International Women and Girls in Science Day
A word with Michelle Bridenbaker, VP of Medical Information Leaders in Europe (MILE), and COO of Unbiased Science
On the current situation with regard to women’s representation and active cultivation/career development in pharma:
“The situation is improving, but there is still work to do. The pharma industry could absolutely be doing more. This is about investing in a sustainable talent base. It starts with actively cultivating and investing in girls’ STEM education through school. In the workplace it is about valuing what women bring to the table and providing suitable mentorship opportunities, and showing young women leadership that looks like them – that they too could aspire to.
“I’ve been a beneficiary of leadership courses on the job opportunities that have helped me hone and flex my own leadership qualities, something that’s been very important to me across the whole of my career. My strongest supporters have often been female leaders, or male leaders who valued diversity in their teams particularly during my time at Pfizer, and then Biogen. As individuals, women need to be ambitious and ambassadors for themselves too, of course. But leaders need to actively discuss and create opportunities, support and mentor them so that they feel comfortable aiming for those higher positions, and so that they feel pride in their unique qualities and leadership styles which are so important in the modern workforce.”
On the opportunities for women today in pharma:
“Women are much more aware of the opportunities open to them now. They can substantially impact science, health and medicine. When I was at school, I was advised to think about becoming a teacher rather than trying to take on the male world of science, whereas girls today don’t even question that they could be a doctor. Whatever they want to do, it is very much an option and that is to be celebrated.”
On women and the impact of technology in pharma:
“As technology comes to play a stronger supporting role in science, women are natural champions of its implementation – instinctively considering new ways to be more efficient, so able to identify where automation could help ease the load. Optimised use of technology, such as AI, is likely to mean that teams are able to have more impact, are more satisfied with their work, and have more time to devote to the tasks that really matter. It can also be said such innovation can help meaningfully impact work/life balance.”
On sustainability:
“All employers need to be mindful that the majority of people graduating at the moment are women, so it makes sense to make your organisation a really good place for women to work, and to protect their prospects alongside their right to a family life. Potentially losing valued members of the team because of poor provision for motherhood and family responsibilities is very short-sighted, not least given the ongoing difficulty in finding and keeping good people.”
What does International Women and Girls in Science Day mean to you?
“It is an opportunity to see afresh the importance of attracting women to scientific disciplines and to pharma. I pride myself on modelling what’s possible as a leader in science and in healthcare.”
About the author
Michelle is a passionate health communicator across healthcare, pharma/biotech, and public health, following an early career as a critical care nurse and toxicologist. She is committed to conveying vital scientific messages that resonate, in a world awash with unverified health claims. Elevated patient safety and improved health outcomes are her purpose, and ensuring that even the most fraught medics stay connected with essential facts.
Beyond health/medical communication, innovation, technology, and leadership, Michelle is deeply committed to improving access for underserved communities, and patient-centric care. She also serves on the scientific boards of multiple tech and device firms, contributing to cutting-edge advancements in communications, science, and medicine.
Michelle’s company, female-owned and run Unbiased Science, uniquely blends front-line healthcare, public health, and clinical/lab experts, who are deeply skilled in applying implementation science in the digital age. (MILE, where Michelle is VP, is an industry association that brings together leaders committed to the creation of innovative medical information solutions that reflect evolving trends in pharma & biotech. Its goal is to advance access to trusted medicines information.)
