I would like to share with you the methods that I have used to identify my dream job as an academic scientist and to guide my personal and professional choices. I will present this framework in a way which individuals could potentially adapt to their own situation and life goals. The framework is adaptable for all career paths and it just so happens that in my case, being a professor was the best solution given my constraints. I will further describe some of the philosophies which have helped me to find both success and happiness as a woman in a patriarchal profession.

1. My Methodical Approach to Finding
Professional Success and Personal
Happiness
Kelle Cruz
CUNY Hunter College

2. ABOUT ME
▸ Business Careers High
School in San Antonio, TX
▸ Decided I wanted to be an
astronomer
▸ Physics BA at UPenn in
Philadelphia
• Got together with bf#1
▸ Grad school at UPenn
• followed bf#1
▸ Postdoc #1 at AMNH in NYC
• followed bf#1
▸ Postdoc #2 at Caltech in
Pasadena, CA
‣ Decided I want to live in
NYC
▸ Faculty at CUNY Hunter
College
• Broke up with bf#1
• Dating bf#2 for two years

3. THE METHOD
▸ Identify:
• your own goals and guiding principals
• things which you want in maximize in your life
• things which you want to minimize in your life
▸ Use these factors to whittle down your options and
seek out opportunities
Frequent introspection is
required

4. My Guiding Principles (aka Boundary Conditions)
▸To be mostly happy most of the time
▸Have the option to be in charge
▸Have an impact on timescales longer
than my lifetime
▸Not to make money by making other
people money
▸ No babies, but maybe adopt later

5. Dedicate time &
energy to identifying
& refining your
guiding principals

6. WHERE TO FIND THINGS TO MAXIMIZE & MINIMIZE
▸ Skills required
▸ Schedule
▸ Source and type of direction
▸ Income, earning potential, and rate of increase
▸ Workplace demographics and cultures
▸ Travel required
▸ Impact

7. Always be trying to
identify
things you like
and things you do not like

8. The present
decision
Past path resulting from
past decisions
RangeofAcceptableOutcomes
Cone of
acceptable
future paths

9. As you learn more
about yourself,
your cone will
change

10. The present
decision
Past path resulting from
past decisions
RangeofAcceptableOutcomes
Acceptable
future paths

11. Try to make
choices which keep
you in the cone of
acceptable paths

12. RANGE OF ACCEPTABLE OUTCOMES
CEO
Software Developer
Religious Missionary
High School Teacher
University Administrator
Scientist in Government Lab
Scientist in Academia Scientist in Industry
Los Angeles
Texas
Hawaii
Paris
New York
Philadelphia
Boulder
VancouverSeattle
DC
Non-profit Administrator
Project Director
Have a baby
Stay with boyfriend
who has pros &
cons
Move closer to
family
Hike or
Climb
regularly

13. PHASE SPACE OF YOUR LIFE
Collapse Your Wave Function in Some Dimension
Geography
Personal/
Family
Career
Baby
Marriage
Follow a
Partner
Higher Degree
Specialization
Earning Potential
Job Duties
Proximity
to family
City
type
Dominant
politics
Country

14. PHASE SPACE OF YOUR LIFE
Collapse Your Wave Function in Some Dimension
Geography
Personal/
Family
Career
Baby
Marriage
Follow a
Partner
Higher Degree
Specialization
Earning Potential
Job Duties
New York City

15. PHASE SPACE OF YOUR LIFE
Collapse Your Wave Function in Some Dimension
Personal/
Family
Career
Higher Degree
Specialization
Earning Potential
Job Duties
Not
Following
No
Baby
Dating
New York City
Not
Following
a Partner

16. PHASE SPACE OF YOUR LIFE
Collapse Your Wave Function in Some Dimension
Career
Not
Following
a Partner
No
Baby
Dating
New York City
PhD
Science
Teaching
Livable Wage
Entrepreneurship

17. WHITTLING DOWN THE OPTIONS
CEO
Software Developer
Religious Missionary
High School Teacher
University Administrator
Scientist in Government Lab
Scientist in Academia Scientist in Industry
Los Angeles
Texas
Hawaii
Paris
New York
Philadelphia
Boulder
VancouverSeattle
DC
Non-profit Administrator
Project Director
Have a baby
Stay with boyfriend
who has pros &
cons
Move closer to
family
Hike or
Climb
regularly

18. WHITTLING DOWN THE OPTIONS
Software Developer
University Administrator
Scientist in Government Lab
Scientist in Academia Scientist in Industry
Los Angeles
Hawaii
Paris
New York
Philadelphia
Boulder
VancouverSeattle
DC
Non-profit Administrator
Project Director
Stay with boyfriend
who has pros &
cons
Hike or
Climb
regularly

19. WHITTLING DOWN THE OPTIONS
Software Developer
University Administrator
Scientist in Government Lab
Scientist in Academia Scientist in Industry
Los Angeles
New York
Philadelphia
Non-profit Administrator
Project Director
Stay with boyfriend
who has pros &
cons
Hike or
Climb
regularly

20. WHITTLING DOWN THE OPTIONS
Software Developer
University Administrator
Scientist in Government Lab
Scientist in Academia Scientist in Industry
New York
Non-profit Administrator
Project Director

21. THE METHOD
▸ Identify:
• your own goals and guiding principals
• things which you want in maximize in your life
• things which you want to minimize in your life
▸ Use these factors to whittle down your options and
seek out opportunities
Frequent introspection is
required

22. Helpful Attitudes BONUS SLIDES
I am selfish
I lack a strong desire to please others
I make choices that are best for me

23. I am loud
I think what I have to say is important
I want to be sure my voice is heard
Helpful Attitudes BONUS SLIDES

24. I am bossy
I have a clear ideas of how to get things done
I have the confidence to lead
Helpful Attitudes BONUS SLIDES

25. I do not have faith
I prioritize and trust my own understanding
I make sure things get done
Helpful Attitudes BONUS SLIDES