After Stockholm workshop for women, WE Health takes applicants for Munich until 27 May

Programme seeks to help women become successful healthcare entrepreneurs

Following an initial workshop helping women explore their visions, entrepreneurial ambitions and leadership abilities, applications are being accepted until 27 May 2018 for a second WE Health workshop, which will focuses more specifically on the entrepreneurial challenges of women striving to found their own ventures in the healthcare industry.

A free two-day workshop, organised by the EIT Health initiative Empowering Women Entrepreneurship in Health Innovation (WE Health), was held 23-25 April 2018 at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm

It was the first of three free modules, which can either be taken continuously or separately, created by IESE Business School Barcelona, TU Munich, Imperial College London,  and Karolinska Institutet Stockholm. The second module of the programme, which will take place 4-6 June 2018 in Munich, Germany, is specifically designed for women scientists or entrepreneurs who have a business idea in mind or are already working on their own business idea in the field of healthcare.

While guiding participants through some key aspects of founding a venture – from defining a value proposition to pitching it to investors – this training will also address women-specific challenges in entrepreneurship, highlight best practices and help participants build up their own network of female entrepreneurs in the healthcare domain. There is no charge

Applications to join this free module are being accepted until 27 May 2018.

About the first module in Stockholm

Module one in Stockholm took place under the headline “Unlock you innovative potential, the first step toward leadership” and was tailor-made for future female leaders who have a desire to turn their ideas into digital health start-ups of tomorrow.

In the spirit of entrepreneurship, the group of women in attendance came from a variety of backgrounds. Many were from academia with research experience, but women working with digitalisation, medical professionals, nutritional specialists and psychologists were also in attendance. The interdisciplinary nature of the workshop helped to take participants on a dynamic journey, expanding the field of inspiration and widening their range of possibilities.

A key angle during this first module was the empowerment of women through authenticity, creativity and vulnerability. By mapping their potential from a “non-improving” perspective, participants were able to access their passions and capabilities with ease. Several speakers brought up the key entrepreneurial concept of “communication” during the module, with participants being given a number of important take-home messages, notably, the need to have passion (speak from your heart) and to believe in what you say.

The content of the first module was based on entrepreneurial tools and innovative problem-solving methodologies. The participants mapped their own potentials and capabilities and worked to solve each other’s challenges. Several stars from the Stockholm start-up/innovation scene also made an appearance, sharing their own experiences of managing challenges and exploiting opportunities.

The unique blend of entrepreneurial tools/methodologies mixed with the high standard of inspirational speakers created an empowering experience, which ended with participants expressing eagerness to employ the lessons they had learned. “I thought I was alone in feeling vulnerable,” one participant noted. “Loved the energy and the professionalism,” said another.