Building a successful biotech company requires more than money and an innovative approach to treat disease. It also requires a leader who is passionate, values-driven and people-focused — willing to go the distance to ensure patients get the life-changing therapies they need.
The Termeer Foundation’s Fellows Program is uniquely focused on this third ingredient, a distinctive program dedicated to supporting the person at the helm of a growing company. Through its multi-faceted curriculum and diverse network of innovators and entrepreneurs, the Termeer Fellows Program provides professional development through specific skills, competency growth, development opportunities, mentorship, executive coaching, and network building for first-time CEOs of early-stage or non-profit biotech and life sciences organizations. These offerings are designed to empower biotech leaders and provide them with the tools, resources, and support they need to build a culture and company that will thrive.
The Fellows Program, which began in 2018, includes a variety of both in-person and virtual events. These sessions cover a diverse range of topics, including personal leadership, team development, DEI initiatives, communication, executive presence, professional presentation, transparency, board management, strategy, problem-solving, change management, decision-making, and human resources-focused topics such as hiring, recruiting, and retention.
To date, 61 fellows have participated in the program, and the feedback has been extremely positive. In a survey of the 2023 Termeer Fellows, 100% said they acquired a variety of resources to continue to refine their development as a leader and that they feel connected to a network of professionals who can guide and assist them.
Because leadership, particularly of an early-stage biotech company, can be a lonely, isolating experience at times, the Fellows Program also helps foster a sense of community and support among the fellows in each class. In the 2023 Termeer Fellows survey, 100% indicated they have a strong professional network of peer biotech founders after participating in the program.
Each year, incoming fellows are selected for the Termeer Fellows Program through a competitive, stepwise process that begins with an open, online application. This selection process reflects the values that lie at the core of the Foundation’s mission and the Fellows Program: responsibility, passion, innovation, humility, and connectivity. (Applications for the 2025 fellowship year will be available online on September 30.)
As Safia Rizvi, CEO of CILA Therapeutics and a 2023 Termeer Fellow, remarked, “The Termeer Fellowship has been a transformative experience for me, both professionally and personally. It offered me the chance to learn from my peers, mentors, foundation members, and the numerous resources provided throughout the program. Most importantly, I have found a community.”