How Life Sciences Can Evolve To Support Women In STEM

By Anca Ciobanu

Over the past few years, women have been at the forefront of the scientific breakthroughs that have enabled the fight against COVID-19.

BioNTech cofounder Özlem Türeci, whose company developed the first mRNA vaccine; Ramida Juengpaisal, whose digital tracker stopped the spread of misinformation; and 14-year-old Anika Chebrolu, whose science project identified a lead molecule that can selectively bind to and inhibit the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 virus, are just a few names that proved the value of having the right skills in place at the right time. Eighty-five percent of organizations believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce is crucial to encouraging different perspectives and ideas that drive innovation. In the life sciences, where innovation leads to success, organizations can benefit from having work-force diversity in the lab and across the business, but especially in the top executive roles.