When I began my career as an Assistant Professor, I wondered how to distinguish myself in my career. The boundaries between science and engineering, biology and material science, basic and translational research are often blurry, and how does one transition from the ordinary to something that is more extraordinary. One path is to look at the interfaces of fields and training, and this happens to be a path that I pursued. This talk will touch on topics such as when to take risks, how to build a network of support, and how to ensure the future success of the chemical engineering field by engaging in research that is valued across disciplines.