Shereen's Sunday Interview with Professor Neva Haites

Why do so few high achieving women like to "blow their own trumpet"? It's a question I often ask myself when we're looking for guests for my show.

Every week I do a "big interview" with one special guest about their life, their achievements and their influences. It can be a public figure, a celebrity, someone who's made a significant contribution to life in Scotland. I've interviewed a huge variety of fascinating people but so far more men than women. And it's not for lack of trying.

I've come to the conclusion that while there are undoubtedly many highly capable, interesting women out there, we as a species can be reluctant to promote ourselves and talk openly about our achievements. We tend to see it as boasting. Even women in the top jobs prefer to remain behind the scenes.

My producer Della and I have made it our mission to persuade as many of these women as we can to tell their stories.This week we managed to persuade Professor Neva Haites to talk to us.She's a professor of Human Genetics who's led the way in identifying the gene that can cause breast cancer. Neva is an inspirational and fascinating woman. I hope you agree, we need to know about more women like her... so any of your suggestions would be gratefully received!

Listen to the extended interview with Professor Neva Haites below:

Listen to Shereen, Sunday 0900 on BBC Radio Scotland and available to listen again on iPlayer.