HBA Talks

LeAnna J. Carey is the CEO and President of Women Who Innovate, LLC, a company focused on providing strategic guidance to startup companies from idea creation to launch. To date, Lea has launched five companies. As a result of her successful track record over the span of over 15 years, Lea has chaired Start Up Company and Entrepreneur of the Year competition panels for both the World Congress and Healthcare Unbound, in Washington DC and San Francisco.
Her e-book, The Power of Co-Creation in Healthcare Innovation is a blueprint on growth, agility, and co-creation, as it was written on a digital collaboration platform with international thought leaders. During her time in Washington DC, she led the launch of the Growth Strategy Co. digital campaign for the published book, Growth Thinking. She led the digital campaign for How Stella Saved the Farm, a #1 Wall Street Journal Best Seller, #5 New York Times Best Seller, #1 USA Today Best Seller, #1 Barnes and Noble Best Seller, #1 Amazon Business Best Seller.
Lea served on the Global Board of Directors of the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association which represents over twenty thousand members. Following her HBA board service, she began her two-year term as President of the Women's Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County including oversight of their Foundation.
Lea is certified in both Executive Women's Leadership from Yale University, Executive Presence and Influence from the Wharton School of Executive Education and is an IPEC Certified Professional Coach focused on Transformational Leadership.
As an experienced innovation workshop leader, TEDMED moderator, and keynote speaker on topics focused on Transformational Leadership, the innovation process, entrepreneurship, and gender equity at well-known venues such as the National Press Club, World Congress, Front End of Innovation, and Foresight and Trends.

Jennifer Postelnek is a NY/NJ native and is currently a Principal Scientist for Bristol Myers Squibb in Princeton, NJ. Her experience in biotech and pharma spans various stages of drug development, from discovery to supporting clinical trials, over a 25+ year career. She is an active PBRG member and volunteer, a recent graduate of the HBA Ambassador Program, and a marketing committee member on the HBA Central NJ Chapter.

Chi Onyebuchi is a Global Program Leader at Takeda Pharmaceuticals, providing strategic leadership to advance drug development programs from concept to commercialization. She develops program strategies, translates them into cross-functional plans, and oversees key activities, including milestone planning, scenario development, risk mitigation, and senior management communication. With over 20 years of expertise in clinical research, operations, and program management, Chi previously led PDT R&D’s Global Program Management group at Takeda and held roles at Biogen, Merck, Schering Plough, and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

Since joining Takeda in 2017, she has driven the success of early and late-phase assets, embodying a passion for innovation and patient care. Chi also serves on the boards of NAPPSA and TERC and has published extensively in leading journals. Her visionary leadership and operational excellence continue to contribute to Takeda’s mission of better health for people worldwide.

Dr. Shilpa Tekula is a physician and cancer survivor who brings both a deeply personal and clinical lens to her work in oncology. She began her career diagnosing disease at the microscopic level, providing critical insights that guided multidisciplinary cancer care. Today, she serves as a Medical Director at Novartis, on a team leading efforts in Radioligand Therapy (RLT) and driving innovations in precision medicine for patients with high unmet needs.

With a strong background in Medical Affairs across Diagnostics and Pharmaceutical landscape, Dr. Tekula is recognized for her ability to bridge scientific rigor with human-centered advocacy and strategic insight. She has led national initiatives across breast cancer, ensuring that patient perspectives are embedded in clinical and strategic decision-making.

Her career is driven by a singular purpose: to accelerate access to transformative therapies and improve outcomes for patients—particularly those impacted by breast and women's cancers. Her own patient journey has deepened her empathy, strengthened her resilience, and underscored the importance of leading with authenticity.

The daughter of Indian immigrants and a mother herself, Dr. Tekula draws inspiration from the generational resilience and sacrifices that shaped her path. She is committed to leaving a lasting impact by advancing science, mentoring the next generation of diverse leaders, and advocating for equity in oncology care.

An active mentor, collaborator, and speaker in the medical and scientific community, Dr. Tekula has been recognized for her leadership and impact. She believes science should not only extend life, but also restore hope, dignity, and time for those it serves.

