WIB-Capital Region: 8th Annual HERstory Gala

On the evening of April 16, 2026, the Hilton Rockville ballroom came alive with the energy of 210 attendees representing 102 companies, universities, organizations, and nonprofits from across the Capital Region. Handshakes, laughter, shared advice, new partnerships — the 8th Annual HERstory Gala was all of this and more: a celebration of women in life sciences, and a reminder of why community matters now more than ever. Guests enjoyed cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and lively networking before settling in for an evening of remarkable speeches, heartfelt award presentations, and the kind of connection that outlasts any single event.

A Word from WIB Capital Region Leadership

Amrita Madabushi, Co-Chair, WIB Capital Region 
Chapter Co-Chair Amrita Madabushi set the stage for the evening, introducing the WIB Capital Region leadership team, walking attendees through WIB Capital Region's vibrant lineup of initiatives and extending heartfelt thanks to the sponsors and the dedicated HERstory organizing team whose months of hard work made the evening possible.

Opening Remarks

Marc Elrich, Montgomery County Executive
County Executive Marc Elrich opened the evening by underscoring the strength and diversity of Montgomery County's life sciences ecosystem — and the urgency of building on it. He spoke directly to the moment, acknowledging that the era of relying solely on federal economic stability has shifted, and that intentional, community-driven growth is now essential. Elrich emphasized that Montgomery County's inclusive culture is itself a competitive advantage — a place where talent from every background feels welcome, and where the life sciences community continues to thrive because of it.

Mayor Monique LaRocque Ashton, City of Rockville
Mayor Monique LaRocque Ashton — the first person of color to serve as Mayor of Rockville — brought a message of both historical pride and forward momentum. She invoked the legacy of women pioneers who came before and reminded attendees of the obligation to carry that torch forward. Mayor Ashton highlighted Rockville's active efforts to build a true biotech community — not just a collection of buildings, but a living ecosystem. She spotlighted initiatives including Founders Rising, a program designed to help scientists and innovators turn ideas into companies, and Bio Boost networking events to foster collaboration across the region. She also spoke to the urgent need for VC funding and free technical assistance for women-led startups. She paid tribute to scientific trailblazers — Rosalind Franklin, Barbara McClintock, Jennifer Doudna, Emmanuelle Charpentier, and Katalin Karikó — and called on attendees to honor their legacy by refusing to accept closed doors. Citing data that women earn 55% of life science doctoral degrees yet hold only 20–22% of tenured positions, she issued a clear call to action:

"A closed door is not the end of your story. If your grant isn't funded, revise it. If your paper is rejected, resubmit it. If the opportunity doesn't come, create it."  — Mayor Monique LaRocque Ashton

She also acknowledged the sobering impact of recent NIH funding cuts, noting that a published analysis found women lost nearly 58% of their grant funding on average, and that up to 60% of terminated early-career grants were led by women. Her message: the system may be uneven, but our response must be unwavering. Persistence, belief in oneself, and the power of community, she affirmed, are what will carry women in life sciences forward.

Setting the Tone

Teri Ngo, Co-Chair, WIB Capital Region
Chapter Co-Chair Teri Ngo took the stage with warmth and a touch of humor, reminding attendees that no matter what is happening in the world — expected or not — the way forward is always with grace.

"In today's world, with everything happening globally and locally — win or lose, whether things go as planned or not — we accept what happens and carry on with grace."  — Teri Ngo, Co-Chair, WIB Capital Region

Keynote Addresses
The keynote speakers were introduced by Theresa Cassino, Chair of the 2026 HERstory Gala Committee, whose leadership was instrumental in bringing the evening together.

Ellington West, Co-Founder & CEO, Sonavi Labs
Ellington delivered one of the most powerful speeches of the evening — a deeply personal account of stepping into leadership, facing fear, and finding purpose. She shared the story of how her father, a scientist and inventor, challenged her to commercialize a life-saving pediatric health technology — knowing that a million children worldwide were dying annually from a preventable condition. She walked away from a lucrative corporate career, kept her mortgage, lost her health insurance, and began building Sonavi Labs. She spoke with candor about the year she spent shrinking — playing smaller than she was out of fear — until she realized that the most confident voices in the room weren't always the most knowledgeable ones. What saved her, she said, was not credentials or a perfect pitch deck, but her team. Ellington offered three truths she wished someone had told her earlier. First, where you come from is not your ceiling — it is your foundation. Second, self-doubt is not a disqualifier; it is the price of admission to anything worth building. And third:

"Everything you are working toward and fighting for is already yours. The crown you carry has already been paid for — in full — by women before you. All you have to do is step into it and wear it."  — Ellington West, CEO, Sonavi Labs

She closed with a tribute to the women who mentored and championed her — mirrors who reflected back the version of her she hadn't yet grown into — and with a rallying call borrowed from Sojourner Truth: if the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down alone, then women together ought to be able to turn it right side up again.

