The Strategic Grad: Rethinking Networking, Pitching, and Industry Capital
Transitioning from graduate school into the life sciences industry is a pivotal milestone, and it does not rely on technical expertise alone. From cultivating strategic relationships and navigating cold outreach to mastering the coffee chat and pitching your transferable skills, these early-career capabilities shape how future innovators and leaders transition, contribute, and thrive throughout their professional journeys.
Join the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA) in partnership with Gilead Sciences and McMaster University for Capital & Connection: Strategic Networking and Industry Transition for Graduate Students.
Beginning with a practical keynote on the mechanics of strategic outreach and networking frameworks, this session will transition into a candid fireside panel with life sciences leaders focused on overcoming hidden assumptions, early-career missteps, lateral networking, and building lasting professional partnerships. Attendees will then participate in an interactive roundtable workshop to craft and receive live feedback on their elevator pitches. Attendees will leave with actionable connection strategies, an industry-ready pitch, a fair opportunity to build meaningful community trust, and the confidence to translate academic research into measurable real-world outcomes.
Food and beverages provided. Ticket includes full access to the session, workshop, and open networking.
Thank you to our generous sponsors and partners: Gilead Sciences and McMaster University!
Learning Objectives
- Apply real-world outreach tactics shared by industry leaders to secure coffee chats.
- Craft a compelling elevator pitch that translates academic research into industry value.
- Cultivate long-term professional relationships through structured follow-ups and tracking
Agenda
4:30 PM - 5:00 PM | Registration, Networking and Appetizers |
5:30 PM - 6:15 PM | Panel Discussion |
5:00 PM - 5:15 PM | Welcome and Opening Remarks |
6:15 PM - 7:00 PM | Small Group Roundtables |
5:15 PM - 5:30 PM | Keynote Speech |
7:00 PM - 7:30 PM | Open Networking |
Additional Event Information
- Non-members are required to create a free HBA account prior to registration if they don’t already have one. Instructions: https://hbanet.knowledgeowl.com/help/how-to-create-an-hba-account
Parking: Free parking is available on site
- Online registration deadline: 03 December 2026
- Event is open to: HBA Members and Non-members
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This event is not refundable.
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Onsite (walk -in) registration: Is Not Allowed
Pricing
| Regular Registration - In-person | $30.00 / €30.00 | $45.00 / €45.00 |
Members receive up to 50 percent discount
Event Policies
Photography Policy
By registering for this event, you acknowledge that you may be photographed, videotaped, and/or audio-taped during the meeting and hereby give permission for your image, voice, or survey comments to be used in education, training, promotion, and/or trade and communications media by the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association in any and all media throughout the world, without restriction as to frequency or duration of usage.
COVID-19 Policy
The HBA requires that all persons who participate in in-person events do so at their own risk and that each participant agrees to the following agreement before taking part in the activity and urges all participants to act in such a manner as to protect their own safety and the safety of others.
By registering for this event, I fully understand that my participation in the program is purely voluntary. I desire to participate and agree to act reasonably and prudently under the circumstances. I further understand that any HBA volunteers participating in the activity will act individually and will not represent the HBA. As a condition to my participation the activity, I waive and release the HBA and their officers, employees, and agents from any claim that I may have for any damage to property or injury to my person that may result in whole or in part from my participation.
Special Needs Policy
The HBA will make reasonable modifications to policies and programs to ensure that people with special needs can enjoy all of its programs. Contact us if you require special accommodations for this event.