Dilip Merala •  Information Analyst

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I am an

INFORMATION analyst

Dilip Merala

Presented by AMGEN FOUNDATION
MY PATH

How I became a PERFORMER, ADVOCATE & information analyst.

MAJOR INFLUENCES

  • My father.

    My father was strict and pushed me to succeed. It led me to set big goals for myself.

  • My bosses.

    I feel very lucky to have been supported by a few wonderful bosses that believed in me and helped me find my path through all the noise.

  • Other artists.

    As a kid, I was inspired by Bollywood performers, and I’ve always admired others in the field, like screenwriter Aaron Sorkin. I’ve been inspired by great work throughout my life.

Pursue your own version of happiness.

Life hasn’t always been easy, and I’ve often had to juggle the pressures to succeed with the pursuit of everyday joy. I've learned that my best life has a little bit of both. Working hard and finding happiness in what you do is the biggest accomplishment.

Major Milestones

Starting University

My family and I moved out of the chawl in Mumbai when I left for college. At this point, my family’s financial situation was improving. I started studying engineering at university and also found my love of the performing arts.

Traveling & Pursuit of Acting

The two years I took off from work helped me to visualize a new path for myself. I enjoyed working in the performing arts and traveling to villages throughout India.

Moving to the US

After working for many years in India, I moved to the US to pursue a Masters degree and subsequently was hired by Amgen as an Information Analyst.

Things I learned

along the way:

  • Your day job doesn't have to be everything.

    I love working with data, but I also love performing, backpacking, and supporting my communities. If I looked for a job that gave me everything I wanted, I would have always been unfulfilled. Instead, I built a life that let me do a little bit of everything. My job is just one piece of that.

  • Don't be too hard on yourself.

    My path didn’t always follow a straight line, and things didn’t always go exactly as I’d planned. That doesn’t mean that it was the wrong way to go. As long as you take time to reflect and choose the goals that mean something to you, you’re on the right track.

  • STEM has plenty of space for creativity.

    It’s a myth that there are “art people” and “science people”. At its best, science and technology really need both. I’ve always used my creativity to achieve my goals, and that imaginative approach only makes me better at my job.

  • Be resourceful and sustainable.

    Growing up with limited access to resources like clean water and electricity makes me appreciate them more. We all have a little bit of power to influence the systems around us, and I feel most fulfilled when I’m doing my part to build a better world.

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PHOTOGRAPHER: Tandem Photo • Illustrator: Stephanie Singleton

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