A group of women bioscience entrepreneurs and executives in Connecticut have formed a local chapter of a national organization that seeks to raise the profile of women in the life sciences.
Women in Bio said its new Connecticut chapter will be the organization’s 14th in North America.
The group includes 25 Connecticut life sciences professionals who will be led by Susan Sobolov, chief operating officer at Caelum Biosciences and a former executive at Alexion Pharmaceuticals. They will join the organization’s 3,000 members nationwide.
The group previously operated as an extension of the WIB-Metro New York chapter, but the organization said its board voted unanimously last month to grant it full chapter status.
In a statement, WIB President and Board Chair Kayla Valdes said “the Connecticut life sciences ecosystem has affirmed its footing in the biotech community.”
She added that the women who will be leading the new chapter “have worked tirelessly to build a strong community of life science leaders with a bright future.”
Sobolov said one of the chapter’s goals will be to cultivate the pipeline of women scientists in Connecticut and to keep them here and help them advance to supply the state’s growing bioscience industry.
She said national statistics show about 46% of entering industry employees are now women, yet women hold only 28% of leadership roles.
“As the biotech industry continues to grow in Connecticut, our new chapter will build networks and foster women scientists, entrepreneurs and executives, helping advance them in leadership roles both at academic centers as well as the biotech industry,” Sobolov said.
Founded in 2002, WIB describes itself as the only organization for women that integrates all career levels and life science fields. Its offerings include professional education programs, peer-to-peer learning, mentoring and networking opportunities.
Founding sponsors of the Connecticut chapter include accounting and advisory firm Marcum LLP and the law firm Wiggin and Dana LLP.
Contact Natalie Missakian at news@newhavenbiz.com
