Connecting Women in biohealth
Women in Biohealth (WiB) is dedicated to supporting and uplifting women in the biohealth industry.
Who we are
Women in Biohealth (WiB) was started in the fall of 2017 to provide a platform to empower and connect women in the biohealth community. Biohealth encompasses biotech, medical devices, digital health, diagnostics, and medical research. We are currently not a nonprofit organization but are utilizing BioForward, an association representing Wisconsin’s biohealth industry, as our fiscal agent and marketing entity.
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Get Involved
As an inclusive network, WiB provides mentoring, professional development, and an environment for women and allies to connect. No membership requirements! Just connect with the group in person or online.
In Fond Memory Of:
Cathy Rasmussen
As a founding member of Women in Biohealth, Cathy Rasmussen was instrumental in supporting and building our Women in Biohealth (WiB) community. She was a fierce believer in women and pushed them to do more. Even when others tried to put up barriers in front of them, she taught them how to break them down. Our biohealth community and WiB community have lost one of our best. Read more including Celebration of Life details.
Our mission
- Provide a platform for women in biohealth to connect and uplift one another
- Deliver opportunities for professional and leadership development
- Facilitate cross-country and industry career mentoring
Our founding partners
Upcoming Events
Past WiB Events
WiB at Forward Fest: Activating Women’s Impact in Science Entrepreneurship
931 E Main St #8, Madison, WI 53703
Women in Biohealth Networking Event
3735 Monona Drive, Madison, WI 53714
Women in Biohealth Professional Development Event: Career Conversations
5505 Endeavor Lane, Madison, WI 53719
Women in Biohealth Networking Event
167 E Badger Rd, Madison, WI 53713
Meet the Steering Committee
Lisa Johnson
Rissa Guffey
Christina Thomas-Virnig
Sisi Li
Margaret Elvekrog
Kate Rodgers
April Hughes
Grace Maass
Subcommittees
Professional Development Subcommittee
Assures regular cadence of seminars and workshops on career and professional development topics by gathering members’ feedback and planning events to suit members’ interests.
- Gauge member interest and needs in various professional development topics in order to guide event planning (e.g. résumé tips, leadership, personal development, negotiating, etc.).
- Identify potential speakers or trainings/workshops to host (aim for one event per quarter).
- Coordinate with Steering Committee and Event Planning Subcommittee and Marketing &Â Communications Subcommittee to schedule each event
- Responsible for managing speakers, hand-outs, and working with the Event Planning Subcommittee on room preparation.
Event Planning Subcommittee
Ensures members can gather regularly for networking, professional development, and social activities by handling the logistics around venue selection, vendor coordination, sponsorships, and event execution.
- Work with other committees to align on yearly event schedule and venue needs.
- Curate a database of venues that are based on event needs.
- Identify sponsors for hosting venue, paying speaker fees and food/drinks.
- Contact potential sponsors and confirm support.
- Work with Marketing and Communications Subcommittee to fully acknowledge sponsorship support.
- Secure venues and vendors to suit the needs of upcoming events and manage all logistical details from event setup to take-down.
- Including details such as attendee sign-in sheets, snack procurement, display of marketing collateral, name tags, etc.
Marketing & Communications SubComittee
Helps develop and execute the organization’s marketing and communications strategy to engage and grow member base through the dissemination of information about our mission and events.
- Publicize upcoming events via website, marketing emails, Eventbrite, and social media channels.
- Nurture and grow member base by developing or sharing high quality, interesting, and relevant content in newsletter and on social media.
- Manage and leverage social media content/channels and publication cadence.
- Includes efforts to expand reach and increase membership.
- Ensure unified branding and messaging in all communications and materials.
- Collect data on events, the organization, and social media to utilize in marketing communications and year-end analysis of the WiB organization.
Circles
As part of Women in Biohealth’s initiative to build community and support women in biohealth, we are launching our first series of circles! WIB circles will allow you to connect with fellow women in the community and provide the platform to discuss topics, learn from each other, and answer questions on your career.
A WIB circle will consist of fellow WIB women and will meet once a month for 1-2 hours, depending on what circle moderators decide. Each circle will consist of 8-12 members including 1-2 moderators who will bring topics to the monthly WIB circle meetings. The format for these circles is structured around Lean In Circles applying what has worked well for other professional women.
Today there are more than 33,000 Circles in over 150 countries. Circles meet everywhere from living rooms to company cafeterias—and they are spreading from city to city and country to country by word of mouth. The best part is, they work: 85 percent of members attribute a positive change in their lives to their Circle. Women are asking for more, stepping outside their comfort zones, and leaning in.
Wonder-ful Women
Moderated by Christina Thomas-Virnig
In this circle, we will recognize the talented and powerful superhero in all of us. Discussion will revolve around our expertise, professional expectations, and the challenges we have experienced. Through these reflections hopefully, you will identify your short term and long term stretch goals. At each session, we will determine topics of discussion for the next circle meeting.
Skill Set Savants
Moderated by Sisi Li
One of the key areas we as professional women find challenging is owning our own value. I would like this circle to be a group that, among other things, encourages us to recognize, acknowledge, and utilize the skills, abilities, and experience we’ve gained in both our personal and professional lives.
Mentoring
Women in Biohealth (WiB) Mentoring is a mentorship program designed to create connections among women within the biohealth field. Mentees benefit from the experience of their mentors to guide them in achieving their professional goals. Mentors can give back to the biohealth community by sharing their knowledge.Â
Mentors and mentees will convene for regular one-on-one meetings starting January 2023 to April 2023, either in person or online. Both parties agree to meet six times within a three-month period as their schedule allows, with a recommendation to meet biweekly. Support is provided by program administrators in the form of kick-off and wrap-up meetings, check-in emails, and guiding worksheets.Â
WiB Mentoring is appropriate for professionals at all experience levels who are looking to make connections within the biohealth community.Â
Upcoming Mentoring Events or Deadlines
Mentoring provides the context & support to foster professional connections
