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Exploring the Issue of Race and Bias in the Life Sciences

  • June 8, 2022
  • 1PM PT / 4PM ET
Online

MEET THE INVESTOR

Social Impact of DEI & The Investing World

Program


Momentum is building among companies adopting DEI initiatives. In recent years, companies are increasingly examining their operating systems, core processes and hiring practices in the interest of becoming more diverse and culturally inclusive organizations. The evidence consistently demonstrates these initiatives improve overall company performance.

Panel

There is a growing focus on DEI in the investment world as well. Venture capitalists today consider diversity among their criteria for investments, ensuring their portfolio companies prioritize building a lasting inclusive culture.

This program features investors that actively seek start-ups with diverse employee backgrounds. Examine the components of startup company culture, the implications of investor focus on DEI, and the impact on future investments and organizations.

Speakers

  • Jennifer Fang, MEng, JD, Partner, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

    Jennifer Fang, MEng, JD, Partner, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

    Jennifer helps innovative start-ups grow into successful enterprises by providing counsel to the founders, management teams, and boards and by handling the legal and strategic business issues and transactions that arise at each stage. She is experienced in negotiating and executing a variety of corporate transactions, including conversions, spinouts, debt and equity financings, public offerings, PIPEs, mergers and acquisitions, and joint ventures. Jennifer also counsels venture capital, growth capital, and strategic investors with respect to their investment transactions and existing portfolios.

  • Galya Blachman, PhD, JD, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer, 5AM Venture

    Galya Blachman, PhD, JD, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer, 5AM Venture

    Galya serves as the General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer at 5AM Ventures. She also serves as part-time General Counsel for Enliven Therapeutics, and is the General Counsel and on the board of directors of Biotech Connection Bay Area. Prior to 5AM, Dr. Blachman was Director, Legal at Stemcentrx, which was acquired by AbbVie in 2016 and where she remained to work in the Legal R&D transactions team. Dr. Blachman began her career practicing intellectual property law at Slaughter & May and Simmons & Simmons in the United Kingdom. She received her law degree in England from BPP University Law School and completed a postgraduate degree from Oxford University.

  • Deirdre Cunnane, JD, Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel, Omega Funds

    Deirdre Cunnane, JD, Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel, Omega Funds

    Deirdre joined Omega Funds in 2019 from Catabasis Pharmaceuticals, where she served as Chief Legal Officer since February 2018 and Principal Financial Officer and Treasurer since April 2016. Previously, she served as Catabasis’ Senior Vice President and General Counsel from November 2015 to February 2018. Prior to joining Catabasis, Deirdre served as General Counsel at Advanced Technology Ventures, from January 2006 to October 2015, and at Lightstone Ventures, from its founding in January 2012 until October 2015. Prior to ATV and Lightstone, she was an investment officer at BancBoston Ventures and Deputy General Counsel at BancBoston Capital.

  • Lindsay Androski, JD, President and CEO, Roivant Social Ventures

    Jane Dough

    Ms. Androski joined Roivant Sciences as one of its earliest employees, and built and led the team responsible for the in-licensing or acquisition of more than 30 therapeutic programs, resulting in the launch and incubation of 16 subsidiary biotechs and several successful IPOs. Prior to joining Roivant Sciences, Ms. Androski spent more than a decade as a trial lawyer, including as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Alexandria, Virginia, where she led investigations and prosecutions of high-profile cybercrime and national security cases and received the highest awards given by several federal agencies. She is a registered patent lawyer and a Chartered Financial Analyst.

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