NEW YORK, June 02, 2016 (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 plans to feature its newly launched Boardroom Ready program for women executives in the Life Sciences at the BIO International Convention. WIB’s new certificate program, unveiled in May of this year, is designed to prepare women executives to serve on boards. Together with select industry sponsors, WIB will host networking events at BIO for women who are interested in pursuing additional leadership roles and continuing to make significant contributions towards advancing the field.
Official Launch of the Boardroom Ready Program: Tuesday, June 7, at 4:00pm at the MassBio Pavilion, Booth #6460 in Exhibit Hall
MassBio, a Boardroom Ready program supporting partner, will host a panel discussion focused on new initiatives to ensure women have equal access throughout the industry. The panel will be moderated by Simone Fishburn of BioCentury, and former WIB President, who will lead the conversation about improving gender diversity in the industry and will include panelists Michael Rice, Founding Partner of LifeSci Advisors, the founding sponsor of Boardroom Ready; John MacDonald, VP of BD at Biogen, a supporting partner whose Raising the Bar program served as a template for Boardroom Ready; Carolyn Brougham and Dawn Hocevar, leaders from WIB who have led the development of Boardroom Ready from conception to execution; Karen Bernstein, Co-Founder & Chairman of BioCentury, an outspoken advocate for change at the board level; and Jodie Morrison, CEO of Tokai Pharmaceuticals and co-chair of MassBio’s new gender diversity initiative.
Applications for Boardroom Ready are available at http://www.womeninbio.org/executives/board-ready. The Boardroom Ready program is also seeking coaches to serve as mentors and sponsors who will guide individual participant(s) through the networking process before, during, and following the planned curriculum at George Washington University. Coaches will fill an important role as a bridge to an actual board placement. Boardroom Ready is also looking for additional sponsors to provide financial support and facilitate access for participants from across the country. More information about how to become a coach or a sponsor can be found by contacting info@womeninbio.org.
“I am so thrilled to announce that we are officially accepting applications for the Boardroom Ready program,” said Carolyn Brougham, co-chair of the Boardroom Ready program committee at WIB. “This milestone is the culmination of a year of planning and research and this course is just the first step in the process.” Dawn Hocevar, co-chair of the Boardroom Ready program committee, added, “Engaging with our coaches and sponsors will be key to ensuring the process is complete by placing more women on boards.”
As the founding sponsor of the program, LifeSci Advisors hopes that other companies will follow their lead and support the program. “Since WIB is a non-profit organization, financial support is still very essential to start and keep programs like this running for the benefit of the industry. We’re glad to be the first sponsor, and look forward to participation from other companies and our industry partners,” said Michael Rice, Founding Partner at LifeSci Advisors.
Other WIB and Sponsors’ events to be held during BIO include:
Executive Luncheon sponsored by Biogen: Monday, June 6, 2016
This event offers executives the opportunity to discuss other ways that everyone can help to promote women at the executive level. The event is by invitation only.
WIB Plenary Panel Event: Monday, June 6, 2016, 4:00pm – 7:00pm at the Clift Hotel
A panel of visionary leaders including Lisa Cohen, Executive Director, Washington Global Health Alliance, Renee Compton Ryan, Vice President, Venture Investments, Johnson & Johnson, Frances Colon, Deputy Science and Technology Adviser to the Secretary of State, and moderator Nicole Fisher, Founder and CEO, HHR Strategies. This networking event is open to all. Sponsors include BDO, Cytovance Biologics, LifeSci Advisors, Paragon Bioservices, Pfizer, CMC Biologics, Latham Biopharm Group, Ernst and Young, and Ewing Cole.
WIB Meet-ups: Tuesday, June 7, 2016, 3:00 – 4:00pm, geared towards those located in San Francisco, and Wednesday, June 8, 3:00 – 4:00pm, a speed networking session open to all. Meet-ups will take place at the designated Meet-Up Area, Booth #6282.
WIB Hosts ‘The Last Pitch’, Thursday, June 9, at 2:00pm at the Bioprocess International (BPI) Theater, Booth #5476
WIB’s unique Last Pitch event, sponsored by BPI, will be moderated by Li-Hsien (Lily) Rin-Laures, M.D., Partner Marshall Gerstein Borun, and features a panel of investors and company presenters who will receive feedback and advice on their company pitch. For more information, please visit http://www.womeninbio.org/events/special-events.
About Women In Bio (WIB)
WIB is an organization of professionals committed to promoting careers, leadership, and entrepreneurship of women in the life sciences. Each local chapter hosts numerous events throughout the year, that vary from networking events to career development, to professional education, to executive level-focused events. In addition to events, WIB hosts a mentorship program which offers women the chance to mentor or be mentored, a Young Women In Bio program, which offers events and encouragement to middle-school aged girls, webinars, and the support of a large national organization with 13 chapters and growing. As a volunteer organization, WIB offers leadership opportunities at every stage of your career, and a chance to expand your network in a supportive and professional environment. For more information, visit www.womeninbio.org.