Women in Life Science Denmark Launches New Mentoring Program to Foster Future Female Leaders

Empowering Women in Science: WiLD's New Mentoring Initiative

Women in Life Science Denmark (WiLD) is proud to announce the launch of its third cohort of the Female Leadership Mentoring Program, designed to support women in the life sciences sector and propel them into leadership positions. This marks an important milestone as the program continues its commitment to fostering gender equality within the biotech, pharmaceutical, and academic fields.

The mentoring program sets to kick off in November 2025, providing a unique and tailored experience for selected mentees over a 12-month duration. Financial backing for this initiative has been strengthened by substantial contributions from the Lundbeck Foundation and the Novo Nordisk Foundation. The Lundbeck Foundation has pledged a significant amount of 470,000 DKK to help further develop the program over the next two years, while the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s recent support will allow the inclusion of twenty mentor-mentee pairs in this cohort.

Mette Eistrøm Krüger, Senior Vice President of People and Corporate Affairs at the Lundbeck Foundation, emphasized the necessity of targeted efforts to enhance diversity, stating, “Diversity strengthens innovation and quality in life sciences.” She also highlighted the importance of WiLD’s initiatives in providing women with the necessary tools and networks to ascend to leadership roles.

Founded in 2022, WiLD celebrates its third anniversary this year and has grown to include over 250 members across Denmark. The organization is actively expanding its collaboration with like-minded organizations in the Nordics, successfully forming partnerships with VILDA in Sweden and WiLD Norway.

Karin Madsen, the Head of WiLD's Mentoring Program, alongside her partner Kirsten Poulsen, founder of KMP+ House of Mentoring, is devoted to addressing the systemic barriers that hinder women's advancement in life sciences. “Mentoring is not only about sharing experience; it's about mutual growth and learning,” Madsen explained. The program is unique in its cross-organizational approach designed specifically to elevate women in the life science sector from various backgrounds.

Despite advancements, the life sciences industry still grapples with a notable gender equality paradox, marked by persistent biases in promotions and limited access to senior networks. This underrepresentation has resulted in a significant gap in senior roles across the industry, a problem that WiLD aims to mitigate through its mentorship opportunities. By enabling knowledge sharing and networking, the initiative empowers women within the scientific community to confidently seek higher leadership positions.

Trine Ahlgreen, a mentee and CEO of MC2 Therapeutics, shared her positive experience with WiLD’s Mentoring Program, stating that the connections and mentorship she received were crucial for her career progression.