Some transitions come with a playbook. This one doesn't. Moving from functional leader to enterprise executive is one of the most disorienting — and defining — shifts in a woman's career. The rules change. The identity shifts. And suddenly, the thing that made you exceptional no longer defines how you lead. This intimate fireside chat brings together a small group of senior women in bio for an honest, off-the-record conversation about that transition — what it really takes, what it costs, and what becomes possible on the other side.

Disclaimer: This event may be recorded. If so, there is a possibility your image and/or voice may be a part of that recording. If you do not wish for your image to be included, please turn off your camera.

Speaker Bio

Tara Kochis, Founder and CEO of CollectiveMinds, Moderator

Tara has spent 25 years forging trusted relationships. As the founder and CEO of CollectiveMinds, she brings a thought-partner mindset to every engagement. Her track record of success taught her the importance of asking the right questions, staying close throughout, and ensuring the process feels as considered as the outcome. 

Valerie Palmieri, Founder and CEO of Momentum Consulting

Valerie is an experienced executive leader of high-growth, disruptive public and private biotech companies, with a track record spanning Chairwoman, Board Member, CEO/President, Senior Executive, and Consulting Principal roles. Her experience includes oversight of multiple locations and 1,000+ employees across sales, marketing, customer retention, operations, research, compliance, quality assurance, and finance. As CEO and Founder of Momentum Consulting, LLC, Ms. Palmieri advises diagnostics companies in oncology, women's health, and neurodegenerative disease/brain health on reimbursement strategy, market access, laboratory operations, managed care, and commercialization. Her work includes M&A advisory and guidance on Medicare coverage and coding pathways such as MolDX, LCD strategy, and Advanced Diagnostic Laboratory Test (ADLT) designation. She is a frequent speaker on FDA regulation of advanced diagnostic laboratory tests, most recently presenting at Executive War College in April 2026. Ms. Palmieri maintains a specific focus in women's health and FemTech, serving as an advisor and board member to women's health and novel disruptive technology organizations. She is also active in healthcare policy advocacy, co-chairing the Reimbursement Committee and the Menopause Committee for the Women's Health Advocates (WHA), where she has supported congressional engagement and legislative strategy in support of the Advancing Menopause Care and Mid-Life Women's Health Act, and has engaged directly with CMS and FDA on emerging regulatory pathways affecting diagnostics. Prior positions include Executive Chair of Aspira Women's Health, CEO/President of Aspira Women's Health, COO of Aspira Women's Health, CEO/President of Diagnocure, and Senior Vice President of Operations at Laboratory Corporation of America and DIANON Systems, Inc. Ms. Palmieri possesses deep expertise in both large-scale and start-up executive and operational management, including strategic business planning, commercialization of products, mergers and acquisitions, staffing optimization, client-focused partnerships, customer retention, supply chain management and logistics, operations, research, compliance, quality assurance, finance, and healthcare policy advocacy. Ms. Palmieri received her BS in medical technology, with honors, from Western Connecticut State University; a Mini MBA from Elon University; Certificate in Digital Health and Strategy from Columbia Business School Executive Education; Certificate in Corporate Governance from Stanford Directors College; and Certificate in Corporate Governance from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. She currently resides in Connecticut with her family.

Bharti Shah, CEO & Chairwoman of CTIS

As Chief Executive Officer of CTIS, Bharti provides leadership, coordination, and day-to-day management of business operations. Mrs. Shah has been an integral part of CTIS’ business operations and an investor, supporting new initiatives and growth opportunities at CTIS. Mrs. Shah has more than 20 years of professional experience in the field of education, having served as vice president, director, and teacher at Montessori Children’s House of Loudoun (MCHL). Although she has retired from teaching, she continues her philanthropic journey and believes it is important to give back to those in need globally and locally. Mrs. Shah has been committed to corporate citizenship through support of the healthcare needs of local and global communities, facilitating services in the areas of children’s health and education. She is actively involved in sponsoring more than 50 schools in India, providing management, strategy planning, and informatics support to the Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation. With the Arogya Foundation, she has worked to develop a pilot project that involves the use of handheld devices for the advancement of rural health. Mrs. Shah has been involved with many global health projects, including the International Spirit of Healing, the Art of Living Foundation, Health Related Information Dissemination Amongst Youth (HRIDAY) & Student Health Action Network (SHAN), International Network for Cancer Treatment and Research (INCTR), International Spirit of Life Foundation, and Sri Sri University. Mrs. Shah has a bachelor’s degree in commerce and economics from Mumbai University and has a Montessori teacher training and certification from the Institute for Advanced Montessori Studies’ Barrie School.

Pricing Information

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• Non-Members*: $10

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