Processing Your Payment

Please do not leave this page until complete. This can take a few moments.

December 1, 2022

Initiative to increase female leadership on company boards

By Jean Falbo-Sosnovich

A pilot program recently launched to increase female representation in Connecticut boardrooms.

Women In Bio-Connecticut, a professional organization promoting women in life sciences and innovative health tech, has launched a new program called the 3.8 Initiative. 

It is named after International Women’s Day, held March 8.

The new 10-month program aims to address the state’s gender leadership gap by creating a cohort and support network of senior female executives. It offers a curriculum aimed at training for board readiness and helps place women on boards at companies across the state.

According to 2021 data, of the 25 Connecticut-headquartered businesses on Fortune’s 1,000 list of companies with the highest annual revenues in 2021, just one of them had a female CEO.

The goal of the 3.8 Initiative is to change those statistics and arm female business professionals with the tools they need to lead. The program is being funded with support from Women In Bio, volunteer efforts and in-kind contributions.

The first cohort selected to participate in the inaugural program includes:   

  • Kathleen Adams, entrepreneur in residence, UCONN Ventures
  • Carrie Collins, corporate development, Rallybio
  • Lisa Delfini, chief financial officer, Trevi Therapeutics
  • Carla Devillers, chief executive officer, LeptoX Biopharma
  • Susan Gallipoli, senior director, clinical research operations, Invicro
  • Anjelica Gonzalez, professor, Yale University
  • Stephanie Jacoby, board chair and manager, founding CEO, Propria
  • Michelle Johnson, chief executive officer, Metrum Research Group
  • Katherine Kayser-Bricker, chief scientific officer, Halda Therapeutics
  • Lisa Sinclair, SVP, corporate operations, Arvinas
  • Erika Smith, chief executive officer, ReNetX Bio
  • Susan Sobolov, president, RIGImmune

Sobolov, chapter chair of Women in Bio-CT and a member of the first cohort, is excited for the launch of the program.

“This initiative seeks to increase board leadership for women in the Connecticut-area life sciences and health tech innovation system,” she said. “We are thrilled to have our 3.8 Initiative cohort participate in Deloitte’s national Board-Ready program, as attendees will gain insight into how to position themselves for board opportunities.”

The cohort will take part in various workshops courtesy of The Deloitte Center for Board Effectiveness Board Ready Program.

“Board members must navigate opportunities and challenges through the lens of varied stakeholders,” said Richard Tavolieri, Hartford managing partner for Deloitte LLP. “We’re delighted to team with the WIB-CT 3.8 Initiative on these engaging conversations that will further networking and board-level learning.”

Sign up for Enews

Most Recent

Most Recent

0 Comments

Order a PDF