On April 30, the Women In Bio Pittsburgh Chapter hosted the closing celebration of the 2024–2025 MAPS (Mentorship, Advisors, Peers, and Sponsorship) Mentoring Circles Program at Project Olympus. The event brought together mentors, mentees, and members of the broader life sciences community to recognize the meaningful connections and professional growth achieved over the past six months. The evening began with open networking, where mentors, mentees, WIB members, and guests had the opportunity to connect and share experiences. As part of the MAPS Mentoring Circles Program, each mentor and mentee in attendance shared a personal insight reflecting on their experience in this year’s MAPS cycle. To honor their commitment, certificates of participation were presented to all mentors and mentees who completed the program.
Throughout the program, mentees expressed deep appreciation for the opportunity to build confidence, expand their professional networks, and gain practical career development skills. Key learnings included:
- Personal and Professional Growth
- Career Development Skills
- Navigating Career Transitions
- Community and Connection
Mentors also shared how rewarding the experience was, noting that they gained as much as they gave. Their reflections emphasized:
- Personal Fulfillment
- Mutual Learning
- Encouraging Confidence and Progress
- Program Impact
The event concluded with a keynote presentation by Kerry Boehner, a leading biotech recruiter, titled Cracking the Biotech Code: Mindset, Methods, and Moves to Land Your Dream Job. Kerry provided actionable strategies for standing out in the biotech job market, including clarifying your value, building authentic relationships, and taking intentional steps toward career advancement. Whether attendees participated in the MAPS cohort or joined as guests, the celebration provided a meaningful opportunity to reflect, connect, and take the next steps forward as part of Pittsburgh’s thriving life sciences community.
Insights from participants
- Before looking for a change by looking for a new job, look within. Ask if the experience you want can be obtained with your current company. (MENTOR)
- ( I learned) Sharing my authentic self and joyful approach to science with prospective employers. Your strength is in your team; as a leader, the buck stops with you. (MENTEE)
- I participated in the MAPS 2024-25 cycle and learned more than I ever could’ve imagined from my mentor. During our monthly meeting, I learned how to prepare a resume, build a personal brand, and develop networking skills, all of which are very important and helpful for me as an international student. (MENTEE)
- Being a mentor in this program is so rewarding to me. To be able to help mentees reach their own goals is very rewarding. I hope all of my mentees keep going with their wonderful lives. (MENTOR)
- This program gave me the opportunity to connect with some wonderful women in the same field as me. I got to share my goals and get advice to better myself emotionally and professionally. I am glad to have found this supportive community and can’t wait to be more involved (MENTEE)
- There is always something to learn. I loved hearing about everyone’s unique experiences. (MENTOR)
- This was my first time serving as a mentor in the MAPS program. It was an amazing experience to see how my mentees have grown during this program. Thank you, WIB-Pittsburgh, for organizing this program. (MENTOR)
- Overall, it was a wonderful experience to have a fantastic mentor.. I learned a lot about being open-minded and balancing work life with lab work. I learned a lot about prioritizing and, most importantly, networking. My mentor told me, “Your first job is not your ultimate job and to always keep networking.” (MENTEE)
- I felt so lucky to connect with my mentor through the MAPS program. She is one of the best people. She provided direct support to my job search and career development, encouraged me, and gave me the confidence to thrive as an international employee. I really enjoyed and benefited from this program. (MENTEE)
- I have learned a lot from my mentor and the MAPS program. I feel really blessed to have such a supportive network. Through this mentorship program, I was able to gain insight into the biotechnology industry and set career-related goals for myself. I really appreciated the opportunity and would highly recommend the program. (MENTEE)
- WIB-Pittsburgh’s MAPS Program is pretty amazing and creates a huge impact. This cycle was no different. I had three mentees, all at different stages of their careers. They came prepared with what they needed, and the conversations were great. I hope they benefited! (MENTOR)
Submitted by Qianqian Liang
