Life Science Leaders: A Sisterhood of Innovation and Impact

Having one powerhouse leader in a family is impressive, but two is something special. International Chair of Life Sciences, Cheryl Reicin, and Founder and Co-chair of Mintz’s AI Life Sciences IP Group, Terri Shieh-Newton, PhD, are not just leading figures in the life sciences industry, but they’re each also part of a family legacy of high-achieving women shaping the field. Their sisters Alise Reicin and Felice Shieh have also carved out impactful careers in life sciences, each bringing a unique perspective.

In this feature, Cheryl and Terri share their journeys into the life sciences space, how having a sister in a similarly situated decision-making executive role has shaped their careers, and their advice for those looking to lead in this complex and ever-evolving industry.

From Hostile Takeovers to Health Innovation

For Cheryl, the path to practicing transactional law with a focus on the life sciences industry was a matter of purpose. While starting her legal career working on high-profile takeovers, she encountered a group of Yale scientists launching an oncology therapeutics company. “These scientists were creative and brilliant and were trying to address a big health problem. They needed a lot of legal and business advice,” she recalls. “There were scores of lawyers lined up for the sexy hostile takeovers, but no one was focused on biotech at the time.” Cheryl saw an opportunity to make a meaningful impact.

Terri’s journey was sparked by education. “I had a wonderful high school [science] teacher who introduced me to biology and then great teachers in college.” Her curiosity about how organisms evolve to meet nature’s challenges led her to graduate school, where her focus turned toward life-saving efforts. “I was interested in helping save lives — whether it was being part of a team that developed therapeutic drugs or early and accurate detection of various diseases that would allow for proactive intervention to save that person’s life.”

Sisters in Science and Strategy

Growing up, Cheryl and Terri’s families placed a strong emphasis on intellectual challenge and purpose-driven work. Cheryl remembers how her mother instilled in them the idea of “tikkun olam” a Hebrew phrase that translates to “mending the world.” “What better way of mending the world than through health innovation?” she says.

Alise shares, “We were brought up in a home by first generation parents who put a high priority both on education and the need for us to use that education to do something meaningful to better the world. Becoming a doctor enabled me to do something where I “gave back” and followed my passion to pursue scientific research.”

Though Cheryl and her sister Alise pursued different paths, Cheryl in law and Alise in medicine, their work has brought them back together in unexpected ways. “We’ve worked independently for most of our careers, but since she’s become a biotech CEO, the issues she deals with are in my sweet spot. We’re in touch continually.”

They also collaborate professionally. Recently, Cheryl and Alise co-moderated a Biotech CEO Sisterhood panel focused on the topic of structuring life sciences M&A and licensing transactions. The event focused on the business development and legal practicalities of successfully structuring life sciences M&A and licensing transactions – honing in on strategies and key considerations for partnering with big pharma.

For Terri and Felice, collaboration has been more direct. While Terri focuses on intellectual property and patent strategy, Felice is deeply involved in business development, dealmaking, and investments. “We’ve worked together on transactions and share insights that help us both better understand market trends,” Terri reveals.

Felice echoes the sentiment, noting how their shared career paths have fostered support and inspiration. “We’ve been able to mutually support each other through the highs and lows of life sciences,” she notes. “It has been inspiring for me to see Terri rise in her career while still making time to mentor others. I admire her strength, leadership, knowledge, and courage, and I continue to aspire to these same virtues myself.”

Advice for Future Leaders

Cheryl and Terri have seen firsthand how the life sciences industry demands passion, patience, and adaptability. They provided some advice for aspiring leaders.

Cheryl said, “If you have passion for this field and you want to have leadership roles in the industry, there are unlimited opportunities depending on your innate talents, educational background, and interests. For those who have patience and persistence, creativity, good communication skills, and understand business issues as well as scientific issues, the sky’s the limit. Most of us only have one or more of these attributes. The trick is finding something you love enough to want to work very hard for, and that matches your package of talents and background.”

Terri encourages individuals to “Be open and fearless, and to try new opportunities in different areas, even if it’s not in your comfort zone. This enables you to have a broader skill set, which can be helpful later in your career. As your career trajectory is on the rise, be thoughtful in your actions, especially in how you communicate your aspirations to be a leader, and learn how to communicate clearly and effectively to people on your team. Good leadership is about helping others be the best version of themselves, inspiring others to do the same, and getting everyone to work together in sync to advance the success of your organization.”

Felice expressed similar guidance; “Anchor to your passion and have patience. The life sciences and health care industries are constantly evolving with dynamic game changers that are often out of our control. Find your true north, stay true to yourself, and learn how to communicate effectively.”

These high-powered women leaders demonstrate that leadership in life sciences isn’t just about knowledge but also vision, resilience, and the ability to drive change in a complex landscape while also drawing strength and inspiration through family.