The EIC Women Leadership Programme (WLP), a key initiative of the European Innovation Council (EIC) Business Acceleration Services, has been a beacon of empowerment, providing women innovators with the skills and community needed to thrive on their entrepreneurial journeys. Following the closure of the EIC WLP 4th cohort, Dipanwita Biswas, Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) at Floating Genes shares her transformative experience as a EIC WLP participant, highlighting the profound impact it has had on her professional and personal development.
Discovering the EIC Women Leadership Programme
Dipanwita first learned about the EIC Women Leadership Programme through an email invitation. She had received a Women TechEU grant in 2023 and was eager to enhance her entrepreneurial skills. "I thought this programme would be useful for me to improve on the qualities needed for my entrepreneurial journey," she recalls.
Leading innovation at Floating Genes
At Floating Genes, Dipanwita plays a crucial role in advancing cancer detection technology. "My company is working on a technology to increase the sensitivity of cell-free cancer DNA detection in liquid biopsy," she explains. With a PhD in molecular biology and extensive research experience, she guides her R&D team from proof of concept to product development, shaping the future of cancer diagnostics.
Overcoming challenges with the support of the EIC Women Leadership Programme
Entrepreneurial journeys are hugely rewarding, but they can also be fraught with difficulties. "I have been facing multiple challenges, including managing an R&D team for high performance and maintaining a relationship with my co-founder," she notes. The EIC WLP provided her with essential skills to navigate these hurdles. "I have learned about leadership that can change with given circumstances, core management skills, and conflict management. The lecture about negotiation was completely new to me and will always be useful."
Most valuable experiences
For Dipanwita, the courses on leadership and conflict management by Gerasimos Kouvaras, Executive Director at the World Human Forum and EIC WLP 4th cohort trainer, were particularly impactful. "I learned how to lead myself and others in different ways during varying situations. This course propelled me to self-reflect, helping me realise the importance of emotional intelligence in management," she says.
Building a supportive community
One of the most significant aspects of the WLP was the sense of community it fostered. "Through this programme, I had the opportunity to meet other entrepreneurs across Europe. I realised that peers share similar challenges. The ability to exchange solutions with them via a platform is very powerful. Additionally, role models inspired and motivated me through their speeches and interactions," Dipanwita shares.
Lasting impact
The insights and skills gained from the EIC WLP have had a lasting impact on Dipanwita's approach to challenges. "My perspective on challenges has changed. If there are challenges, I now know different ways to overcome them. Overall, the WLP has changed my leadership, communication, and negotiation skills. This knowledge will stay with me for life. Even if my current company fails or I am no longer part of it, the insights gained through the WLP will remain invaluable," she reflects.
Looking forward
As the 4th cohort wraps up, the EIC Women Leadership Programme continues to pave the way for future leaders. The 5th cohort began in April, and applications for the 6th cohort will open at the end of June, with the programme commencing in October 2024. This upcoming cohort is tailored for women researchers and aspiring leaders within the EIC beneficiary ecosystem, aiming to bridge the gender gap in research and business.
For aspiring female leaders and innovators, the call to action is clear: seize the opportunity to enhance your leadership and entrepreneurial skills through the EIC Women Leadership Programme Cohort 6 starting in October 2024.
Bookmark the programme’s page to stay up to date and be the first to hear about our upcoming open calls!
Additional Information
About the EIC Women Leadership Programme
Support to women innovators is among the cornerstones of the EIC efforts to the economic competitiveness of Europe. The wide recognition and traction with high potential startups, especially from underrepresented groups such as women innovators and those from less developed ecosystems, has thus been included among the six strategic goals that the EIC Board has identified the period 2021-2027.
To support the role of women in innovation and tech, the European Innovation Council (EIC), in partnership with the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), offers a skills enhancement and networking programme for women researchers and entrepreneurs, the Women Leadership Programme (WLP).
The programme is open to female researchers, aspiring female leaders and entrepreneurs from the EIC and EIT Communities.
With the EIC Women Leadership Programme (WLP), the EIC aims to level the playing field in scalable businesses and mindsets by unlocking potential and breaking down barriers to success!
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DISCLAIMER: This information is provided in the interest of knowledge sharing and should not be interpreted as the official view of the European Commission, or any other organisation.