Harriet Wallberg-Henriksson

When Harriet Wallberg-Henriksson began her medical career, she never expected to be a trailblazer for either women or young scientists. But now she is the first female president of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, she finds that she is working hard on behalf of both groups. She hopes to raise the proportion of women professors at the institute from 15% to 40%, and has set up a junior faculty programme to help young scientists jumpstart their career, which includes a mentoring component just for women scientists. But there is still more to be done. Wallberg-Henriksson discusses progress and things to come with Naturejobs editor Paul Smaglik. Comments have been edited for accuracy, conciseness and clarity.