Women in Technology event gathers Bioscience leaders, discusses trust and parity

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) October 21, 2008 -- Providence, RI - Over 60 people attended the latest installment of Tech Collective’s Women in Technology (WIT), Where’s the Man in the Suit, Manners for CEO’s in Skirts, featuring three of Rhode Island’s top Bioscience leaders. The three women proved that women can break through the glass ceiling and become successful professionals in male-dominated technology fields. They shared their stories of challenge and triumph as they worked to fulfill their personal and professional roles and attain success. They also provided some advice to an eager audience:

“If I could leave you with one last thought, it would be to just be you,” Kimball Hall told the audience. “You don’t have to emulate a “man’s” or a “woman’s” style. Be authentic. And if you be you, you will be successful.” Kimball should know – she is the Vice President and General Manager of Rhode Island Operations for Amgen,
Inc, Rhode Island’s largest biopharmaceutical manufacturer.

Annie De Groot, M.D. shared stories of being scolded for her pregnancy and about her graduate school tasks of “literally planning birthday parties” because women had just not yet been viably accepted into the bioscience community. Annie shared how she found strength in her gender and fought for parity to achieve her numerous successes. Today, Annie is the CEO & CSO, EpiVax, Inc, the Director of the Institute for Immunology and Informatics at the University of Rhode Island and also a professor at both URI’s Biotechnology program and the Brown University Medical School. Annie urged the audience: “We have got to continue to fight for parity” in order to gain equality in representation, salary and opportunities.

Beth Zielinski-Habershaw, Ph.D. is and Instructor at the Molecular Pharmacology, Physiology and Biotechnology Division of Biology and Medicine at Brown University. She is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor at University of Rhode Island. Beth had the audience laughing as she gave advice and recalled the differences between the men and women in her industry:

“I’ve got two tips for you ladies,” she said. “One, never apologize… things happen, that’s life. Two, don’t explain… that’s your own decision to make. … I know because I used to do both all of the time, then I thought to myself one day, I never met one guy who’s ever explained to me why he’s not attending a meeting. That’s crazy! I’m not doing it anymore! …Women shouldn’t be apologizing for things that they cannot do.”

Such points of strength from the speakers resonated with audience members such as Lora Palmisano, Training Coordinator for LearningGate Computer Learning Centers. “Women walk thru the fires in life not around them, and that is what makes us strong,” Lori said.

Visit tech-collective.org for more information about Tech Collective and the WIT series.

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