WIB-Metro New York: Building Community in Biotech, October 17, 2023

On October 17, 2023, WIB-Metro New York organized an event at Thompson Hine to promote open dialogue in support of women in the biotech community. The evening began with a social networking session, followed by an engaging panel discussion moderated by Emily Mathieu. The panel featured speakers Faith Charles, Karen Heidelberger, and Melissa DiTucci, who delved into the topic of cultivating synergistic connections to foster a robust professional community.

During the discussion, the speakers emphasized the responsibility of women in senior leadership roles to actively facilitate the advancement of junior women into roles they are well-qualified for, thereby avoiding the metaphorical "ladder-pulling" phenomenon. As a piece of advice for aspiring junior women seeking sponsors, it was stressed that the most fruitful relationships tend to develop organically. It was recommended to approach individuals with a certain degree of subtlety and persistence and continue attending networking events. Moreover, for many junior women, finding a female mentor or sponsor might require looking outside of their current company. Several of the speakers cited influential mentors who were men. The overarching message conveyed was that professional relationships are reciprocal, and success is often a reflection of one's dedication, kindness, thoughtfulness, and openness.

The event concluded with refreshments and further opportunities for networking.

Written by Ellen Horste