A career development program designed to provide you with the time, theory and practical support to craft the career that is right for YOU.
Careers in healthcare and medical research can be deeply rewarding, but the day-to-day demands and predefined career expectations often leave little opportunity to reflect on what a meaningful career looks like for YOU and the steps needed to achieve it.
Welcome to Career YOU
A career development program designed for women working within the healthcare and medical research ecosystem who are in the early to mid-stages of their career and are looking to set bold goals to support their ambitions.
Designed by Franklin Women in consultation with our community and leading STEMM career coaches, the program will:
⭐ support you to identify your unique strengths and values and harness them in your professional life
⭐ gain clarity on your career goals
⭐ guide you to map out a practical action plan to help you reach them, and
⭐ connect you with a dynamic and supportive group of women from across the sector.
Following a successful virtual pilot, Franklin Women is excited to launch a face-to-face Career YOU program in Sydney in 2025.
A virtual program is also planned for 2026!
What our pilot cohort told us
Is this program for YOU?
- who identify as being in the early to mid-stages of their career (post-graduate students are welcomed)
- in any discipline, role or organisation within the healthcare and medical research ecosystem (this program is about putting YOU at the centre of your career journey, rather than your technical expertise or the system you work within).
Whether you want to excel in your current role, plan your next step or explore something entirely new, Career YOU will help you gain the clarity and tools you need to thrive. *Franklin Women’s initiatives are centered on women’s experiences, but we warmly welcome gender diverse participants, recognising the unique and significant barriers they face in career progression and participation within the sector.
Why Career YOU matters
Diverse talent is essential at every stage of the health and medical research pipeline – from basic research to translation and innovation – to address the health challenges of today and into the future.
But here’s the problem: despite many women entering the workforce excited for the opportunities that lie ahead, a large proportion leave over the course of their careers. A recent workforce review highlights a lack of career development opportunities as a key factor.
Career YOU is filling this gap. This program gives women, in the foundational stages of their careers, the time and tools to reflect on their unique strengths, values and ambitions into the future. By doing so, they are set up to pursue a career that plays to their strengths and aligns with their personal and professional needs. The outcome? More women delivering their best work within health and medical research ecosystem, for longer.
Key dates: Sydney 2025
🗓️ Enrolment opens: August 2025
🗓️ Enrolment closes: Monday 15th September 2025
If timings aren’t right for you join our waitlist and be first to hear about future virtual and face-to-face programs!
2025 face-to-face program dates:
🚀 1-2-1 introduction: September, 20min call (date & time TBA)
🚀 Workshop 1: Tues 14th October, 9.30am – 4.30pm AEST
🚀 Workshop 2: Thurs 6th November,9.30am – 5pm AEST
Both workshops will be held at Telstra Health, Level 2/160 Hawkesbury Rd, Westmead NSW 2145
As these are in face-to-face workshops, attendance is required. Workshops will not be recorded (check out or virtual program planned for 2026 if this suits you better).
Key dates: Virtual 2026
🗓️ Enrolment opens: December 2025
🗓️ Enrolment closes: TBC
Please join our waitlist to be first to hear when enrolments for the 2026 virtual cohort open!
2026 virtual program:
The program includes 5 online modules delivered across 10 weeks in early 2026. We’re still finalising the exact dates and times but registrations will open in late 2025. We’ll share all the details as soon as they’re ready!
Each module includes live sessions where you can ask questions and connect with others. If you can’t make a session live, recordings will be available so you won’t miss out.
How good would it feel to have…
⭐ A deeper understanding of your strengths and how to leverage them for career success.
⭐ Clarity on your short- and long-term career goals, along with actionable next steps.
⭐ A toolkit of practical career development strategies and the confidence to implement them.
⭐ Meaningful connections with a vibrant network of women from across the health and medical research ecosystem.
⭐ A renewed sense of commitment and excitement about your career.
Meet your facilitator
Jo Porter, Founder & Director, Leading Lighter MAPP, BA(hons) Psych & HRM
Jo is the Founder and Director of Leading Lighter, a coaching and consulting business working with leaders in STEMM, applied research, and academia. Jo has over 20 years’ experience in learning and leadership development, including 13 years working for Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO. She has a master’s degree in wellbeing science from the University of Melbourne and is passionate about enabling leaders to flourish.
What is unique about the Career YOU program...
Designed by women in our sector and professional experts
Franklin Women has built this course from the ground up calling upon our own experiences as women in the Australian health and medical research ecosystem and feedback we have received from our community over the years. We captured this unique perspective in the content design which was brought to life by an experienced STEMM career coach (bio above) who has embedded evidence-based theories, frameworks and tools.
Putting YOU at the center of your career journey
Our careers are often influenced by others and the systems we work within. There are few opportunities to think about what matters to YOU. This program will put you at the center of your career goals, helping you to identify your values and strengths and how they can be leveraged in your career and long-term professional aspirations.
Built around the experiences of women
This program is designed around the unique experiences of women. FW believes that creating spaces for women to share, connect and learn can help address the career stagnation and attrition currently seen in Australia. This program acknowledges the current limitations of the systems we work within while also empowering individuals to ensure we have a strong pipeline of women pursuing careers in the health and medical research ecosystem.
Peer learning and support
A key strength of the FW community is that we represent women in diverse organisations, disciplines and roles within the health and medical research ecosystem – whether it be academia, clinical care, professional roles or beyond. Taking part in this program will enable you to learn from different experiences and perspectives while also extending and strengthening your professional and personal networks.
Are you interested in Career YOU but have a query you want answered before you sign up? Please email [email protected] so we can help.