The Importance of Finding a Positive “Mirror Effect”

During an Oct. 9 event presented by the Personal Development StudioLab, Sheila Gujrathi (’92, MD ’96) told the audience that she’s repeatedly taken the road less traveled.

But why?

“For the most part, it’s because I followed my energy and bliss,” Gujrathi said. 

Gujrathi first came to Evanston with plans of being a practicing physician. She attended the Honors Program in Medical Education at Northwestern, a prestigious seven-year program encompassing both undergraduate and medical school education.  She continuously explored her interests and let them guide her, even taking time off to live in an ashram in India.

Today, Gujrathi reflects on an esteemed career that has spanned leadership roles across major biopharmaceutical companies, multiple billion-dollar exits, co-founding and leading Gossamer Bio, and serial entrepreneurship. Before launching Gossamer, she served as chief medical officer of Receptos, which was later acquired by Celgene. Earlier, she led the global clinical development group in immunology at Bristol Myers Squibb. She also held multiple positions in immunology and oncology at Genentech.

But her professional impact exceeds pharmaceutical advancements. Her extensive experience and commitment to advancing opportunities for others have made her a strong advocate for women in leadership—culminating in her co-founding of the Biotech CEO Sisterhood in 2021.

“Part of what’s been driving me in my career is to be that role model and prove to myself that I can play those [leadership] roles and also show others that [women] can do that,” Gujrathi said. “I like paving that path so others will follow and hopefully do the same thing.”

Gujrathi delivered the lecture “The Mirror Effect: Transforming the Next Generation of Diverse Leaders” at the Ford Engineering Design Center. A founder, chairwoman, board director, strategic adviser, and consultant to start-up companies and investment funds with over 25 years of experience developing life-changing medicines for patients with serious diseases while building and running private and public biotech companies, Gujrathi shared insights from her prolific and varied career.

She also explored themes from her forthcoming book, The Mirror Effect (Amplify Publishing Group, 2025).

To Gujrathi, mirrors are people who reflect your potential, believe in you, have your back, and that make you feel safe. They can be family, friends, supervisors, or even role models you’ll never meet.

“The mirror effect is a transformative power you can tap into to support you in your personal and professional journey,” Gujrathi said. “One of the lessons I learned growing up is that you don’t have to do it alone.”

Another important mirror, Gujrathi said, is yourself. Instead of operating from a place of fear, insecurity, doubt, and shame, Gujrathi implored audience members to stop criticizing themselves.

“I woke up very late in my life and career, realizing that I was operating from a place of fear all the time,” Gujrathi said. “It didn’t matter how successful I had been, and I still felt like an imposter. That’s no way to live but that’s what we do.

“When we surround ourselves with the right mirrors, we move beyond the illusion of fear and begin to see our true strength.”

About the Personal Development StudioLab

Codirected by Joseph Holtgreive, assistant dean for undergraduate engineering, and Bruce Ankenman, professor of industrial engineering and management sciences, the Personal Development StudioLab is a space where students hone their craft and connect with themselves and others to create a better future.

The StudioLab supports the McCormick School of Engineering and Northwestern University by providing students with courses, opportunities, resources, a certificate, and events that increase awareness, understanding, and healthy responses to their physical, emotional, and cognitive experiences. 

Through this environment, the StudioLab helps transform students into mindful, curious, whole-brain thinkers who integrate all elements of their being to best clarify, frame, and address the important and complex problems of life in a meaningful and fulfilling way.