Interview topic: The challenges of being a woman, and a start-up founder in an industry largely dominated by men - life sciences and med tech.

Interviewee: Dr. Rina Patramanon, who will be speaking about women in med tech and life sciences start-ups at the Start-Up Podium at the 9th edition of MEDICAL FAIR THAILAND which is taking place in Bangkok from the 11th to 13th of September.

If you are interested to interview Dr. Rina Patramanon on the topic “The challenges of being a woman, and a start-up founder in an industry largely dominated by men - life sciences and med tech”. Please come and join the Media Event for Medical Fair Thailand 2019

Date: Thursday 18th July 2019

Time: 10 am to 1 pm (Refreshments and lunch will be served)

Location: Sukhumvit 5, Level 3 | The Landmark Hotel Bangkok

(138 Sukhumvit Rd, Khlong Toei Nuea)

Please RSVP to Puttimedh Varasarin (Pra-Ake) at prsupervisor@brandnow.asia or 087 086 7733 by the 15th  of July 2019

Story angle:

Glass ceilings still exist in many corporations and businesses which prevent women from rising to C-suite positions and commanding the same salaries and benefits as their male counterparts. This is likely to be more pronounced in fields which have been traditionally dominated by men such as life sciences and med-tech, as well as start-ups in these fields. Being a founder of a med tech or life sciences start-up is probably more challenging than climbing the corporate ladder, as many start-ups face high uncertainty and have high rates of failure, with only a minority of them growing into successful and established companies. In this interview, we find out more about the challenges of being a woman and founder of a start-up in industries largely dominated by men.

Suggested questions:

1. When did you first realize that you wanted to pursue a career in med tech and life sciences?
2. When did you first realize that women who are in med tech and life sciences are not treated the same way as their male colleagues?
3. Do you think this prejudice is the same anywhere? Or do you think it is more pronounced in Asia countries, such as in Thailand?
4. What are the challenges that women like you face when trying to build a career in med tech and life sciences?
5. What are the challenges you faced when starting Youth Meter? Would you say these are the same challenges that a man would have faced, had he been its founder? Or do you think you have it worse?
6. What steps have been put in place, say by institutions, government and non-government organizations, to help level the playing fields for
   1. women in medtech and life sciences
   2. women founder of start-ups

7. Do you think that the field is leveling up to encourage more women to build a career in these industries? How so?
8. What would be your advice to women who want to found life sciences and med tech start-ups?
9. Who would you say has been your constant inspiration?

About Dr. Rina:

Dr. Rina Patramanon teaches biochemistry at Khon Kaen University and is an active researcher in the field of biosensors and biomedical technology. She is involved with the Technology Talent Mobility Programme led by the Ministry of Science and Technology in Thailand and is also the Thailand finalist for the ASEAN-US Science Prize for Women in 2017. With support from Thailand’s National Innovation Agency, Dr. Rina has been closely collaborating with the private sector in designing and commercializing a nanobiosensor called Youthmeter. Recently, Dr. Rina is exploring the field of health AI to develop a new health monitoring paradigm based on physiological and biochemical parameters.