Nicole Ventrone is a Partner with Beghou Consulting, a consulting and technology company supporting pharma commercialization. Nicole has spent over 25 years in the pharma/biotech industry working across both the manufacturer and vendor side, across consulting and technology, and also owned her own consulting company, Paradigm Research & Analytics, for 8 years. Nicole received her MA in Sociology from ASU and her BA in Sociology from UCSD.

Amy Gamber is the Founder of BioMeridian Consulting and a strategic executive with over 20 years of CMC experience in clinical and commercial biopharmaceutical companies. At BioMeridian, she provides CMC transformation and turnaround consulting for late-stage biotech companies, specializing in late phase operations strategy, supply chain regionalization, and program management.

Previously, she served as Vice President of End to End Supply at Atara Biotherapeutics, overseeing a 10-asset cell therapy portfolio and managing an $80M budget across seven manufacturing sites and three countries. Her experience includes manufacturing network revitalization, executing technology transfers across multiple sites, and leading post-acquisition integrations. In her earlier roles at Atara, she served as Senior Director of Global Program Management, where she led the strategic execution of the company's first EU commercial partnership. She also established a Project Management Office for the Technical Operations group, directing multiple programs throughout the development lifecycle.

Earlier roles include Director of Quality Knowledge Management at CSL Seqirus and leadership positions at companies such as Amgen and Novartis. Amy also served as the Vice President at a consulting firm focused on manufacturing excellence, with clients spanning the US, UK, Middle East, and Africa. She holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from Arizona State University and was a 2024 Healthcare Businesswomen's Association Luminary Award recipient. She currently serves as Business Development Director for HBA's Pacific Region.

Stephanie has 9 years of experience working for sponsor companies like Bristol Myers Squibb, Sanofi, and now Merck. Her career started in clinical trial operations where she focused on Phase II and Phase III studies and worked directly with sites to ensure protocol adherence, proper documentation, compliant data entry. Stephanie currently works as an analyst supporting Merck's Business Insights & Analytics team. Her work directly supports Merck's oncology marketing professionals, and she has the pleasure of working with both IT and marketers every day in this role.

Poornima Shubhakar is Senior Director of Strategic Planning & Operations in the Office of the CMO, Solid Tumors at BeOne Medicines. With over 20+ years in the biopharma industry, she has expertise in guiding strategy, operations, and execution across the full product lifecycle. Poornima has deep experience across R&D, Clinical Development, and organizational transformation - always with a focus on building strong teams, fostering collaboration, and delivering meaningful results. She is passionate about helping science move faster and smarter, and thrives on bringing clarity and momentum to complex challenges. Prior to BeOne Medicines, Poornima held roles at Amgen, Valeant Pharmaceuticals and USC Norris Cancer Center.

A passionate advocate for advancing women in healthcare, Poornima is currently Chair of the HBA Pacific Region and previously President of HBA Los Angeles.

In her free time, Poornima enjoys running, reading and spending time with her wonderful husband and two amazing young children.

Dana Trump is a dynamic omnichannel marketing strategist with 10+ years of experience across pharmaceuticals and eCommerce. She blends expertise in marketing and customer experience with a talent for bridging gaps across teams, fostering collaboration, and turning complexity into measurable results. Dana has built and led high-performing marketing teams at Urban Outfitters, Chewy.com, and buybuybaby.

Currently, Dana serves as Associate Director, Omnichannel Strategist at AstraZeneca within the Innovation & Business Excellence (IBEX) team. Beyond her corporate role, she is committed to nonprofit leadership as a member of the Associate Board for Girls on the Run Philadelphia. Dana believes that leadership is defined by how you show up, not by your title. She holds an MBA from Florida Atlantic University and a Bachelor of Science from Temple University.

Dr. Maria Abunto, MD, MPH, MBA, leads HBA Pittsburgh and serves as an executive medical consultant and medical affairs business leader. A physician leader and public health advocate, she has dedicated her career to advancing cancer research, diagnostics, and equitable care while creating opportunities for others to lead and thrive.

Two years ago, as a new Executive MBA student at the University of Pittsburgh, Maria noticed that the city lacked an HBA presence. She asked one question—“What would it take to build one?” That spark became the foundation for HBA Pittsburgh, now a vibrant and growing community where students, executives, entrepreneurs, and innovators come together to lead with purpose and impact.

