Imagine getting a call from a phone number you don’t recognize and deciding if you want to answer it or not, because it’s probably a spam call. Imagine answering anyway because you’re having repairs done in your home and it might be one of the repairmen.
Now, imagine answering expecting it to be a repairman only to find out it’s the MacArthur Foundation Fellows program calling to tell you that you were just named a 2019 MacArthur Fellow (aka ‘Genius”) and are receiving $625,000 to spend as you wish. Surprise!
That’s the true story of how Dr. Andrea Dutton found out she had won the coveted prize, as she explained in my interview with her on my podcast. Dr. Stacy Jupiter, another 2019 MacArthur “Genius” winner, told me in my interview with her that she was “tricked” into finding out she had won. She said she was told to call in to a conference call about a project she was working on, but when she did – “surprise!” – they announced she had won the award.
Both of these talented women have been doing extraordinary work in helping communities identify and implement strategies to mitigate the impact of climate change.
Both have been blending hard science – marine biology in Dr. Jupiter’s case and geochemistry and paleoclimatology related to sea-level rise in Dr. Dutton’s case – with creative communications to help communities address sensitive issues inhibiting their climate mitigation programs.
Since the rest of us mortals would love to achieve career success that earns us a MacArthur Fellows Award – joining only 842 winners since 1981, ages 18 to 82 – here are six key pieces of career advice from these two newly-minted “Geniuses”:
1. “Do what feels right to you”: Dutton told me, “there are so many times in my career where I could’ve ended up in a complete dead-end,” but she followed what felt right and landed a big award.
2. “Be passionate”: “Being able to throw yourself into it makes you more productive and innovative,” Dutton added.
3. “Have a good support network”: Jupiter said this has crucial to her success. “You need to be able to have other people who…can help you balance all the different aspects of your life, so you can have the time and space to go off in a new direction and be innovative,” she explained.
4. “Capitalize on opportunities”: Both of these women seized opportunities that came up. “Even when it seems insurmountable,” Dutton reminded us, unexpected opportunities have been key to her success. It has been for myself and every person I’ve ever interviewed anywhere too. When opportunity knocks, or rings or emails, answer it and explore it; you never know where it might lead.
5. “Be open to finding a different way of doing things”: Especially when facing one of those unusual opportunities, Dutton emphasized, if you see obstacles to making it work, instead of walking away, suggest an alternative, or explain your obstacle and find a workaround together, “even when (you) feel awkward.” Jupiter did this too, for example, designing creative tools to reach the indigenous Melanasian people that resonate with their cultural nuances.
6. “Show people what you’ve done”: Dutton described her own struggle with getting used to being her own “advocate,” and suggested looking at it a different way. “Make people aware (of your work) when they might not be aware” of it, adding, “that really pays of hugely.”
Being awarded a MacArthur “Genius” award is certainly a “huge” outcome.
Congratulations to these remarkable women and all the 2019 MacArthur Fellows and thanks for the valuable advice.
