RisingWISE - The Researcher’s Path to Venture Leadership
Hosted by MPLS Enterprise
Wednesday, 27 May 2026, 2pm to 4pm
RisingWISE is an Oxford-Cambridge programme for women Postdoc researchers to build skills and insights that open up opportunities beyond academia whilst simultaneously strengthening their academic leadership. RisingWISE is shortlisted for a 2026 Vice Chancellor’s Award. This session gives a taster of the programme with opportunities to explore how academic expertise can translate into entrepreneurial or industry leadership.
Event DETAILS
In the initial part of this two-hour event a panel of female-founders, industry-leaders and programme alumna will explore the intellectual demands of venture creation, such as problem-framing and leading under uncertainty, often with limited information, they will identify key challenges and provide insights.
The second part of the workshop will focus on personal reflection allowing participants to gain clarity on motivations, strengths, next career steps and longer-term trajectories – providing them with a taste of the RisingWISE approach.
outcomes
Participants will leave with:
- Insights into different founder journeys, the challenges they navigated and the benefits of this path
- A clearer understanding of what entrepreneurial leadership involves
- Greater self-awareness, a personalised career exploration and a worksheet for further reflection
Intended for
This session is designed for anyone who supports the careers of women at Oxford, and those who wish to understand more about the RisingWISE programme:
- Senior academic staff supporting and promoting the careers of their research group
- Postdoctoral researchers/early-career academics curious about entrepreneurship and leadership
- Undergraduate and post-graduate students/DPhils with an interest in innovation and entrepreneurship
No prior experience in entrepreneurship is required — just curiosity and an openness to explore new professional possibilities.
Format
Panel discussion, personal stories/insights, audience Q&A, reflective workshop and informal networking.
Programme Alumnae:
- Dragana Savic: CEO and Co-Founder at Inia Biosciences working on harnessing ultrasound bioelectronics for the future of healthcare. RW alumna and then facilitator.
- Tugce Ayvali: Co-Founder and CTO of Hydsun, a start-up company that is producing hydrogen using seawater. RW alumna.
- Zoe Woodhead: Senior Principal Clinical Affairs at BRAINOMIX - AI-Enabled Precision Medicine at Oxford neuroscience spin-out in 2010. RW alumna.
- Ciara McDonnell: Licensing & Ventures Manager – Life Sciences at OUI. RW alumna and just came back this year to facilitate on the programme.
Entrepreneurial Leaders:
Lorna Green: Founding CEO at LYVA Labs since 2021. Lorna started her career in the NHS, before working for a decade in business development in the MedTech sector, then becoming a healthcare business consultant for the £27m Liverpool Seed Fund and working for several of the businesses the Fund invested in and then as director of enterprise and growth at the Innovation Agency (NWC AHSN).
Kate Black: Professor Kate Black, CEO of Atomik-AM, is recognised for her outstanding work as an entrepreneurial innovator. She is an engineering academic who has twice established spinout companies and uses her experiences to support young engineers entering the profession. She has a strong focus on equality, diversity and inclusion, and a passion for changing the manufacturing culture for a resilient future.
Booking information
Register for your place at the event here.
DATE / TIME
27 May | 14.00 - 16.00
TERMS & CONDITIONS
When registering for this course, please check our Terms and Conditions.