Roundtables
Join our exclusive invite-only leadership morning at Women in Biotech! Immerse yourself in an interactive roundtable session where we'll delve into the nuanced challenges faced by women in leadership positions. From mastering influencing skills to navigating career paths, our interactive discussion spans all levels of your career. Benefit from firsthand advice from industry experts, engage in peer-to-peer learning, and leave with actionable tools to elevate your leadership journey starting tomorrow!
Sophia is the co-founder of True’s global Life Sciences Practice and now leads True’s Healthcare and Life Sciences Practices in EMEA & APAC specializing in biotech & pharma, life science tools / techbio, diagnostics and medtech. She was the chief growth officer / member of the executive team of an ARCH backed San Diego / Oxford biotech, leading HR, talent and investor relations where she successfully built out the company’s US presence, organizational structure, trans-atlantic leadership and board.
Prior to True, Sophia was a key member of the global healthcare practice at Russell Reynolds Associates placing executives and building boards across Fortune / FTSE 100 companies to ground breaking startups pioneering transformational technologies. She has placed more than 200 executives / board appointments including VC and PE-backed companies that have since gone through a successful exit.
Sophia is a published scientist, she holds a first class master’s degree from University College London in natural sciences, specializing in cell and molecular biology. She was nominated for the European Science Engineering and Technology Awards for her discovery of novel anti-cancer and anti-aging therapeutic targets and won an MRC-funded scholarship in translational oncology at Imperial College London, using CRISPR / Cas9 genetic editing technology.
Sophia’s experience as an operator, investor, scientist and search professional has helped her to develop a novel and advisory approach to executive search. She is a founding member of Chief in the UK, one of the largest private executive networks supporting female leadership. She is also a venture advisory partner to a healthtech fund with the aim of supporting DE&I in founders.
Emma Thorp is the Founder of Thorp Coaching and Co-Founder of the Diverse Directors Programme (DDP). She is an executive coach with a background in life sciences and commercial leadership, specialising in supporting senior leaders and aspiring board members to navigate career transitions, optimise their energy, and enhance their leadership impact.
Emma brings decades of corporate experience, including founding and selling her own recruitment and consulting business, and serving as a Chief Commercial Officer and Board Member in a global life sciences company. Through Thorp Coaching, she works with executives and leaders, combining coaching with embodied techniques and nature-based leadership development. She is also the only professional coach licensed to work on the Ashdown Forest.
As a co-facilitator of the Diverse Directors Programme, Emma supports diverse leaders in stepping into board roles with confidence, helping them develop the skills, mindset, and network needed to thrive at the highest levels.
In today’s session, Harnessing Energy for Sustainable Leadership, Emma will introduce practical tools to help you manage energy levels, build resilience, and enhance your effectiveness as a leader.
Find out more at www.thorpcoaching.com.
Kathryn is a respected and successful strategy and change leadership expert, with diverse career experience in Europe and North America. She has over 30 years of consulting and line experience with leading organisations (Unilever, Mars, KPMG and GSK). Since 2007 she has been leading her own consulting business, primarily working within the Life Sciences sector. By thinking strategically and partnering with leaders at all levels within the sector, growth and sustainable success has resulted for the organisations she has worked with.
She is author of the book “Leading for change – how to thrive during uncertain times” and has chaired and developed panels at BIA WiB “ Keeping strategic focus through turbulent times” and “Growing successfully in challenging times”
