The second session of Konovo’s Women Who Lead series, presented in honor of Women’s History Month, focuses on careers and leadership and explores the experiences women navigate in building careers, sustaining leadership, and supporting the next generation. Through open conversation and audience participation, the discussion will examine mentorship, pivotal career moments, and the non-linear paths women take as they continue to reshape leadership across industries including investing, governance, entrepreneurship, and healthcare innovation.
Swathi Kulkarni, Managing Director, India at Konovo (Moderator)
Swathi Kulkarni, Managing Director, India at Konovo, will moderate the conversation, guiding a discussion grounded in real questions from women navigating these challenges every day. Swathi is a pioneering leader in women’s health, femtech, and digital health innovation, with more than 21 years of experience spanning entrepreneurship, strategy, technology, and consumer health. She has built and scaled multiple ventures that have reshaped how women experience care and how healthcare organizations engage with consumers. Swathi is the Co-Founder and former CEO of Elda Health, a comprehensive digital wellness platform focused on reproductive health, midlife, and menopause.
Marla Kessler Co-Founder, Acelyst
Marla Kessler is a seasoned healthcare executive with a track record of scaling and transforming businesses across life sciences, advisory, tech/SaaS, and real-world data. She has held senior roles at companies including Pfizer, McKinsey, IQVIA, and Datavant, serving as CMO, Chief Customer Officer, and SVP of Strategy across the U.S. and Europe. Marla brings a distinctive mix of analytical rigor, creative thinking, and team empowerment. She serves on a public board and is known for her commitment to mentoring, storytelling, and making a human impact. She holds an M.B.A. from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and a B.S. in Economics from Arizona State.
Christina Reszka Partner, Frazier Healthcare Partners
Christina joined Frazier Healthcare Partners in October 2019 as a Principal on the Growth Buyout team. In January 2022, she was promoted to Partner. Christina represents Frazier on the Boards of United Derm Partners, Accuity Delivery Systems, Konovo, and RevSpring. Prior to Frazier, Christina was a Principal at Norwest Equity Partners, where she worked for over 10 years and was involved with all aspects of the investment process. Christina holds a BSB in Finance and Marketing from the University of Minnesota and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Download our ebook, “The Evolution of Market Research in Healthcare,” to discover the trends redefining the field and how Konovo is helping companies turn insight into action.
