Women comprise almost half (49%) of biotechnology company employees but only about 20% of executive leadership positions. Despite progress over the years, a recent report states that only 34% of executive teams and 20% of CEOs are reported to be women in the biotech industry. So, what keeps women from making it to the executive level and becoming CEOs?

During this panel discussion, moderated by Bizzy Balaraman, Managing Director at Russell Reynolds, you’ll hear from four CEOs in the Seattle and San Francisco biotech industry and learn:

• What did it take to get to their level of leadership?
• What lessons did they learn along the way?
• What steps can women aspiring to take their career to the next level apply after attending this webinar?

Disclaimer: This event may be recorded, and your image and/or voice may be included in that recording. If you are uncomfortable, please be sure to turn off your webcam.

Program

4:00 p.m. – 4:20 p.m.  Welcome, Reminders, and Introductions
4:20 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.  Panel Discussion
5:15 p.m. – 5:25 p.m.  Q&A
5:25 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.  Closing Remarks 

Speaker Bios

Bizzy Balaraman, Managing Director at Russell Reynolds Associates

Bizzy Balaraman is a consultant at Russell Reynolds Associates’ (RRA) Global Healthcare Practice, specializing in C-suite and BOD searches with emerging growth companies across life sciences and digital health. She regularly works with leading investors and boards on building out early-stage company leadership teams, as well as advising them throughout their growth on topics of succession, D&I, and board evolution. She is experienced in recruiting top leaders and independent directors across a range of functional backgrounds (R&D, commercial, business, and venture). Within life sciences, she primarily works with both private and public biotech companies. She has a particular passion for personalized medicine and AI-driven approaches to drug discovery & development and has worked with some of the leading companies and investors in this growing field. Prior to joining RRA, Bizzy worked at the Advisory Board Company, where she led a consulting team that worked with physicians to evaluate emerging clinical technologies and therapeutics. Prior to that role, she worked for the CEO of a health system on strategic projects and policy initiatives. She began her career in research at various academic medical centers where she specialized in cognitive neuroscience. Bizzy holds a BA in psychology and health policy from Harvard University. She is an active member of the Harvard Alumni Association and Harvard Varsity Club. 

Julie Eastland, C-Level Executive and Board Member at Life Sciences Therapeutics

Julie Eastland is currently a C-Level Executive and Board Member at Life Sciences Therapeutics. She was appointed to the Dynavax board in July 2020. Ms. Eastland previously served as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Business Officer of Rainier Therapeutics, a private biopharmaceutical company focused in FGFR3 bladder cancer. Prior to Rainier, she served as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Business Officer of Cascadian Therapeutics, a publicly traded company. While at Cascadian, Ms. Eastland was instrumental in the negotiation and sale of the company to Seattle Genetics, primarily for tucatinib, a HER2 targeted breast cancer therapy now marketed as Tukysa. Prior to Cascadian, Ms. Eastland served as Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Finance and Operations of VLST Corporation, a privately-held biotechnology company, and held various financial and strategic management positions at publicly traded biotechnology companies, including Dendreon and Amgen. Ms. Eastland received an MBA from Edinburgh University Management School and a BS in finance from Colorado State University.

Katie Fanning, President & Chief Executive Officer of Mozart Therapeutics

Kathleen Fanning has served as President and Chief Executive Officer at Mozart Therapeutics since its inception in July 2020. She has more than 35 years of leadership experience in both public and private biopharmaceutical companies. Prior to Mozart, she served as President and CEO at Nohla Therapeutics, a clinical-stage cell therapy company. During her tenure at Nohla, her strategic and operational leadership transitioned the company from an academic focus to a fully integrated business. Prior to Nohla, Ms. Fanning was Chief Operating Officer at VentiRx and played an instrumental role in the strategic collaboration and company acquisition by Celgene. She has held senior leadership roles at Cell Therapeutics Inc. and CellPro Inc., including Vice President of Business Development and Vice President of Sales and Marketing, where she built and led global sales and marketing organizations. She also spent 13 years at Zeneca Pharmaceuticals (now AstraZeneca), holding positions of ascending responsibility across sales, marketing, and early commercial development. Ms. Fanning received her BA in zoology from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. She serves as a Director of Walden Biosciences.

Gail Maderis, Biotech CEO and Board Member

Gail Maderis has over 30 years of leadership in biopharmaceutical companies. She is currently Chairman of Antiva Biosciences and served as its President and CEO  from July 2015 through April 2023. Under her leadership, Antiva advanced two molecules into clinical trials for HPV-related pre-cancers and completed four venture financings. From 2009 to 2015, Gail led BayBio, the industry organization representing and supporting Northern California’s life science community. From 2003 to 2009, Gail served as President and CEO of Five Prime Therapeutics, Inc. (FPRX), a protein discovery and development company focused on immuno-oncology. Prior to FivePrime, Gail held senior executive positions at Genzyme Corporation, including founder and president of Genzyme Molecular Oncology (GZMO). Gail also practiced management and strategy consulting with Bain & Co. Gail Maderis is Chairman of the board of DURECT Corporation (DRRX) and serves on the board of Valitor, Inc., as well as on the non-profit boards of  The Termeer Foundation and CLSI, and on the Board of Trustees of the University of California Berkeley Foundation. She received a BS in business from UC Berkeley and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Lynn Seely, MD, President & Chief Executive Officer of Lyell Immunopharma

Dr. Lynn Seely has served as Lyell’s President and Chief Executive Officer since December 2022 and has been a member of the board of directors since May 2021. Dr. Seely was formerly President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors of Myovant Sciences, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company that gained marketing approval and launched ORGOVYX for men with advanced prostate cancer and MYFEMBREE for women with uterine fibroids and endometriosis. Prior to joining Myovanct, Dr. Seely served as the Chief Medical Officer of Medivation, Inc. In this role, Dr. Seely oversaw the development and marketing approval of the blockbuster medicine XTANDI for men with castration-resistant prostate cancer and held leadership roles in drug development collaborations with Pfizer Inc. and Astellas Pharma UC. Inc. Prior to joining Medivation, Dr. Seely served as Vice President of Clinical Development at Corgentech Inc., at Cytyc Health Corporation, and at ProDuct Health, Inc., a medical device company acquired by Cytyc Corporation. Dr. Seely began her industry career in clinical development at Chiron Corporation. In addition to serving on the Lyell Board, Dr. Seely serves as the lead independent director for Blueprint Medicines, a member of the board of directors of TORL Biotherapeutics, and is on the Board of Managers for Life Science Cares Bay Area. Dr. Seely received a BA in journalism from the University of Oklahoma and an MD from the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. She completed her residency and served as Chief Resident in internal medicine at Yale-New Haven Hospital, and she completed her Fellowship in endocrinology and metabolism at the University of California, San Diego, Where she was on faculty before joining industry. 

Pricing Information

• Members: Free
• Non-Members: N/A (members-only)

*Not a Member? Click here to purchase a WIB membership and gain access to our video library, mentorship opportunities, and more.  

 Please read WIB's Code of Conduct.

Note: The Zoom meeting link will be sent along with a confirmation email after registration has been completed.