• Question: what is your regrets throughout your career?

    Asked by dusk532syne4 on 26 Sep 2025.
    • Photo: Pete Webb

      Pete Webb answered on 26 Sep 2025:

      Like any human being, I’ve made mistakes in the past. Instead of regretting them forever, though, I apologise, then try to learn from them and avoid doing them again.

    • Photo: Bruno Silvester Lopes

      Bruno Silvester Lopes answered on 26 Sep 2025:

      I have no regrets. Every failure is an opportunity to do even better. I look at the positive side as I move ahead in my life.

    • Photo: Estela Gonzalez Fernandez

      Estela Gonzalez Fernandez answered on 26 Sep 2025:

      I regret not looking for a mentor earlier in my career. It is important to have someone to guide and support you.

    • Photo: Carly Bingham

      Carly Bingham answered on 2 Oct 2025:

      I really wish I had more time in the week to do things. Everything I do is a delicate balance of clinical work, teaching, research and national body responsibilities/ Sometimes when I have to choose between starting a research project or taking on a new teaching responsibility, it can feel like I might regret my choice because I know realistically I can only fit one into my schedule and I don’t want to disappoint anyone. But in reality, those regrets are small and more opportunities will be available in future so I try not to let it linger in my mind!

    • Photo: Timothy Nixon

      Timothy Nixon answered on 18 Oct 2025:

      If I could do one thing differently, it would be joining a company that supported my development more immediately after leaving university. Science is about lifelong learning and I worked for a company who didn’t invest in their staff. Not a huge regret but something for you to think about when the time comes.

    • Photo: Kevin Burke

      Kevin Burke answered on 18 Nov 2025:

      As an engineer, I was very focussed on technology and technology development, which has given me a great career, but I suppose that I ‘regret’ not also considering project management, and economics alongside engineering – all are equally valuable in any project and having that wider perspective can give you a much better understanding of where your work fits in and adds value. So for any budding engineers, I would recommend considering the bigger picture, and do a little bit of study around project management.

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