Session: Big Goals Lead to Bigger Returns; Courageously Leading by Example
The technology and healthcare industries are notorious for being overwhelmingly male-dominated. Like in many industries, the loudest voice in the room can oftentimes be seen as the most influential voice in the room, and therefore, the most effective leader. Add to that the status quo that women are often expected to wear heels, be selectively assertive, and wait, rather than demand well-deserved promotions and raises. There is an abundance of barriers that women face when searching for opportunities in leadership.
This presentation will focus on how women in the technology industry should push themselves to lead with confidence, while also empowering others to do the same. With a background in the medical technology industry, Jessica Wicks has spent her career searching for opportunities to operate outside her comfort zone. She consistently takes on professional and personal projects that have a higher risk of failure (and can be under-appreciated in terms of the courage it takes to tackle new challenges and work in unchartered waters). In this presentation, she will share her learnings and best practices to garner opportunities for leading with courage and creating the openness to fail. Her motto: Will it be easy? No. Is it worth the risk? Definitely.
Participants will discover how to be a leader that empowers others and creates the space for others to grow and develop.
Bio
Jessica Wicks is a medical technology leader, strategist, and marketer. A “top performer” at Medtronic, Wicks was recruited to join medtech startup Proprio. With an extensive background in the medical technology industry, Wicks encourages courage and collaboration among those who work with her, and inspires others to challenge themselves to continually set bigger and bolder goals. It’s also very interesting to note that Jessica runs 200+ mile ultramarathons, travels to challenging parts of the world such as North Korea, lives full time in a converted sprinter van, and has undergone jungle and desert island survival scenarios at remote destinations all in the spirit of pushing her limits in a variety of ways.