Liz Powell, Esq., MPH — Founder & CEO, G2G Consulting & Women's Health Advocates
Liz Powell brought a journey spanning Capitol Hill, entrepreneurship, and decades of health advocacy. She began her career as a passionate student activist, went on to work for two members of Congress, earned her law degree and MPH while working full time, and ultimately launched G2G Consulting in 2007 — a firm that has since raised over $612 million in non-dilutive government funding for health and technology innovators. In 2025, Liz founded Women's Health Advocates, which grew to all 50 states in its first year and organized the first-ever Women's Health Capitol Hill Day. She reminded attendees that advocacy works — and that small, consistent actions compound into meaningful, lasting change. On the power of advocacy, Liz reflected:

"With health advocacy, especially women's health, it can be really tough sharing personal journeys through cancer treatment, endometriosis, fertility challenges, miscarriages, caring for an elderly parent, or losing a loved one. Any kind of loss is devastating. But taking that pain and turning it into action is empowering — and it can even bring joy."  — Liz Powell, Founder & CEO, G2G Consulting & Women's Health Advocates

Drawing from her years on Capitol Hill and as an entrepreneur, she shared five lessons learned along the way:

• Be kind — especially to those in supporting roles. Relationships matter, and small interactions can grow into lifelong connections and powerful collaborations.
• Find joy in what you do. Energy is contagious, and curiosity leads to growth. Even in adversity, there is opportunity to learn.
• Embrace challenges. Starting a business brought sleepless nights, financial pressure, and difficult decisions. But you learn to move forward, rebuild trust, and keep going.
• Dream big — 20 years ahead. Make a plan, step by step. Whether it's curing disease, building a company, or changing systems — start moving toward it now.
• Appreciate. Appreciate your life, your work, your people, and even the small things. Everything is precious.

Celebrating Excellence: Award Presentations

The award presentations were introduced by Shyanne Salen and Satarupa Bhaduri, Co-Vice Chairs of the 2026 HERstory Gala Committee.

Rising Star Award
This year's Rising Star Award — honoring early- to mid-career women in life sciences who demonstrate exceptional leadership and meaningful contributions to the Capital Region community — was presented to Feyisanmi (Feyi) Ojo. Feyi is a Quality and Validation Professional specializing in cGMP and Regulatory Compliance. Congratulations, Feyi!

Catalyst for Change Micro-Grant
The Catalyst for Change Micro-Grant supports efforts that foster a diverse and inclusive environment within WIB and the broader Capital Region life sciences community. This year's recipient is the Community Enrichment Laboratory for Learning Sciences (CELLS), represented by Founder and Executive Director Vanya Paralanov. Their project, HERstory in the Making — Early Exposure to Biology as Technology, will fund five full scholarships for girls in grades 5–12 with demonstrated financial need to attend a 6–8 week class at the CELLS BioMakerSpace.

MYstory for HERstory Scholarship
The MYstory for HERstory Scholarship provides undergraduate and graduate students with the opportunity to attend the HERstory Gala and receive a one-year WIB membership. Congratulations to all six recipients — we are proud to support the next generation of women in life sciences. 

• Aurna Mitra — Hood College
• Sharon Martin — University of Maryland, College Park
• Kyah Young — Baltimore City Community College
• Tavreet Gill — University of Maryland, College Park
• Harshitha Chaluvarayi — University of Maryland, Baltimore County
• Kendall Elenbaas — Hood College

With Gratitude: Our Sponsors

The 8th Annual HERstory Gala was made possible through the extraordinary generosity of our sponsors at every level:

• Gold: Sanofi, Qiagen, PRECIGEN
• Silver: Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC)
• Bronze: Emerging Technology Centers (ETC)
• Media: BioBuzz
• Chapter Sponsors: TEDCO, Wexford Science + Technology, ATCC, NIH Federal Credit Union
• Catalyst for Change Grant Sponsors: 8 Count Cosmetics, EmpowerBio, and Theresa Cassino
• Custom Sponsors, Table Sponsors & Donors

Your generous support makes transformative evenings like this one possible. Thank you.

Thank You to Our HERstory Gala Team
It takes a village, and we are endlessly thankful to the incredible team whose months of hard work and heartfelt dedication brought the 8th Annual HERstory Gala to life.

• HERstory Committee: Chair Theresa Cassino; Co-Chairs Shyanne Salen and Satarupa Bhaduri; and over 30 volunteers who gave their time and energy wholeheartedly.
• WIB Capital Region Leadership: Co-Chairs Teri Ngo and Amrita Madabushi; Vice-Chair Savanah Shumaker.
• Sponsorship Committee: Chair Stephanie Davis, whose passion and dedication were instrumental in making this evening possible; Co-Vice Chairs Poonam Mercadante and Malathy Krishnamurthy.
• Communications Team: Co-Chairs Yun-Ting and Nhung Hoang; Vice-Chair Tamanna Periwal.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 8th Annual HERstory Gala. The story continues — and we're so glad you're part of it.