Join us for an inspiring panel conversation around the importance of collaboration, mentorship, and empowerment among women. The panelists will share anecdotes from their careers about how women supporting one another impacted their personal and professional growth. The event will also highlight the importance of environments where women can rise together, share opportunities, and achieve collective success. Network with other passionate women in the life sciences and connect with mentors who can guide you on your career path. Whether you’re an aspiring biotech professional or a seasoned leader, this event is a great opportunity to be a part of this movement committed to shaping a more inclusive future for women in biotech.

Note: Each ticket includes light bites and non-alcoholic beverages.

Walk-ins will not be accepted. 

Program

5:30 p.m. – 6:15 p.m.  Check in / Networking
6:15 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.  Panel
7:30 p.m. – 7:45 p.m.  Q&A for Panel
7:45 p.m. – 8:15 p.m.  Networking

Speaker Bios

Shelley Force Aldred, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of Rondo Therapeutics

Shelley is CEO and Co-founder of Rondo Therapeutics, an emerging biopharmaceutical company developing bispecific therapeutic antibodies that enable controlled activation of the immune system to fight cancer.  Previously, Dr. Force Aldred was a member of TeneoBio’s founding team, where she led preclinical development for the company’s CD3 T-cell engager platform, which ultimately generated $1.5B in up-front payments through partnerships and an acquisition by Amgen.  Early in her career, Dr. Force Aldred developed a passion for starting companies when she co-founded SwitchGear Genomics and later sold it to Active Motif. Dr. Force Aldred earned a PhD in genetics from Stanford where she continues to be involved as an advisor for Stanford’s SPARK translational medicine program and as a member of the Board of Governors for the Stanford Medicine Alumni Association.
 

Tara Nickerson, Chief Executive Officer of Therini Bio

Tara is the Chief Executive Officer of Therini Bio, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapies for neuroinflammation. Tara is also an Independent Director of Mispro, a company offering contract vivarium for preclinical research. Tara was previously a founding team member and Chief Business Officer of Maze Therapeutics and Prothena Corporation (Nasdaq: PRTA), and held Vice President roles in Business & Corporate Development at Neotope Biosciences and Elan Pharmaceuticals. Tara has a PhD in experimental medicine and a BSc in biology from McGill University as well as an MBA from the University of California at Berkeley, Haas School of Business.

Lori Nishiura Mackenzie, Co-founder of the Stanford VMware Women’s Leadership Innovation Lab

Lori is a speaker, researcher, and change agent who creates inclusive organizations and empowers leaders to unleash the power of their teams. She is co-founder of the Stanford VMware Women’s Leadership Innovation Lab, which conducts impact research. Lori collaborated with the California Partners Project, a non-profit co-founded by California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, to create two Board Playbooks at inclusiveboards.stanford.edu. Lori has served as lead strategist for diversity, equity, and inclusion at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and executive director at the Stanford Clayman Institute for Gender Research. Her work has been published in the Harvard Business Review, The New York Times, Fast Company, and Inc. Lori brings 20 years of marketing strategy and business management experience at companies including Procter & Gamble, Apple, eBay, and PayPal. Lori has an MBA from the Wharton School of Business and a BA in economics from the University of California, Berkeley. 

Jenny Rooke, Founder and Managing Director of Genoa Ventures

Dr. Rooke is the Founder and Managing Director of Genoa Ventures, where she leverages her unique toolkit of genetics domain expertise, strategic business acumen, and venture capital investing to launch and empower the next generation of category-defying companies at the convergence of technology and biology. She has nearly two decades of investing experience beginning at Fidelity Biosciences in 2006 as a Kauffman Fellow. After Fidelity, Jenny helped establish the investing function at the Gates Foundation, funding companies in genetic engineering, diagnostics, and synthetic biology. Jenny started what would become Genoa Ventures in 2014 using the largest life sciences syndicate on AngelList and achieving one of the highest-performing AngelList syndicates in any sector. Jenny’s investments and board seats at Genoa include Intabio (acquired by Danaher Sciex), InterVenn, Aqtual, Meiogenix, and BrightSpec. Her prior investments include Zymergen (IPO), Caribou (IPO), Accuri (acquired by Becton Dickinson), and Topaz (acquired by Sanofi). Prior to her investing career, Jenny was a management consultant with McKinsey focused on the pharma and biotech sectors. She also served in executive management roles at US Genomics, leading Corporate Development and Research and Development. Jenny earned a BS in physics from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a PhD in genetics from Yale University.
 

Renee Ryan, Chief Executive Officer of PinPrint

Renee is recognized as an industry insider and leading investor, deal-maker, and passionate innovator. She has over 25 years of building category-creating healthcare companies. Renee currently serves as Founder & CEO of PinPrint, a Stanford spin-out focused on optimizing the patient experience for drug and vaccine delivery. She served as CEO and Board member of Cala Health, a pioneer in the field of wearable neuromodulation therapy having launched two generations of product and consistently doubled revenue each year of her leadership. Previously, she led the medical technology investments for Johnson & Johnson Innovation (JJDC) on the West Coast and Asia Pacific for 8 years. While at J&J, she made over 15 new investments, including the Series A for Cala Health. Other investments include Auris Health, Carbon 3D, Verb Surgical, PowerVision, and Tusker Medical, several of which led to significant acquisitions.  Previously, she was a healthcare investment banker at Goldman Sachs and Jefferies. She currently sits on the Boards of RefleXion Medical and Neuropace (NPCE).

Lila Taylor, Chief Business Officer of Demy-Colton, Moderator

Lila is Demy-Colton's Chief Business Officer, with over a decade of experience in the biotechnology and life sciences industry. Trained as a scientist, she has played a pivotal role at Demy-Colton, where she shapes and expands high-level investor and business development conferences, including notable events like Biotech Showcase, BioFuture, and the Biotech CEO Summit. Lila is known for her ability to build strong relationships with industry leaders, stakeholders, and venture capitalists, consistently seeking out innovative companies worldwide to participate in Demy-Colton’s events.
 

Pricing Information

Registration by August 10

• Members: $35
• Student Members: $25
• Non-members*: $55
• Student Non-members: $35

Registration after August 10

• Members: $50 
• Student Members: $35
• Non-members*: $70
• Student Non-members: $50

*Interested in joining Women In Bio? Click here to learn more about WIB membership and gain access to our video library, mentorship opportunities, and more. 

Please read WIB's Code of Conduct and Refund Policy.

Note: A confirmation email will be sent after registration has been completed. 

Maximum Capacity

100

Parking Information

Street parking (free and subject to availability) and nearby garages are available. Spot Hero can show nearby garages and rates.

Public Transit Information

Salesforce Transit Center is the closest BART/Muni station to Salesforce Tower, which is directly connected to the building.

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