W!LD has been created to be YOUR diabetes leadership network for women
Join us to add your voice, your perspective, and your ideas - so W!LD can advance all women leaders in the diabetes ecosystem. W!LD is open to senior and emerging women leaders who want to build their skills, increase their leadership potential, find peer support, and connect in community with each other.
There’s never been a more important time for women leaders in diabetes to connect, learn, and grow.
W!LD Mission
To educate, connect, support, inspire and advance senior and emerging women leaders in the diabetes ecosystem and to collectively improve outcomes for people with diabetes.
Why do organizations sponsor W!LD?
Leading diabetes organizations are joining the W!LD Network to
- Drive employee loyalty
- Improve diversity in management
- Advance career potential for women leaders
- Strengthen the skills and emotional well-being of key talent
- Offer a popular and valued benefit
- Increase the pipeline of women into executive and board roles in diabetes organizations
That’s because W!LD works across the diabetes ecosystem – in industry, technology, research, government, nonprofits, and direct clinical roles, where it provides new opportunities for professional recognition, connection, support, and learning for our women leaders.
What is W!LD?
W!LD is an initiative of Close Concerns: an invitation-based network of senior and emerging women leaders across the diabetes ecosystem. We deliver best-in-class leadership programming and networking to educate, connect, support, inspire, and advance women and to collectively improve outcomes for people with diabetes.
Leadership Expertise and Best Practices
Access to expertise shared by leaders from all over the diabetes ecosystem, including CEOs, board directors, nonprofit and clinical leaders, academics and chief medical officers
Governance insight and skill-building
Leadership and communications skill-building
Leadership intensives
Networking and Connecting
Peer learning
Social gatherings
Informal networking
Diabetes Expertise and Training
Diabetes ‘deep dives’
Global conference commentary
Skill building from diabetes key opinion leaders
Leadership and Emergent Themes
Leading during the pandemic and working from home
Innovation leadership
Diabetes leadership & public policy
Health equity dialogues
Past Events
W!LD #27 at the 85th ADA Scientific Sessions – Chicago (In Person)
W!LD kicked off the 85th ADA Scientific Sessions with its 7th "Hot Breakfast, Hot Topics" reception on Friday, June 20, bringing together more than 300 women and their committed allies at the VU Rooftop for a morning of connection, conversation, and community.
At W!LD, we believe that continuous learning and expansive networking are critical tools in leaders' professional development. As introduced at the breakfast, we're currently diving deep into the practice of mentorship. We're exploring what works, what's promising, and how best to support individuals and the organizations they lead. If you didn't get a chance to grab a copy of our mentoring guide onsite, click here.
Kelly Close welcomed attendees and introduced the guest of honor, Dr. Linda DiMeglio, who was recognized for her groundbreaking work in type 1 diabetes prevention research, her commitment to mentoring though DiabDocs, and for being an outstanding clinician.
W!LD Advisory Committee members Christen Chavez (Insulet) and Jillian Jones (Abbott) also spoke, reflecting on the power of women in leadership and those who help uplift others along the way.
To close out the conference, on Monday, June 23, W!LD hosted an intimate, insightful conversation featuring Dr. Bruce Buckingham, Dr. James Gavin, Dr. Irl Hirsch, and Dr. David Nathan, moderated by Dr. Rita Kalyani and Dr. Francine Kaufman. This gathering of esteemed leaders explored the current landscape of clinical research and the path ahead. We were honored to be part of this important conversation.
Our Values
Respect for the contributions of all professionals within the diabetes “ecosystem”
Belief that diverse leadership results in better outcomes
Knowledge that positive environments inspire, support and connect us to our work and to each other
Belief that when leaders reach their potential, they maximize contributions to their organizations
Commitment to welcoming anyone supportive of maximizing leadership diversity to improve patient outcomes
W!LD depends on organizational memberships and sponsorship to curate and produce our unique leadership programming. If your company would like to join us then click the button and we’ll be in touch
Special thanks to our founding sponsors:
