Inspiring Leaders: Kathrin Jansen

Image credit: JOHN MEORE/THE JOURNAL NEWS

Today’s Inspiring Leader is Kathrin Jansen. Kathrin is Senior Vice President and Head of Vaccine Research and Development at Pfizer Inc, and a member of Pfizer’s Worldwide Research and Development leadership team.At the end of 2020, Pfizer made a profound statement: Its COVID-19 vaccine was market-ready. Much of these celebrated results is thanks to the leadership of Kathrin. She has been a trailblazer in the effort to get the vaccine ready to go.

This is not Kathrin’s first groundbreaking moment in vaccine development. In 1992, she drove the development of the vaccine for human papillomavirus (HPV), which can cause cervical cancer in women.

We are inspired to see that – while in the past vaccine science was dominated by male researchers – in 2021, women like Jansen are at the frontline in challenging disease targets. We know that girls & women are systematically veered away from STEM subjects in their educations, and this may prevent them from pursuing a career in this field. One of the key factors in gender STEM gaps is that girls & women have fewer role models to spark their interest in STEM fields – so let us look at the likes of Kathrin Jansen, Katalin Karikó, Kizzmekia Corbett, Lisa Jackson as role models for a generation of scientists to come.

The Inspiring Leadership Foundation can help girls & women to thrive in science careers, enhancing their financial security. We can help facilitate mentorship and experience for girls & women who are passionate about a career in STEM. If you would like to find out more about how we can help you, get in touch now.