An art installation of a broken glass ceiling in New York City marks International Women’s Day.Credit: Studio Bonobo/Alamy I think I can safely say that I have ‘made it’ as an academic. I’ve landed major grants, published exciting papers (in my opinion, at least), pursued new lines of research, cultivated an international network of collaborators and proudly witnessed former trainees become successful. In addition, I am a full professor, hold leadership positions at Wageningen University and Research in the Netherlands, and last May was appointed to the Group of Chief Scientific Advisors to the European Commission. Together with six colleagues (including two other women), I provide independent evidence-based advice to the European Union’s main executive body. I’ve achieved all this while flying nearly every ‘red flag’ that people say is antithetical to a successful academic career.…