Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) present an alternative to conventional antibiotics but details of their mechanism of action and the basis for differences in potency observed between different bacterial strains remain unclear. Structural information is crucial for defining the molecular mechanism by which these small proteins recognize and interact with different cell membranes. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) structural investigations of membrane-active AMPs in a range of lipid membranes from model systems to live bacteria will be described. The results of such structural studies could be used to design more potent AMPs for therapeutic applications and help fight the rise in antibiotic resistance. This personal account of how I navigated a career in biophysical chemistry will conclude with a brief discussion of my experience in a leadership program for women in science set against the backdrop of Antarctica.