In the dynamic world of biotechnology, where innovation and scientific breakthroughs happen daily, the persistent gender gap continues to challenge the industry’s potential for diversity-driven excellence. Leen Kawas, Managing General Partner at Propel Bio Partners, has emerged as a powerful advocate for women in science, championing mentorship and inclusive leadership as crucial strategies for nurturing the next generation of female scientific talent.
“There’s a lot of research showing when you have women in leadership positions, returns are higher, cultures are more inclusive, and innovation has a different, unique flavor,” says Leen Kawas, highlighting the value proposition that diverse leadership brings to biotechnology companies and the scientific community at large.
The Current State of Women in Biotechnology
Despite progress over recent decades, women remain significantly underrepresented in biotechnology leadership positions. According to recent industry reports, female representation in executive positions at biotech companies has actually declined, with the percentage of women named as executive officers dropping from 20.1% in 2022 to 18.3% in 2023.
This troubling trend extends to early-stage companies as well. A recent BioSpace analysis found that of 102 company launches or series A financings since October 2023, only nine had a woman at the helm—just over 8%. This statistic underscores the persistent challenges women face in securing leadership positions within the biotechnology sector.
Leen Kawas recognizes these challenges from personal experience. As one of the relatively few women to have served as CEO of a biotech company and now as a venture capital leader, she has navigated the complex terrain of a predominantly male industry. Her current position at Propel Bio Partners allows her to directly influence the future of biotechnology by supporting promising startups, with particular emphasis on those founded by women and minorities.
Mentorship as a Catalyst for Change
Central to Leen Kawas’s vision for supporting women in science is her commitment to mentorship. “Forward-thinking female leaders can benefit from interactions with external partners,” Kawas notes. She emphasizes that creating internships and scholarships for qualified women helps build valuable talent pipelines that can transform the industry over time.
Mentorship programs have been shown to deliver concrete benefits for women in STEM fields. According to the Women in Tech Network, companies with formal mentoring programs are 20% more likely to have increased diversity among their leadership teams. Additionally, women with mentors report 65% higher confidence in their ability to succeed compared to those without mentors.
Kawas advocates for a multifaceted approach to mentorship that addresses the specific challenges women face in biotechnology:
“When a woman is a leader, you can listen to the voice that hasn’t been heard and tune into that channel that has in some sense been ignored,” she explains, highlighting how female leadership brings new perspectives to scientific exploration and business development.
Building Inclusive Networks
Beyond one-on-one mentorship, Leen Kawas emphasizes the importance of creating inclusive professional networks for women in science. Through her work at Propel Bio Partners, she demonstrates how collaboration and community building can help overcome barriers that have historically limited women’s advancement in biotechnology.
“Many female leaders encourage a collaborative workplace—not a highly competitive environment,” says Kawas. “A collaborative approach promotes innovation and facilitates easier problem solutions. Women also gravitate to networking, creating cooperative groups designed to benefit everyone involved.”
This philosophy aligns with research showing that diverse teams drive stronger business outcomes. Companies with above-average diversity report 45% of their revenue comes from innovation, compared to just 26% for companies with below-average diversity scores.
Addressing Structural Barriers
Leen Kawas recognizes that supporting the next generation of women scientists requires addressing structural barriers that can impede career advancement. She identifies several key challenges that must be overcome:
- Limited access to high-visibility projects: Women often have fewer opportunities to demonstrate their capabilities through high-profile assignments, making it harder for decision-makers to recognize their potential.
- Scant professional recognition: Female scientists frequently find their contributions overlooked or undervalued, diminishing their visibility within their organizations and the broader scientific community.
- Insufficient sponsorship: The lack of senior-level champions willing to actively advocate for women’s advancement can significantly limit career progression opportunities.
To address these issues, Kawas advocates for transformational leadership approaches that emphasize vision, empathy, and inclusion. She believes talented women are ideally positioned to excel as transformational leaders who can help reshape organizational cultures to become more supportive of diversity.
Leveraging Technology and Innovation
As a biotechnology innovator, Leen Kawas also sees technology as a powerful tool for advancing women’s participation and leadership in scientific fields. She points to the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning as areas where women can make significant contributions while breaking down traditional barriers.
“Technology can lead to better tools for individualized and precision medicine. It allows us to make sense of the different factors that can make each individual or patient unique,” Kawas explains, highlighting the human-centered perspective that women often bring to technological innovation.
By encouraging women to engage with emerging technologies, Kawas envisions creating pathways for the next generation of female scientists to shape the future of healthcare and biotechnology in ways that benefit all patients.
A Vision for the Future
Looking ahead, Leen Kawas envisions a biotechnology industry transformed by greater gender diversity and inclusive leadership. Her approach focuses on several key strategies:
- Targeted mentorship programs: Creating structured opportunities for experienced women leaders to guide and support early-career female scientists, similar to programs like the Women in Bio mentorship initiative and the Society of Women Engineers’ mentoring modules.
- Investment in women-led ventures: Using venture capital to support female founders and companies committed to diversity and inclusion, a practice that Propel Bio Partners actively implements.
- Community building: Fostering networks and professional communities that provide ongoing support for women in science throughout their careers, following models like Million Women Mentors.
- Challenging traditional paradigms: Encouraging innovative thinking about leadership and success that values diverse perspectives and collaborative approaches.
“Strong female leadership helps set the stage for the adoption of inclusive company cultures,” says Kawas. “When qualified women reach top leadership positions, they can support other talented professionals in their career advancement.”
Making a Lasting Impact
Through her work at Propel Bio Partners, Leen Kawas is putting her vision into action, supporting early-stage biotechnology companies while advocating for greater diversity within the industry. Her approach combines practical business acumen with a genuine commitment to creating opportunities for underrepresented groups.
“Using AI to have a holistic view of patients and individuals can lead to discovering new therapies or technologies that can help humans live healthier and better,” Kawas notes, emphasizing the broader societal benefits that come from diverse leadership in biotechnology.
By championing mentorship, inclusive leadership, and strategic investment, Leen Kawas is helping to create pathways for the next generation of women scientists to make their mark on the biotechnology industry. Her vision extends beyond individual career advancement to encompass the transformative potential of diverse perspectives in driving scientific innovation and improving human health.
For women entering the biotechnology field today, Leen Kawas offers both inspiration and practical guidance, demonstrating how female leadership can thrive while creating opportunities for others to follow. Through her continued advocacy and example, she is helping to build a more inclusive scientific community that maximizes the talents and contributions of all its members.
