W!LD has been created to be YOUR diabetes leadership network for women
Join us to add your voice, your perspective, and your ideas - so W!LD can advance all women leaders in the diabetes ecosystem. W!LD is open to senior and emerging women leaders who want to build their skills, increase their leadership potential, find peer support, and connect in community with each other.
There’s never been a more important time for women leaders in diabetes to connect, learn, and grow.
W!LD Mission
To educate, connect, support, inspire and advance senior and emerging women leaders in the diabetes ecosystem and to collectively improve outcomes for people with diabetes.
Why do organizations sponsor W!LD?
Leading diabetes organizations are joining the W!LD Network to
- Drive employee loyalty
- Improve diversity in management
- Advance career potential for women leaders
- Strengthen the skills and emotional well-being of key talent
- Offer a popular and valued benefit
- Increase the pipeline of women into executive and board roles in diabetes organizations
That’s because W!LD works across the diabetes ecosystem – in industry, technology, research, government, nonprofits, and direct clinical roles, where it provides new opportunities for professional recognition, connection, support, and learning for our women leaders.
What is W!LD?
W!LD is an initiative of Close Concerns: an invitation-based network of senior and emerging women leaders across the diabetes ecosystem. We deliver best-in-class leadership programming and networking to educate, connect, support, inspire, and advance women and to collectively improve outcomes for people with diabetes.
Leadership Expertise and Best Practices
Access to expertise shared by leaders from all over the diabetes ecosystem, including CEOs, board directors, nonprofit and clinical leaders, academics and chief medical officers
Governance insight and skill-building
Leadership and communications skill-building
Leadership intensives
Networking and Connecting
Peer learning
Social gatherings
Informal networking
Diabetes Expertise and Training
Diabetes ‘deep dives’
Global conference commentary
Skill building from diabetes key opinion leaders
Leadership and Emergent Themes
Leading during the pandemic and working from home
Innovation leadership
Diabetes leadership & public policy
Health equity dialogues
Past Events
W!LD #26 @ ATTD in Amsterdam (In Person)
On Wednesday, March 19, 2025, W!LD hosted its 6th "Hot Breakfast, Hot Topics" reception in Amsterdam ahead of ATTD 2025. Nearly 175 emerging and established women leaders and their committed allies from around the world gathered to connect, learn, and enjoy a nutritious breakfast. As a hallmark of these receptions, W!LD brought attendees Close Concerns' ATTD conference preview, curated one-pagers on half a dozen hot topics at ATTD, and posters highlighting sessions led by women presenters.
Following welcome remarks from Ms. Kelly Close, Dr. Francine Kaufman introduced the reception's guest of honor, Prof. Dame Stephanie Amiel. W!LD honored Prof. Amiel for her seminal contributions to diabetes care, including the trailblazing DAFNE (Dose Adjustment For Normal Eating) and HARPdoc (Hypoglycemia Awareness Restoration Program for people with type 1 diabetes and problematic hypoglycemia persisting despite optimized care) programs. In her heartfelt speech, Prof. Amiel emphasized the power of collaboration in diabetes research and the important need for patient-centered education programs. W!LD Advisory Committee members Ms. Christen Chavez (Insulet) and Ms. Jillian Jones (Abbott) then spoke on the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in diabetes care, encouraging attendees to connect meaningfully across different backgrounds and sectors.
From Wednesday, March 19 to Saturday, March 22, W!LD organized four guided tours of the Anne Frank House, led by expert local guide Mr. Marten Koerse. Over 90 attendees deepened their understanding of Anne Frank and the Holocaust through this sobering experience. Additionally, 20 attendees participated in an extra excursion W!LD organized to the Keukenhof Gardens, one of the world's largest flower gardens.
For more photos, click here.
Our Values
Respect for the contributions of all professionals within the diabetes “ecosystem”
Belief that diverse leadership results in better outcomes
Knowledge that positive environments inspire, support and connect us to our work and to each other
Belief that when leaders reach their potential, they maximize contributions to their organizations
Commitment to welcoming anyone supportive of maximizing leadership diversity to improve patient outcomes
W!LD depends on organizational memberships and sponsorship to curate and produce our unique leadership programming. If your company would like to join us then click the button and we’ll be in touch
Special thanks to our founding sponsors:
