# Women in Bioorganic Chemistry
###### Abstract
I found that the most important factors to being successful are a constant, ethical and honest approach to pursuing excellence, hard work, steadfast optimism, patience, good mentoring and cultivating fruitful relationships with a plethora of colleagues. Seek advice relentlessly, listen to all advice, read up as much as you can, but - at the end of the day - do your own thing, follow your instincts, be mighfully proactive and do so farlessly. It's difficult, but it's the only way forward. The other crucial message is: you don't have to choose between having a career and having a family. You can have both, if you want. There are no right or wrong times. It all comes down to how you manage what happens. Embrace anything that happens, be proactive, find ways of managing tough situations. Define your own success. Don't be afraid to restart from scratch (I have done so several times). Focus on the most important aspect of life: human relationships (especially with the children in your care)._  
**[PERSON]** (Department of Drug Science and Technology), University of Turin, Via Giuria 9, 10125, Turin, Italy. Research interests: Drug Design. _Molecules_**2021**, _26_, 4579; doi.org/10.3390/molecules26154579. _What is the most important challenge for a woman working in the field of bioorganic chemistry?_  
_According to my opinion and personal experience, the most important challenge I found, and I still find, has been combining the professional life and commitments with the family ones. In other words, finding the right time to spend with my daughter and my partner. In the years I have learned to optimize time and to handle only fundamental commitments, while delegating the other ones. Also, I have found very smart collaborators, who help me in handling the research and teaching activities. Time is always short, when you are enjoying, but now I can get the best of it!_  
_What are your suggestions for a young woman keen to become a successful scientist (in the field of bioorganic chemistry?_  
_To young women willing to become scientists I would recommend to never give up! Even when things seem to be going wrong, there is always an opportunity around the corner. The important is to be ready to catch any occasion and not be scared to get in the game!_  
**[PERSON]** (Dipartimento di Chimica \"[PERSON]\" (DICUS), Universita degli Studi di Firenze, Via della Lastruccia 3-13, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy). Research interests include redox chemistry with design and synthesis molecular, macromolecular and nano-supported antioxidants and the study of their potential applications in the medical field and new materials. A further research area is the synthesis and evaluation of the optoelectronic properties of condensed heterocyclic systems. _Molecules_**2022**, _27_, 1160; doi.org/10.3390/molecules27041160. _What is the secret of being a successful female bioorganic chemist? What are your suggestions for a young woman keen to become a successful scientist (in the field of bioorganic chemistry?_  
_A young chemist must always remember that becoming a successful scientist requires countless hours of work, although we are in the exciting world of discovery, so work hard and enjoy your job!_[PERSON] (Laboratory of Steroid Compounds, N. D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 47 Leninsky prosp., 119991 Moscow, Russia). Research interests: Design and synthesis of novel heterosteroids promising as anticancer agents against hormone-dependent cancers such as breast and prostate cancer. _Molecules_**2020**, _25_, 3499; doi.org/10.3390/molecules25153499. _What is the most important challenge for a woman working in the field of bioorganic chemistry?_  
_Women were legally allowed to pursue careers in science just over 100 years ago. Having received new opportunities, women retained the old responsibilities. Today the main challenge women scientists' face is to find a work-life balance. The social burden of raising children and running a household in many countries is still regarded as predominantly female.