Viral phenomenon: A Wknd interview with former WHO chief scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan

Her tip to other women at the top: ‘As lonely as it might seem, you are never really alone. Around the world, women are tackling similar challenges.’

What does it take to lead like a woman, in a heavily male-dominated field such as public health? It takes a lot of resilience, says Dr Soumya Swaminathan, and it takes confidence. It also helps to remember, she adds, that “as lonely as it might seem at the top, you are never really alone”.

“Women are fighting the same fight in every country. The top women scientists and researchers around the world are navigating the common challenges of confronting inflated