Maria’s journey has always been about turning questions into action. From her early work as an epidemiologist at the National Institutes of Health to leading national medical affairs teams in industry, she has consistently translated science into meaningful change. Her leadership has been recognized with national honors, including MSL of the Year and Excellence in Medical Affairs.

Today, she serves as the first Ambassador for the American College of AI in Medicine, advocating for responsible innovation and collaboration across sectors. She holds an MD, an MPH with three specialty certificates in global health, health equity, and program evaluation, and an Executive MBA in Healthcare from the University of Pittsburgh, where she was inducted into the Beta Gamma Sigma international honors society.

For Maria, leadership is where strategy meets service. Her work is driven by the belief that building community and uplifting others creates the most lasting impact. Through HBA Pittsburgh and beyond, she remains committed to shaping spaces where voices are heard, careers are amplified, and future leaders rise with confidence and purpose.

Ashley A. Francis Carmouche, MPH is the Director of Operations Management at the Texas Medical Center (TMC) and an accomplished leader in operational strategy, with over a decade of experience driving innovation, efficiency, and measurable impact across healthcare, oncology research, and nonprofit sectors. In her current role, she leads enterprise-wide initiatives, aligns cross-functional teams, and oversees budget and capital planning to support TMC’s bold strategic vision—to accelerate the pace of healing by uniting innovation, research, development, and patient care within a centralized medical ecosystem.

Previously, Ashley led high-performing teams and managed multimillion-dollar initiatives at TMC Innovation, where she applied advanced project management expertise to oversee a $5M portfolio supporting early-stage healthcare startups. She consistently delivered high-impact programs on time and under budget, while transforming budget oversight and operational workflows to enhance efficiency across a network of more than 250 innovation-stage companies.

Her impact extends beyond innovation into public health and oncology research. She designed and launched a $5M state-funded accelerator to advance cancer therapeutics and directed a $1.5M breast cancer screening initiative that exceeded performance goals by 140%—significantly expanding access to care in underserved communities.

Ashley is widely recognized for her servant leadership, ability to build consensus across complex systems, and deep commitment to stakeholder engagement. She holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) in Environmental and Occupational Health from The University of Texas Health Science Center and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from Baylor University.

Danielle Santiago is Associate Director, Legal Affairs at Otsuka and a 4L law student at Purdue Global Law School. With over seven years in the pharmaceutical industry, she provides strategic legal support on drug development, pharma product promotion, social media advertising, and sales activities, with a focus on FDA, FTC, and Anti-Kickback Statute compliance.

Danielle is recognized as a 2025 HBA Rising Star and serves on the board of the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA), Miami chapter. She is passionate about mentorship, sponsorship, and fostering inclusive leadership in life sciences and regulatory law.

Previously, she supported clinical trial contracting and authored regulatory articles for Facts & Findings and Compliance Today. She holds a Master of Professional Studies in Legal Studies from George Washington University, a Master of Public Administration from Troy University, and a bachelor’s degree from Campbell University. Danielle brings a multidisciplinary, business-minded approach to pharmaceutical law and corporate compliance.

Varintip Sookthat serves as Head of Business Excellence & Executions at Novartis Thailand, leading cross-functional strategy, digital transformation, and inclusive leadership initiatives. With over a decade in pharmaceutical leadership, she transforms purpose into measurable impact—spearheading the Let hER Smile campaign that empowered patient groups to advocate for policy change, securing nationwide CDK4/6 inhibitor access for all Thai women. She also developed the AI-powered platform I Know Breast, earning the APMA Ambition Award.
As Thailand's first HBA Ambassador and founder of the HER-Opportunities (HERO) program, Varintip champions gender equity through strategic mentorship and future ready skills. Her leadership earned The Marketing Pharmacy Association of Thailand's Best Pharmacist in Marketing award.
Driven by the belief that personal conviction fuels systemic change, Varintip exemplifies how healthcare leaders can channel empathy into execution, creating transformational impact. Her approach proves that purpose-driven leadership doesn't just advance careers—it saves lives.