Podcast release of Women in Science & Entrepreneurship Panel
Date Published: 19.03.2025
Celebrating 50 Years of Women at Wadham, this event showcased Wadham women working at the intersection of science and entrepreneurship.
Hosted by Warden Robert Hannigan and chaired by Claire Brown (Oxford Science Enterprises), the panel featured Wadham alumnae Sophie Costello (Chemistry, 1996) and Katerina Spranger (DPhil Engineering Science, 2010), current student, Diana Mandewo (MSc Applied Digital Health, 2024) and Professor Monika Gullerova (Wadham Fellow and Tutor in Medicine).
The panellists, each from diverse backgrounds, shared their journeys through academia and business ownership. Collectively, the panel was keen to show that entrepreneurs don't have to fit the 'Silicon Valley' mould or resemble contestants on The Apprentice or Dragon's Den!
"I was not the type who was selling candy to the neighbours at age seven."
Katerina Spranger
They discussed leading with values, knowing when to seek advice and when to rely on your own instincts, how to build teams, resilience in the face of failure, support networks, and taking the plunge to found a business.
The event was followed by a drinks reception where Katerina's purple plaque from InnovateUK was on display. Former InnovateUK CEO and fellow Wadham alumnus, Indro Mukerjee (Engineering Science, 1979), honoured Katerina by speaking of her people-centric values and of the importance of diversity for the future of the UK's economic vitality.
