WIB-Greater Montreal: New Year, Leadership in Action

Women In Bio Greater Montreal had a fantastic evening at COVA Square Victoria on January 28, bringing together professionals from across the biopharma ecosystem to reflect on leadership, growth, and navigating change in 2026. A huge thank you to our incredible panelists, Samantha Bolger, Shalini Chugh, My Dang, and our fantastic moderator, Deborah Blake, for their candid and thoughtful perspectives across commercial, regulatory, and scientific leadership. The conversation highlighted the core foundations of leadership and the essential soft skills we need to continuously develop.

Key takeaways from the discussion:

• Effective communication is foundational to leadership — the ability to clearly present and concisely summarize your work using high-level language for cross-functional audiences is critical.
• The transition from individual contributor to leader is defined by influence, not title. Leadership starts with how you impact and enable others.
• Leadership growth often calls for a sponsor and a support system—understanding what you can control, accepting what you cannot, and having the courage to change environments when needed.
• There is no single “right” way to lead. Leverage your strengths, step outside your comfort zone, invest in skill-building, and embrace the work that energizes you.
• Be proactive about leadership aspirations. Once you decide to pursue a leadership path, engage your direct manager as early as possible—these transitions take time, trust, and intentional expansion of responsibilities.

Thank you again to COVA Square Victoria for hosting us and to everyone who joined the conversation, shared ideas, and helped make the evening such a success. Looking forward to continuing these discussions throughout 2026!

Submitted by Ting Jin