the emotional fortitude and clarity needed to forge my own path in the world of science. 

I left the company while it was at its peak to pursue my original passion. I hope this shows my commitment, passion and drive for pursuing a career in the Biological Sciences. I have left the comfort of financial security to pursue the adventure that I know is made for me. I’m ecstatic to be back on the right path and get validated in my decisions daily. However, I also see the value in my previous experiences, as I believe they set me apart from other academics. They have made me aware of how lucky I am to be where I am and have given me a skillset that allows me to navigate the world of science with confidence!