WIB-Capital Region: 7th Annual HERstory Gala

It was a night of laughter, tears, and inspiration. It was a night to cherish memories, acknowledge realities, and nurture possibilities. It was the night of Women In Bio Capital Region’s annual signature event, the 7th HERstory Gala. The 2025 HERstory Gala took place on May 8 at Pinstripes (Bethesda, Maryland), bringing together over 200 attendees from industry, nonprofits, academia, and government to celebrate and connect. Our Chapter Chair, Maya Yovcheva, summarized it well: “The energy in the room was electric—so much passion, connection, and genuine support. It was amazing to see new friendships forming and old ones strengthening, all rooted in our shared commitment to lifting women up.”

After the networking hour, the main event of the night was the speeches delivered by two keynote speakers, Kathie Callahan Brady and Tammi Thomas. Kathie reminded us that career paths are often not linear. From dropping out of high school to earning the top secret clearance, from cancer diagnosis to healing, from feeling achieved to being humbled by grief, she told us to “own your story, even a messy one.” Kathie is the President & Chief Executive Officer of Frederick Innovative Technology Center (FITCI). She shared that FITCI is not just a place, it is a purpose; they help companies transform, enhance profitability, and give back to the community. With the mentality of wanting to be the best and wanting the best for everyone, she offered a few advice, including lifting others, staying curious, and believing in yourself. Echoing what Kathie said about lifting small businesses, Tammi (the Chief Development & Marketing Officer at TEDCO, Maryland Technology Development Corporation) mentioned that roughly 56% of the funds of TEDCO were awarded to women and minority-lead businesses in the past three years. She encouraged us to seek out mentors as well as to be mentors for others. She told us about her several mentors and sponsors, and how they changed her view and steered her path. “Surround yourself with someone you can be vulnerable with and seek help. Don’t let your tank get empty. It is ok to ask for help,” said Tammi. Lastly, Tammi closed by sharing how her daughter chose to join the Navy while graduating during the pandemic—a powerful testament to her resolve, and we all felt the emotion of a proud mom.

The evening concluded with the presentation of the Rising Star Award, the Catalyst for Change Award, and the MYstory Scholarship. The Rising Star Awardee, Sneha Saggurthi, shared her personal story that motivated her to become even more compassionate and supportive than ever. The Catalyst for Change Awardee, EmpowerBio founder, Amrita Madabushi, announced that they aim to use the funding to empower individuals to overcome barriers in their careers. Lastly, the chapter extended its congratulations to the MYstory Scholarship Recipients: Amanda Tran (UMCP), Nikki Nguyen (UMCP), Nypunya Poigey (UMBC), Oritsemisan Ejutse (UMB), Susana Najera (JHU), Teri Owens (MC/UMGC), and Zehra Syeda (UMCP).

The 2025 HERstory Gala was a success, and it would not have happened without the support of the entire Women In Bio Capital Region team, especially the dedication of the 2025 HERstory Gala Committee (led by Nao Gamo and Theresa Cassino) and the efforts from all the volunteers. In addition, our sincere appreciation goes to the sponsors (TEDCO (Gold), ATCC (Silver), sanofi (Bronze), BioHealth Innovation, BioBuzz, and many more) for their commitment to our mission and support of this event. We hope to see you next year!

Submitted by Yun-Ting Kao