iWiSH Spotlight with
Founders Francesca Vacante, PhD and Zehra Yildirim, PhD

by Micaela Harris-Kim
July 28, 2025

Science is life. Although many of us look forward to turning our “work brain” off when we get home, scientists don’t have that luxury. According to Drs. Francesca Vacante and Zehra Yildirim, co-founders of the iWiSH-Talks (Inspiring Women in Science & Healthcare Talks) initiative at Stanford University, “Science is people! We bring science at home, when we cook dinner, have coffee, we keep thinking about our experiments. Sometimes, the answer to a problem comes to us in the middle of the night!”

Vacante and Yildirim noticed a gap within their early-career community. They longed for a deeper connection and sense of belonging, something that went beyond discussing their cell culturing or latest publications. That’s precisely how iWiSH-Talks began. The Q&A series started small, with the mission to focus on the people behind the science, “It was a group of us meeting in a small conference room of our department for the purpose of networking and discussing strategies for growth and career development,” Vacante recalls. Gradually, word began to spread. People from other labs walked by, curious to join, Yildirim adds. That was the moment they realized: to truly address the gap their peers were feeling, they needed to create something truly impactful, “a community that empowers its members to grow together and become the leaders of tomorrow,” they explain.

With that vision, Vacante and Yildirim created the iWiSH-Talks, a community of early career researchers, clinical fellows, students, faculty and staff, with the mission of accelerating the transition of early career scientists to leadership roles. The core idea was to “shoot for the stars,” by inviting accomplished leaders in science and healthcare to share their journeys, challenges, and the lessons they have learned along the way. 

The iWiSH-Talks has since evolved into a global platform, connecting scientists around the world, building a community of over 500 members. In addition to the co-founders, the leadership team is strengthened by the active involvement of fellow postdoctoral researchers, Nerea Jimenez Tellez, Wenjuan Zhu, Themistoklis Tsarouchas, Silvia Natale, and Sushrima Gan, who each bring unique expertise and are instrumental in driving the initiative forward through their leadership and commitment.

When asked what made iWiSH so successful, they emphasize that, “it belongs to all of us. We shaped it around a shared need for connection, inspiration, growth, and a space where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued.” They believe it is crucial to value each voice within the group and to ensure that everyone feels welcomed and included for who they really are. While some may call it volunteering, for the group, iWiSH is something far more personal and meaningful: it is a way to express themselves and contribute with purpose.

iWiSH has branched into large in-person and virtual seminars where early career professionals have direct connection to esteemed speakers such as Nancy Brown (CEO of the American Heart Association), Carolyn Bertozzi (Nobel Laureate in Chemistry), Jennifer Doudna (Nobel Laureate in Chemistry), Joni Rutter (Director of the NIH NCATS), and many more. In addition to learning from leaders in top positions, the group actively contributes to the development of the next generation of scientists and the advancement of a collaborative scientific community by organizing high school lab tours for local schools.

As highlighted in their recent manuscript published in Circulation, early careers can take proactive steps to create their own opportunities and share with their peers. During the Early Career Sessions at the Cardiovascular Institute, where postdoctoral researchers engage in face-to-face discussions with invited speakers from the CVI Frontiers Seminar Series, Vacante and Yildirim had the chance to discuss with Joseph Hill, the Chief Editor of Circulation a leading journal in cardiovascular science. They shared how his simple but powerful advice to “ask for what you want,” had inspired them. Motivated by that message, they introduced the iWiSH initiative, which captured his interest and ultimately led to the development of the published piece.

When asked what advice they would give to others hoping to start an organization like iWiSH, both emphasized the importance of starting small and staying committed, especially if the effort fills a meaningful need.  They shared more about this journey in a recent podcast, including their plans to expand the initiative to other institutions.

Interested in joining the iWiSH-Talks or in starting a new “iWiSH chapter” in another institution? Connect here.