In conversation with biopharma investment leader Maren Winnick

When Maren Winnick joined the Whitehead Institute Board of Directors this year, she brought to the role deep expertise in finance and a keen understanding of how healthcare organizations navigate growth and communicate their impact to the world.

A senior managing director and partner at the global investment banking advisory firm Evercore, Winnick has guided major acquisitions by Novartis, Sanofi, and other leading biopharma companies. She also co-leads the Evercore Women’s Network, a community dedicated to supporting and mentoring women as they advance their careers in finance.

Her experience across the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, and her ability to stay attuned to the rapidly evolving landscape of life sciences brings a valuable dimension to the Institute’s Board. 

In this conversation, she shares why she chose to engage with Whitehead Institute and how she hopes to help guide its path forward.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Whitehead Institute: You’ve spent much of your career in investment banking. Can you tell us a bit about your background and how it led you to Whitehead Institute?

Maren Winnick: I’ve worked in biotech for pretty much my entire career. I disappointed my parents terribly when I didn’t go to medical school but ended up taking a different path. I started out as a consultant at Goldman Sachs, then moved to Moderna, and now I’m at Evercore. But I’ve always been in and around healthcare, and I absolutely love that, as a finance professional, I can play a small but meaningful role in helping companies advance new medicines to patients.

When I was at Moderna, I was aware of all the incredible science happening around Cambridge, and that’s when I really started learning more about Whitehead Institute. It was partly through conversations with the Chair, Sarah Williamson, who also sits on the Evercore board. So when I was asked to join the Institute’s board, I was truly humbled and honored.

Much of my work with clients focuses on storytelling — helping them communicate what they do, why it matters, and how it translates to value. I’m excited to bring that perspective to Whitehead Institute to honor the Institute’s heritage while helping more people understand and support its vision. We’re in a challenging time for science funding, and I think how we tell our stories will only become more important. I hope I can be helpful in that journey, both through my experience in finance and in thinking strategically about communication.

WI: Is there a specific area of research at Whitehead Institute that’s most exciting to you?

MW: It’s hard to pick one area or lab because all research at the Institute is interesting and, in my opinion, potentially transformational. What’s really impressive to me is how the scientists are working on seemingly small, specialized questions in biology that could lead to big impacts down the road.

I also love the diversity of the work being done. I’m amazed that some researchers are studying hibernation, and how you might one day be able to induce it artificially. This makes me think about its implications for deep-space travel. And of course, artificial intelligence is such an important and timely area. We can’t have a single conversation with our biotech or pharma clients right now without AI coming up, so it’s great to see Whitehead Institute investing in that space as well.

WI: You’ve worked with many clients in the healthcare and pharma space over the years. How does Whitehead Institute’s scientific culture differ?

MW: At Whitehead Institute, I see researchers focusing on true innovation, not on how they can monetize their discoveries. They’re encouraged to go after the questions that matter most to them and let science lead the way. That’s rare, and it’s something really important to preserve if you want to protect the integrity of the research.

They’re not being asked, “What will this turn into?” but rather told, “Let’s explore an observation that was important and see where it leads.” That kind of freedom is so important when you think about translating discoveries to impacts on human health. It starts with those deep, fundamental insights like understanding what’s actually driving a disease. Without that foundation, it’s hard to create something that truly changes outcomes for patients. And that's why Whitehead Institute’s approach to science is so powerful — it’s not about following the dollars; it’s guided by curiosity.

WI: Much like our researchers, a big part of your job is maintaining curiosity. What fuels that sense of curiosity for you?

MW: I’ve always been someone who’s intrigued by how things work. My thinking tends to be a few steps ahead: “Okay, what could this lead to?” That’s maybe a little different from scientists who need to focus intensely on incremental progress. But for me, it’s about the bigger picture and what something might ultimately mean.

My work really feeds that curiosity because I’m advising clients on how to secure the funding they need to bring their medicines to patients. That could mean selling a company, taking it public, or pursuing other strategies—it’s all about figuring out how to actually get there. That problem-solving mindset naturally shapes how I approach everything around me.

WI: How do you stay up to date with the latest innovations in life sciences?

MW: I live and breathe biotech. I'm constantly meeting with new companies, and one of my favorite things to do is to get connected with young private companies because that’s where the newest innovations are emerging.  They’re often preclinical and seeking early dollars, which gives me a front-row seat to where the field is moving.

Staying current is really part of my job. You have to keep track of what’s happening in the moment, while recognizing that trends shift constantly. A few years ago, everybody wanted to invest in a CD19 cell therapy company. Now, it's nearly impossible to raise money for a company like that. Gene therapy was huge, then fell out of favor, and now it’s starting to come back. You have to learn to ride these waves and anticipate the next shift.