Careers & Representation: Chemists in the Real World - Career Journeys from People Who Look Like Us

From the Catalyst Conversations series, funded by the RSC Missing Elements project. Three scientists — Dr. Idil Ismail, Dr. Rachael Makgae and Dr. Henry Madubuike — reflect on their journeys through academia and industry, navigating identity, belonging and career development in spaces where they were often the only ones who looked like them. Some of the things that stayed with us: Career paths are rarely linear now. Curiosity and adaptability matter more than a perfect plan. Visible representation is so powerful. As Dr. Rachael Makgae puts it, showing up and succeeding signals to others that a pathway exists for them. When networks don't exist, people build them. Projects like Project Invisible and the Network for Ethnic Minority Postgraduate Students were created because the speakers saw a gap and filled it. That gap shouldn't be theirs to fill alone. We celebrate the community-building, while acknowledging that people from underrepresented groups shouldn't have to carry that extra burden. I loved this bit though (and apologies if I didn't transcribe it 100% correctly)- Dr. Rachael Makgae speaking directly to anyone who's ever felt they didn't belong: "There is space for you. This world needs you. This world needs your skills… This world needs your personality, who you are, to make it better….irrespective of whether you are black, you are female, you are coming from [an] underrepresented background it doesn’t matter. As long as you show up, as long as you do the work it doesn’t matter, you will be able to get far in life….but the truth of the matter is this world needs you. There’s a space for you in this world to excel." If that resonates or you want to know more check it out! #chemistryforall #MISSINGELEMENTs #representationmatters #STEM #diversityinscience #supralab