Jayshree Seth, 3M corporate scientist, spoke to a packed Lake Room of Rose-Hulman students, faculty, and staff May 7 as part of the Swearingen Leadership Series. Her message was intermingled with creative comparisons, connections, and consonance.

In 2018, Seth was appointed 3M's first-ever Chief Science Advocate, a role she envisioned to include communicating the work and lives of scientists to the general public, bringing science to the forefront of thought. 

Citing global survey data gathered by 3M, Seth shared that, when asked, 40% of people said they thought their daily lives would be no different if science did not exist. To the blossoming problem-solvers gathered before her, Seth emphasized the importance of communication for scientists.

"How do you make sure people realize that every day, and in many ways, science makes life better?" she asked.  Seth shared some of the strategies they have used including the 3M "Beyond the Beaker" video series introducing scientists' lives outside the lab and the "Scientists as Storytellers" guide to help scientists make their discoveries more relatable.

Seth also emphasized the importance of skills, talent, expertise, and mindset, redefining the acronym STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.) "I like to say that it is about developing your skills, nurturing your talent, building your expertise, and cultivating your mindset," she said. "That is the real STEM." 

Seth connected science, innovation, and leadership, as different extensions of the same desire to make the world a better place for other people through determined dedication. "Innovation is not about the conception or the culmination," she said. "Innovation is the commitment to the continuum." She described many of the roles she has had to play to drive innovation. “Sometimes you have to be storytellers, fact finders, and even soothsayers." 

Leadership, Seth explained, is a critical component for bringing innovation to life. With several wry quips throughout her talk, Seth kept the audience laughing as she shared the philosophy she dubbed, "LEAK-proof leadership." In order to prevent essential dimensions from "leaking", she explained, the best leaders remember the acronym "LEAK":

Lead: Vision, values, strategy
Engage: Process, people, and culture
Action: Listening, learning, and communicating
Knowledge: Content, context, and purpose

"Leadership," Seth said, "is about taking the initiative to inform, to influence, to inspire, to have an impact."

In collaboration with the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), Jayshree has authored the Heart of Science trilogy and all proceeds from book sales go towards a scholarship for women in STEM administered by SWE. Seth's scholarship has now benefitted five students across the country, including Rose-Hulman sophomore Janaé Gillus, who was in attendance for Seth's talk.

"In 2020, I decided I wanted to be productive with purpose and the idea for a book was born," Seth said. "It's an amazing feeling to know that right now, I am here, and there's a scholar in the room that's supported from the sales proceeds of my books."

Seth was awarded the SWE Highest Achievement Award in 2020. She joined 3M in 1993 and currently holds over 80 patents, with several more still pending. Seth is a member of the Carlton Society, the 3M science and innovation "Hall of Fame." She was also featured in a docuseries titled "Not the Science Type" that premiered during the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival and was accepted for Brand Storytelling Showcase, a sanctioned event at Sundance Film Festival. Jayshree has also been recognized for her thought leadership and was named to the prestigious Thinkers50 Radar in 2025.

Joining Seth during the talk was 1981 chemical engineering alumnus John Swearingen, who with his wife Anne created the Swearingen Leadership Series. Swearingen introduced Seth with three pieces of his own leadership advice, accumulated over his 39-year career with Marathon Petroleum Corporation.

"Be authentic. Don't work as a leader to be liked; work to be trusted and respected," he said. His last tip was to remember that "people are a gift."

"What are you as a leader going to do with your gift?" Swearingen prompted.

One of Swearingen's gifts, the Swearingen Leadership Series, is part of Rose-Hulman's Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) program and invites prominent figures to share their leadership insights with students. The series has featured Nina Tandon, founder and CEO of EpiBone, and Hank Green, a renowned science communicator and entrepreneur, among others. These speakers provide students with robust perspectives on leadership within STEM fields, helping them grow into well-rounded leaders.