“I always bring an umbrella and sunglasses—hope for the best, plan for the worst,” said Alice Globus, who is building her career on the same philosophy. Globus is the New York–based chief financial officer of Nanotronics, which is bringing artificial intelligence to manufacturing, automating processes for making everything from pharmaceuticals and baby formula to semiconductors and cars. The finance role is a pivot for her, as she began her career in astrophysics, an interest sparked by an internship at the American Museum of Natural History. “I encourage everyone to do their Ph.D. studies in astrophysics,” she said, “because it shows that no problem is too large to tackle.” Here she shares her unconventional career path.