Please check back soon for announcement of future cohort.

“Out of the Shadows” is typically held adjacent to a mass spectrometry-related conference to maximize attendance and to minimize travel. Contact us if you are interested in partnering with FeMS+ to bring “Out of the Shadows” to your conference.

Are you ready to embark on senior leadership positions (CEO, dean, director)? Do you wish to step out of the shadows and explore what else is in your realm of possibilities and opportunities? We invite to you to apply for the FeMS⁺ “Out of the Shadows” program.

The FeMS⁺ “Out of the Shadows” is our premiere Leadership Development program for women and in mid- to senior-level positions who wish to advance their career. This program aims to provide opportunities for personal and professional development. We partner with well-known companies globally to organize coaching events for a select number of candidates. 

Do you wish to step out of the shadows and explore what else is in your realm of possibilities and opportunities? If yes, then you are invited to apply for one of our “Out of the Shadows” programs!

Partner with FeMS⁺

FeMS⁺ is seeking companies to partner in hosting a one-day Leadership Development Program for up to 20 women scientists in mid- to senior-level careers, who wish to advance into senior leadership roles. Event partner is responsible for providing venue, coach, food and beverage, and leadership books for the event; or funding to cover the above. Please refer to the overview document below and contact the FeMS⁺ Leadership Development Committee for more information.

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Past Cohorts

Cohort 9, April 27, 2026, Taipei, Taiwan

• Event in partnership with: Academia Sinica, the Society of Taiwan Women in Science and Technology, the National Science and Technology Council, and Prof. I-Lin Isabel Tsai; organized with Prof. Chia-Ni Lin, adjacent to the inaugural Clinical Mass Spectrometry Conference in Asia 2026 (CMSCA 2026).
• Leadership theme: Overcome challenges and navigate uncertainties in career.
• Activities included: 
  • Leadership coaching with Prof. Chao-Ping Hsu and Prof. Keng-Hui Lin, Academia Sinica.
  • Career talk and panel discussion with Dr. Anne Bendt, Prof. Yu-Ju Chen, Dr. Michelle Hill, Prof. Chao-Ping Hsu and Prof. Keng-Hui Lin.

Cohort 8, September 26, 2025, Montreal, Canada

• Event in partnership with: MSACL, Thermo Scientific, and Carol Lempert Speaking.
• Leadership theme: Power Up Your Leadership Presence with Storytelling
  • Increase executive presence for enhanced networking and communication.
  • Harness the power of storytelling as a leadership and influence tool.
  • Gain confidence in presenting, from conference to board meetings and beyond.
• Activities included: interactive coaching with a mix of practical exercises, modeling behaviors, discussion, and feedback to participants on the impact of their own executive presence and stories.

Cohort 7, February 23, 2025, Singapore

• Event in partnership with: Agilent, SCIEX, and Thermo Fisher.
• Leadership themes: discover your voice, transform your career, and connect globally.
• Activities included:
  • Leadership coaching with Tan Hwee Hoon on identifying one’s greatest strengths, developing presence and charisma, and networking
  • Discussion panel on finding one’s voice, addressing challenges, and discussing strategies, with Michelle Hill, Yue Wan, and Rachel Watson; moderated by Wu Wei.
• Testimonies:
  • Dana Hicks
  • Jingjing Sun
  • JiaYee Wu

Cohort 6, September 2024, Rockville, MD, USA

• Event in partnership with: CASSS and SCIEX
• Leadership theme on Power Up Your Leadership Presence with Storytelling, featuring Carol Lempert Speaking
  • Increase executive presence for enhanced networking and communication.
  • Harness the power of storytelling as a leadership and influence tool.
  • Gain confidence in presenting, from conference to board meetings and beyond.
• Activities included:
  • Leadership coaching
  • Practical exercises, modeling behaviors, discussion, and feedback to participants on the impact of their own executive presence and their stories.
• Testimony:
  • Amber Herold

Cohort 5, August 2024, Melbourne, Australia

• Event in partnership with: Mass Dynamics, Peak Scientific, and SCIEX.
• Leadership themes: negotiation and communication skills
• Activities included:
  • Panel discussion on leadership journey and capturing your values, with Paula Burton, Vera Ignjatovic, Nicole Pendini, Ute Roessner, and Yu Xia.
  • Workshop on honing influence and negotiation skills in workplace
  • Interactive discussion and small group exercises
• Testimony:
  • Paula Burton
  • Vera Ignjatović
  • Alice Ly
  • Anna Quaglieri

Cohort 4, April 2024, Hamburg, Germany

• Event in partnership with: Tecan, IBL.
• Leadership Themes on Sharing Career Journeys and Unleashing Potential:
  • Build self-confidence through self-awareness of strengths and successful strategies.
  • Understand the role of a leader, encompassing effective communication with both team members and superiors.
  • Envisioning future growth and development, including changes in behavior and approach over a five-year period.
• Activities included:
  • Leadership coaching workshop, led by Sophie von Schack
  • Networking: Meet & Greet with females working in mass spectrometry, including industry and academic leaders from various functions
  • Panel discussion on career growth
• Testimony:
  • Maike Arndt
  • Dajana Domik
  • Dipali Kale
  • Angie Mc Ardle
  • Olga Vvedenskaya
  • Stefanie Wernisch

Cohort 3, March 2024, Singapore

• Event in partnership with (in alphabetical order): Bruker, National University of Singapore, SCIEX, and Singapore Phenome Centre of Nanyang Technological University
• Leadership Themes:
  • Empower women scientists to find their voices in professional setting
  • Gain awareness of triggers and barriers
  • Develop self-efficacy and build a support system
• Activities included:
  • Leadership coaching, led by Executive Coach Ping Yu
  • Networking with women leaders in mass spectrometry community
  • Panel discussion with Nathalie Benzing (COO, Moneythor), Prof. Yunn Hwen Gan (Associate Professor, National University of Singapore), Thusi Rupasinghe (Senior Field Application and Market Development Specialist, SCIEX), and Prof. Yulan Wang (Professor, Nanyang Technological University). 
• Testimony:
  • Liyan Chan: Event reflection
  • Nivedita Bhattacharya: Event reflection, Navigating Scientific Leadership through Global Journeys

Cohort 2, September 2023, Munich, Germany

• Event in partnership with: Bruker Daltonics GmbH and Co. KG, Bruker Scientific
• Leadership Themes:
  • The Psychology of Selves: Beyond Imposter Syndrome
  • Confident Negotiation
  • Intentional Careers

• Activities included:
  • Leadership coaching, led by Dr. Hannah Roberts, UK-based STEM careers coach
  • Networking with industry leaders in mass spectrometry community
  • Panel discussion on career growth
• Testimony:
  • Kristina Beeler
  • Tessel Hammink
  • Sonja Klee
  • Hannah Roberts

Inaugural Cohort, March 2023, San Jose, CA, US

• Event in partnership with: Thermo Fisher Scientific, Life Science Mass Spectrometry Business Unit
• Leadership Coaching Themes:
  • Going from The Academic to the Corporate World
  • Building Your Personal Brand and Networking
  • Asking for What You Want

• Activities:
  • 2.5h Leadership coaching course
  • Networking: Meet & Greet with industry leaders from various functions
  • Panel discussion on career growth
• Testimony:
  • Prasanna Vadhana Ashok Kumaar