I’m excited to be here for one simple reason: this moment matters
Let’s start with a little truth…
Last year wasn’t easy. Not for life science. Not for biotech. And certainly not for women building careers and companies in the industry. It was a year of uncertainty and challenge across the board. And in moments like that, you may feel like you have to carry more, prove more, and do it with both patience and grace…maybe even be told to put a smile on your face.
That is EXACTLY why Women In Bio exists.
And let me tell you – in spite of the challenges in 2025, WIB didn’t just show up. This community RALLIED. WIB held nearly 300 events. With more than 17,000 registrants. Amassed over 31,000 LinkedIn followers. Had over 180,000 website visits. Held 11 national virtual events. Provided 10 impact scholarships. Those numbers don’t represent activity. They represent people. Conversations. Mentorship. Opportunity. COMMUNITY.
And none of it happened by accident. It happened because of you – chapter leaders, volunteers, WIB members, and supporters who kept building and believing in our story when it would have been easier to wait things out…to retreat. This was a defining moment…and made it clear that WIB is ready for the next chapter. One where we move from momentum alone to momentum with intention — a chapter where impact doesn’t depend on a few people burning themselves out, but on many people building together.
And this is where chapters, members, and our wonderful supporters matter most. You are the connective tissue. You are the culture carriers. You are the reason WIB feels human, local, and personal.
Now, I want to share something personal to explain why this matters so much to me. I’ve spent my career in banking – the vast majority covering life science and healthcare – and often as the only woman or a select few in the room. Early in my career, I learned how to perform confidence, well before I actually felt it. For many years, I felt I had to prepare twice as much, speak carefully, and carry pressure quietly. And I certainly didn’t have this community. Or people who understood the specific challenges of being a woman in the industry. People who could say, “You’re not imagining this — and you’re not alone.” That kind of support changes lives.
Women In Bio provides that, not just through events, but through relationships. Through chapters. Through leaders who raise their hands and say, “I’m here to help. You’re not alone. I want to build this for someone else.” That’s my fuel.
I’ll close with this. Organizations sometimes stall when they chase comfort. They accelerate when they choose clarity and purpose. We know who we are. We know why we exist. And we know the impact we’re capable of WHEN WE MOVE TOGETHER. My Ask: Stay engaged. Invite others in. Bring your ideas forward. Build with us. Lift each other up.
Thank you for your support, leadership, and advocacy.
Katherine Andersen
Board Chair, Women In Bio
