Ahead of the EACR 2025 Congress in Lisbon, Portugal, the EACR once again hosted its popular Women in Leadership Workshop on 16 June 2025. The event brought together 26 female cancer researchers in, or about to start, their first independent position, for a day of empowerment, learning and connection.
Lessons from a leading scientist
One of the standout moments of the workshop was an inspiring talk by Professor Caroline Dive, Interim Director of the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute and Director of the CRUK National Biomarker Centre. Caroline shared the story of her scientific journey, offering invaluable insights and practical advice for researchers at the start of their careers. Her talk highlighted the power of perseverance, an investigative spirit and embracing challenges as opportunities for growth. She ended her talk with this final thought: “One of the cardinal features of being a scientist is curiosity”.
Panel discussion on women’s leadership challenges
A central feature of the day was an engaging panel discussion that explored the unique challenges women often encounter when stepping into leadership roles within scientific fields. Our panel comprised of senior researchers, department heads and industry leaders, who shared personal experiences and offered insights on overcoming barriers such as unconscious bias, imposter syndrome and underrepresentation. Attendees had the opportunity to ask questions and gain practical strategies for navigating their own leadership journeys.
Gaining confidence through real-world scenarios
To provide hands-on experience in handling leadership scenarios, the workshop included interactive role-play sessions facilitated by professional actors. Participants practiced navigating difficult conversations, asserting their authority, and responding to common workplace situations that require confident leadership. These sessions were not only immersive and insightful but also offered a safe space to experiment with different approaches and receive constructive feedback.
Building a lasting network of peer mentors
Beyond the structured sessions, the workshop fostered a supportive and collaborative environment that encouraged meaningful connections among participants. To maintain the momentum, we’ve created a dedicated LinkedIn group, enabling attendees to stay in touch, share resources and offer peer-to-peer mentorship. This network aims to provide ongoing support, encouragement and knowledge exchange well beyond the duration of the workshop.
What did our participants have to say?
100% of participants said that they would recommend the workshop to a colleague:
“In the workshop, we explored how authenticity, often undervalued in traditional leadership paradigms, is actually a core strength, especially for women navigating complex leadership spaces.”
“For me there wasn’t one specific highlight. It was the combination of the keynote talk, the role plays, and, not least, the opportunity for networking that made it a truly valuable experience.”
“I thoroughly enjoyed every part of the workshop, but I was especially inspired by the talk given by Professor Caroline Dive.”
Looking ahead
This year’s event reaffirmed the EACR’s commitment to fostering female scientific leadership, offering knowledge, practice and community in equal measure. We’re planning the next edition, so watch this space!
