The Only Perfect Career is the One You Create: Kristina Gatto on Giving Yourself Permission

What if the career you want doesn’t follow the path you were told to take?

For aspiring scientists and STEM professionals, it’s easy to wait until you feel qualified, confident, or certain about your next move. But some of the most meaningful opportunities come from trying something new before you have everything figured out.

In her closing keynote at the 2026 AdaMarie Career Navigation Summit, Kristina Gatto, astrophysicist, science communicator, and founder of NOVA, challenges us to stop waiting for permission and start creating careers that reflect who we are and what we want to explore.

Whether you’re considering a pivot, pursuing an interest outside your field, or questioning whether you belong in a space, Kristina offers a fresh perspective on what it means to ascend on your own terms.

Watch the full panel inside the APN

The complete conversation is available now in the AdaMarie Professional Network, alongside every other session from this year’s summit.

Inside, you’ll find:

• The full summit replay library, including the sessions you couldn’t catch live

• Live workshops and expert conversations year-round

• Our spring Career Accelerator

• A growing library of career resources

• A Slack community full of people navigating their next steps right alongside you