Scientista is a global non-profit that amplifies, empowers, and connects “women leading with science” – a mission deeply aligned with our own. The Scientista Podcast, hosted by behavioral scientist Dr. Sweta Chakraborty and former Assistant Secretary of State Monica Medina, spotlights candid conversations with changemakers and thought leaders from around the world.

A new episode of the Scientista Podcast features our founder, Ann McIllrath Drake, and our advisor, MarySue Barrett, in a conversation about Ann’s inspiration for launching the Center, its emerging focus areas, and how we’re actively learning and prototyping alongside leading women’s organizations. The dialogue offers a look at how the Center is taking shape, and co-host Sweta Chakraborty commented, "The building isn't even open yet, but the project already feels alive."

Inside the Episode

In a fast-moving, 30-minute conversation, Ann and MarySue reflect on their experiences, the Center’s emerging initiatives, and the broader community we are building:

  • Ann’s journey in the supply chain industry and how early experiences of exclusion in the logistics and supply-chain world fueled her commitment to connecting and advancing women leaders, becoming a foundation for her broader vision for a cross-sector leadership center.
  • MarySue’s decades of civic and policy leadership and how her “super connector” approach is informing our partnerships, programming design, and outreach.
  • Stories of breakthrough women such as Katherine Johnson and astronaut Cady Coleman — leaders whose contributions exemplify the type of visibility and inspiration the Center seeks to elevate.
  • Key insights from our first Bold Ideas white paper on Responsible AI, including six actionable recommendations institutions can use to strengthen sustainability and governance including activating one's supplier network. (The full report is available for download here.)

Building a Community Before the Doors Open

The Women’s Leadership Center is still completing construction on the shores of Geneva Lake — a place connected to Ann since her childhood — yet the work of convening and listening has already begun. Its leadership team is hosting intimate dinners, focus groups, and prototyping sessions with leaders across five key focus areas that shape our future: Global Supply Chain, Public and Private and Enterprise, Engineering + Technology, Infrastructure + Design, and Space + Astrophysics. These conversations are helping design a place where women can tackle the most pressing challenges of our time with evidence, connection, and purpose.

In the podcast, Ann explains, “We are calling [key leaders] together... and asking them, here's what we think the center is going to be all about. What do you think? What would you like to see? What would you like to have? What do you think will help women make a difference?”

The construction site itself is already part of the storytelling: its perimeter features an outdoor gallery of 18 women in science and leadership spanning hundreds of years. The installation reflects a commitment to making women visible, not only in the historical record, but in the physical spaces where decisions are made.

A Growing Partnership

We are grateful to the Scientista Podcast for shining a light on this work and for helping us connect with a broader community of women leading with science, insight, and determination. It's what the co-hosts termed 'evidence, not vibes'. This collaboration reflects the momentum already building around the Center and the shared belief that women’s leadership is essential to shaping a more just and innovative future.


Listen & Share

The podcast episode and Scientista’s inspiring article is now live here — we invite you to listen and share.