Attend the WIB Plenary Event, Boardroom Ready Panel, and Speed Networking MeetUp
Visit us at Booth #5409 and Enter to win an annual WIB membership
NEW YORK, June 01, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Women In Bio (WIB), an organization of professionals committed to promoting careers, leadership, and entrepreneurship of women in the life sciences, today announced multiple ways you can “Take Charge of Your Career” while at the BIO International Convention, June 19-22, 2017 in San Diego. The annual WIB Plenary Event, Booth, MeetUp, and panels will attract hundreds of community and business leaders, both men and women, from across the life sciences industry. Join WIB and the entire biotechnology industry at BIO 2017, which will provide four days of networking, education, and business opportunities—register for BIO today! Also, learn how WIB members can receive a $200 discount on your BIO registration.
“WIB has a tremendous amount of energy this year at BIO and is thrilled to have programming during the entire week designed to help you take charge of your career,” said Dawn Hocevar, President of Women In Bio. “Plan to attend our events to be inspired by the wisdom of other people. Empowering each other and sharing knowledge and experiences is what makes us united and strong.”
We start the week with our Signature Annual WIB Plenary Event “Pitch Perfect Challenge” on Monday, June 19, 2017, at the Manchester Grand Hyatt from 4:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Attending will provide a great opportunity to meet other women who have taken charge of their careers and learn about the companies that have resulted from their tenacity and determination. Carol Gallagher, PharmD, Partner of New Enterprise Associates (NEA), opens the event with a discussion of the investment landscape, including fundraising challenges and current trends. Michael Rice, Founding Partner of LifeSci Advisors, will be at the event to discuss lessons he’s learned over the last year as he and his company have worked to become change agents for gender diversity and offer thoughts on how men can be allies in this effort. LifeSci Advisors is a Founding Sponsor of WIB’s Boardroom Ready Program.
“The team at LifeSci and I are humbled to be working with Women In Bio on the issue of advancing gender diversity in the life sciences industry,” said Michael Rice. “We look forward to helping more women become ‘Boardroom Ready’ and change the makeup of corporate boards in our field. We work better when we work together, and we’re honored to have WIB as a Boardroom Ready partner in our efforts.”
The event then progresses to a Pitch Challenge where women leaders in life science companies will deliver pitches and receive valuable feedback from top female investors on presentation and delivery. The Pitch Challenge will be moderated by Simone Fishburn, BioCentury Innovations, as well as a prestigious panel of investors, including: Nina Kjellson of Canaan Ventures; Margarita Chavez of AbbVie Ventures; Kristina Burow of ARCH Partners; Heather Behanna of Sofinnova Ventures; Marianne De Backer of Johnson & Johnson; and Carol Gallagher of NEA. This event is not to be missed, Register TODAY!
On Wednesday, June 21, WIB President Dawn Hocevar joins an expert panel on the BIO Session: Invest in Diversity to Drive Innovation from 10:45 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.at the BIO Convention in Room 2.
Session Abstract: Diversity is critical to innovation. To truly transform the world with biotech innovation, the ecosystem must include all promising talent, regardless of gender, race or background. Studies show that companies with more diversity at the highest levels see a higher return on investment overall, but even more studies show that the number of women and underrepresented minorities in leadership roles and on boards of biotech and venture capital firms is far too low. This session will connect individuals and organizations with a common goal to innovate around the challenge of building a more inclusive biomedical ecosystem as well as hear about existing efforts, resources and programs available. Also on Wednesday, June 21 at 3:00 p.m., join current and prospective WIB members at Booth #321 in the BIO Exhibit Hall to speed network with industry peers and discuss professional interests. This MeetUp is open to all BIO attendees.
And last but not least, on Thursday, June 22 at 11:00 a.m., meet women who will share how to take charge of your career if you are interested in being on a corporate board. WIB will present “Discover Your Path to the Board Room” featuring a panel of its Board Room Ready program graduates on the BioProcess International Stage for a discussion of the career and personal paths each followed to achieve her goal of serving on a board. WIB President and Panel Moderator, Dawn Hocevar, will lead distinguished women including Theresa Matkovits (Senior Vice President, Head of Drug Development at ContraVir Pharmaceuticals), Jennifer Carver (Chief Operating Officer at La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company), and Susan Dexter (Managing Partner at the Latham BioPharm Group) in a discussion of the paths each took to the board room. The panelists will discuss when they considered being on a board, provide advice to women in the early to middle stages of their careers who want to sit on a board, and provide examples of how they became an accomplished leader in their field.
Don’t miss WIB at Booth #5409 in the BIO Exhibit Hall. Stop by during the BIO convention to say hello and learn more about our rapidly growing organization and how you can take charge of your career!
Women In Bio (WIB) is a non-profit, volunteer organization that offers leadership opportunities at every stage of your career, and a chance to expand your network in a supportive and professional environment. Each of our 13 local chapters hosts numerous events throughout the year, that vary from networking to career development, professional education, and executive level events. In addition, WIB hosts a mentorship program which offers women the chance to mentor or be mentored, a Young WIB program, which offers events and encouragement to middle-school aged girls, hot topic webinars, and the support of a large national organization. For more information, please visit www.womeninbio.org