Reflections from the Scottish Women in Science Event: Janette’s Story

At DHI’s recent event with the Scottish Women in Science network, Janette Hughes Director of Planning and Performance at DHI reflected on the experiences that have shaped her career and why confidence, communication and community matter so much for women progressing in science and innovation.

Speaking at DHI’s recent evening reception with the Scottish Women in Science network gave me the chance to reflect on my own career in a way I do not often make time for.

Events like this are important because they create space for something we do not always get in our working lives: honest conversation and time for reflection. Not just about success, but about confidence, uncertainty, growth, and the reality of building a career over time whilst juggling family life. There was a real sense in the room that, although every journey is different, many of the challenges women face in science and in the workplace are deeply shared.

That is why these conversations matter.

When people look at someone’s career from the outside, it can often seem neat, intentional and fully planned. In truth, I think many of us know that careers rarely unfold that way. Mine certainly did not. Looking back, it has been shaped by curiosity, relationships, opportunities, resilience, and a willingness to keep learning. It has not been a straight line, and I think there is something reassuring in saying that out loud.

For women in science and innovation, one of the biggest challenges can be visibility. There are so many capable, experienced and insightful women doing exceptional work, but too often they are navigating systems that do not naturally make space for their voices. That can affect confidence, progression and opportunity. It can also lead women to underestimate the value of what they bring and the impact they are making.

One of the strongest reflections I took from the event was that expertise alone is not always enough. Communication, relationships and support matters – from your family (long suffering husband) friends and colleagues, without them – nothing would be possible. In addition, confidence matters. Being able to speak about your work, advocate for your ideas and bring others with you matters enormously.

That is not about becoming the loudest person in the room. It is about recognising that communication is a professional skill with an emphasis on listening, these skills can be finessed.

I feel strongly about that because it is something I have had to learn myself. Public speaking, for example, is often treated as though it is something people are either born able to do or not. I do not believe that. Confidence is built through practice, encouragement and experience, and I was lucky to have the training that i could put into practise. The more opportunities we create for women to develop those skills, the more likely they are to step forward, take up space and lead by example.

That feels especially relevant when we think about the next generation.

If we want to see more women at senior levels in science, we need to do more than tell young women to be ambitious. We need to help them develop the skills and self-belief that make ambition feel possible. We need to show them that leadership is not about perfection or certainty. It is about being willing to keep growing and take risks.

I have also come to believe that mentoring, visibility and leading by example really matters. Sometimes the most powerful thing a woman can do in her career is allow others to see the path behind the polished surface - the risks taken, the discomfort, the learning, the moments of doubt and failure, and the persistence and resilience it took to keep going. Those are often the parts of a story that resonate most, because they make success feel human and attainable rather than distant.

That was one of the things I valued most about this event. It was not just about celebrating achievement, although that is important. It was about creating a space where women could connect with one another honestly, share experiences, and leave feeling a little more energised and a little less alone in what they are navigating.

When women come together in spaces like this, we do more than network. We validate each other’s experiences. We remind one another that confidence can be built together, that leadership can look different in different people, and that there is no single model for success. We also create the conditions for practical support for advice, encouragement, introductions, and opportunities that might not otherwise happen.

If there is one message, I would want people to take from the evening, it is this: back yourself. find a job you love as this means every day is an adventure not a chore and in doing so your contribution will flourish!

Your path does not need to look like anyone else’s. Your voice does not need to sound like anyone else’s - but your experience, your perspective and your contribution matter.

And the more we create spaces where women can be seen, heard and supported, the stronger science, innovation and leadership will be because of it.