– VILDA-member Berit Lindholm, from global leadership to strategic board work
Are you ready to take the next step in your career? Let yourself be inspired by the journey of Berit Lindholm, an example of how experience, courage, and professional networking can open doors to influential roles and create meaningful impact for other women. Through a long international career and active engagement in professional networks, Berit has become a role model for many women in the life science industry.
A global start that shaped her view on networking
Berit’s career began in Sweden as a pharmacist, so working with pharmaceuticals and within Life Science came naturally to her. But it was during her years abroad in the UK and especially in India, that she gained a deeper understanding of the power of networking. In Bangalore, she was invited to a leadership event with hundreds of female CEOs. What others might view as a purely professional event felt to her like something far more natural and integrated into everyday life. When she returned to Sweden, it felt almost like a contrast, somewhat “meager”as networking simply wasn’t present in the same way.
This meeting of cultures and networking styles gave Berit a deeper appreciation for how professional communities can provide support, perspective, and opportunities, and it has shaped her approach to networking throughout her entire career.
Leadership driven by courage and determination
During her years in the pharmaceutical industry, including at Astra, AstraZeneca, Bluefish Pharmaceuticals, Fresenius Kabi Berit developed a broad skill set spanning supply chain, production, and international strategic leadership. Her roles have been both operational and strategic, giving her extensive experience in how complex organizations function globally.
When she was asked to take on a CEO role, she initially hesitated, not due to lack of competence, but for the same reason many women do: the feeling of not being “completely ready.” With support from those around her, she realized she was already doing the work before she had even accepted the position, and she eventually said yes to the challenge. This became a clear example of how courage often opens more doors than perfect preparation.
Professional networking: A catalyst for new opportunities
Berit is a member of VILDA, a Swedish network for female leaders in life science dedicated to
strengthening women’s representation and development in the industry. The network is an independent platform where women in leadership roles can meet, inspire each other, grow professionally, and highlight their expertise creating valuable space for collaboration and career advancement.
It was also through her involvement in VILDA that Berit discovered the opportunity to join the board of Gedea Biotech, a role connected to her experience, visibility, and engagement in the field. To Berit, networking is far more than meeting people; it is a strategic platform for showcasing competence, identifying opportunities, and increasing women’s representation in leadership teams and boardrooms. She emphasizes that networks like VILDA can play a decisive role for women who want to take the next step in their careers and contribute in new ways.
Gedea Biotech: Innovation for women’s health globally
Gedea Biotech is a Swedish life science company with a clear mission: to improve women’s intimate health globally through modern medical technology. The company has developed pHyph, a new antibiotic-free treatment for bacterial vaginosis, a common vaginal infection affecting women worldwide.
With CE marking under the EU Medical Device Regulation, pHyph has been confirmed safe and effective, paving the way for large-scale market launch in Europe. This creates major opportunities for both patient benefits and commercial growth.
What attracted Berit to the board role at Gedea Biotech?
For Berit, several factors were decisive:
- The mission: working with a company that truly makes a difference for women globally.
- The strategic challenge: using her expertise during a growth phase where product, partnerships, and market intersect.
- The match with her experience: her background in production, leadership, and strategy fits Gedea Biotech’s journey from development to global launch.
This made the assignment meaningful for her on both a personal and professional level.
Future outlook and growth opportunities
Gedea Biotech is facing several exciting developments:
- CE marking and launch in European markets, enabling large-scale accessibility and patient benefit.
- Partnerships with established pharmaceutical companies to support distribution and expansion.
- Continued research and development, broadening use cases and strengthening clinical evidence.
Berit sees these steps as central to Gedea Biotech’s growth and its potential to create real societal impact within women’s health.
Networking: A strategic resource for women
For Berit, networking is more than building contacts; it is a way to showcase competence, discover opportunities, and strengthen one’s own and others’ career paths. She encourages women to:
- Actively participate in professional networks.
- Be clear about their ambitions AND say them out loud.
- Dare to take space in settings where experience and expertise can be seen.
By doing this, pathways to board roles and other leadership positions become clearer and more accessible.
Key learning: Courage creates opportunity
Berit Lindholm’s journey shows that successful leadership is about more than a title, it is about having the courage to take the next step, nurturing professional networks, and using one’s experience to create opportunities for oneself and for others.
By Anna Frummerin, Member of VILDA | Recruitment Manager Nordic Lead, Talent Search
Solutions at Inizio Engage
