As Wendy Holman, W’97, neared her 40th birthday having focused on a career in finance, she came to realize that she wanted to have a direct impact on alleviating human suffering. She started Ridgeback, a biotherapeutics company, with her husband Wayne, and the rest is history (in the making).
How has being a Penn alumna shaped your career?
It’s a part of my identity. I met my best friends on campus, and I received a no-nonsense, hands-on Penn education. There is a reason so many successful people come from Penn, and I think it’s because of the cross-disciplinary flexibility. