Why this is worth your 5 minutes

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re “qualified enough” or “ready enough” to chase after your dreams, Elisa Torres-Durney’s story is proof that you can have global impact even as a student.

At 19, she founded Girls in Quantum, a social enterprise now reaching 7,000 students across 27+ countries. She’s spoken at TEDx, The Economist, The Lancet, and landed on Forbes Under 30 Chile. But what came out on our Low to Grow conversation is how she started: with curiosity, no roadmap, and zero guarantees.

3 Lessons You Can Apply Today

Here are the three most transferable lessons for young professionals who want steady, intentional growth.

1. Curiosity Is a Compass, Not a Detour

Elisa didn’t have a grand plan. She simply followed what sparked her interest: quantum physics. That quantum leap shaped the trajectory of her life.

I found myself in a position where it was so bizarre, just quantum computing. I never heard that word before.

Most of us wait for clarity before we act. She acted before clarity arrived.

Try this:
What do you lift up thinking about?

2. When You Lack Experience, Collaboration Is Your Edge

Breaking into the world of quantum computing wasn’t just hard because, well, it’s one of the most academically complex fields of our times, but Elisa grew up in Chile where English is not her native tongue.

I remember it was so difficult to understand all the things that people were saying. I’ve been thankful enough now to study at University in the United States can practice my English more. But back then it was very complex and difficult to just understand difficult concepts being translated in English. So it was completely unknown for me.

Instead of being too scared to start, she took the initiative and asked for help. She emailed strangers. She built a supportive network of supporters before she felt ready.

Try this:
Reach out to one person who could help, inspire, or guide you. The message doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to be sent.

3. Your Community Shapes Your Trajectory More Than Your Credentials

Elisa once believed young people could share ideas but didn’t really influence change.

Then girls from around the world started writing to her, asking for mentorship, for access, for someone who understood their circumstances. She realized impact grows through connection, not titles.

Success is rarely solo work. It’s shared momentum.

In reality we have the chance to really make change by including others, by showing that things are happening today in the world that perhaps others are scared to say and afraid to mention… We can communicate things with each other, we can share about our love and passion, and we can help each other in moments that there’s a lot of uncertainty and a lot of, that feeling of, I feel powerless.

Try this:
Map out first degree connections who can help you move towards your goals, your network is often wider than you’d think!

The Messy Truth Behind Elisa’s Success

Elisa’s journey from Chile to Duke University to the UNESCO Stage wasn’t smooth, far from it.

She dealt with:

• technical overwhelm

• imposter syndrome

• being one of the few young women in a niche field

• cultural adjustment after moving countries

• people doubting her

• intense pressure to balance school, mental health, and leading a global nonprofit

But every challenge that she overcame built resilience.

Her achievements didn’t come from having everything figured out, they came from showing up curious, asking for support, learning publicly, and choosing to chase momentum over perfection.

Annie’s Anecdote

This is when my two worlds collide in the best way. I first got to know Elisa through our work in the quantum community, and we first met in person at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris last year, for the Opening Ceremony of the International Year of Quantum.

Elisa was a breath of fresh air, so positive, bright and inquisitive. Elisa gained global recognition because like many founders before her, she didn’t wait to feel “worthy enough” before stepping forward.

My biggest takeaway?

You don’t need the perfect background to succeed.
You need curiosity and the courage to begin before you feel ready.

ChatGPT drafted the first copy of this article before I came in to edit. If ChatGPT was my intern, my feedback would be: good start, medium edits.