Spark the Future: Mars VP of Innovation, Science & Technology reflects on the important role her mother played in nurturing her passion for science
By Nici Bush, Mars VP of Innovation, Science & Technology
Women's History Month is taking over to remind us of the role women play in business and especially in finding solutions for society. After seeing the great stories of our Mars Science & Technology women leaders sharing their inspirational path, it also made me reflect on my own journey and that specific moment that sparked my passion for science and how I approached my career in STEM.
My mum taught biology and chemistry in secondary school, so I remember from a young age seeing piles of notebooks on the kitchen table marked with interesting biology drawings of the cell with nuclei and mitochondria or long chemical equations with benzene rings. She was always good at explaining scientific concepts in simple terms, so I was never afraid of science and found it intriguing and interesting.
When I was in secondary school myself, occasionally my mum taught classes I took (which I would not recommend!) and my love of science certainly came from being around her so much. She is a botanist by training. I still can’t recognize more than a handful of common plants, so unfortunately that part didn’t get passed down a generation, but wearing a lab coat feels normal as that was always her uniform at school.
As a STEM professional myself, it’s clear we have never needed scientists more, and across many different disciplines. As we learned through the COVID-19 pandemic, science has the power to unlock many of the world’s challenges, and it will take collaboration from diverse minds to tackle the challenges of the future.
At Mars, that means asking: How can we help pets live five years longer and remain healthy through their longer lifespan? How can we drive real change in packaging and material science, so our products are fresh, and the packages are sustainable? How can we offer a range of nutritious foods for pets and people while reducing our greenhouse gas footprint and water usage? How can we provide world-class diagnostics for veterinary clinics with the latest, most-sensitive testing protocols?
Taking the time required to understand these challenges will ensure meaningful progress and impactful solutions. I am excited that Mars has both a long history of solving challenges like these through science and a hunger to continue to push our scientific focus areas for greater impact.
If you’re interested in science like I was, look for mentors in your peer set. Often, we think of mentors as those who are more experienced in a field of study or work, like professors or senior leaders. As I reflect, it was finding friends and colleagues I interacted with daily and who were willing to push me toward an opportunity or support me through a challenge that made more of a difference. Each of us takes a different path – find the people in your life who will help your spark grow!
Together with numerous other trailblazing women in the Food and Agriculture industries, we also encourage you to explore Nici's interview showcased in the Reuters feature story for International Women's Day(Opens a new window).
