Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart recently hosted a public forum aimed at motivating girls to explore high-level business executive roles. The March 16 program was part of Woodlands’ annual “Imagine Yourself in the C-Suite” series, in which leading female executives share stories and insights from their professional experiences during presentations to students at the all-girls college-preparatory high school in Lake Forest.

Girls from some area schools joined the Woodlands Academy community to hear from Suzet McKinney, named one of Chicago’s “50 Most Powerful Women in 2020.” As the principal and director for Sterling Bay’s life sciences division, McKinney oversees relationships with the scientific, academic, corporate, tech and governmental sectors involved in the life sciences ecosystem. She also leads the strategy to expand Sterling Bay’s footprint in life sciences nationwide. McKinney holds a doctorate degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health, a master of public health degree from Benedictine University and a bachelor of arts in biology from Brandeis University. 

Before joining Sterling Bay, McKinney was CEO and executive director of the Illinois Medical District. Her duties there included managing medical research facilities, a biotech business incubator, four hospitals and more than 40 healthcare-related facilities.

“My advice to you is to find your confidence,” McKinney told her Woodlands Academy audience. “Whatever way that is for you—find your daily ritual to find your confidence.”

Her presentation was moderated by former CBS-2 Chicago news anchor and reporter Katherine Bliss, who’s also the parent of a Woodlands Academy student. Bliss spent 20 years in TV news earning Anchor of the Year honors and an Emmy nomination before launching an independent producer and storyteller career. 

“Imagine Yourself in the C-Suite was born out of a desire to motivate students to explore career paths they might not have previously considered,” said Head of School Dawn Nichols, Ph.D. “We are thrilled to host it, not only for the students at Woodlands Academy, but for young girls throughout Chicagoland. Hopefully they’ll find that some of those paths can include leadership roles in areas such as the male-dominated STEM fields.”

Prior to the March 16 public event, Imagine Yourself in the C-Suite sessions for Woodlands Academy students this school year featured Paris Forest, the Boeing Company’s information technology & data analytics director of strategic solutions, and Lauren Buitta, founder and CEO of Girl Security.

“Opportunities to meet and learn from women like these are rare,” Peter Cashman, social studies teacher/C-Suite student preparation coordinator, said. “For young women like our students, experiences like these are the seeds of future dreams and accomplishments.”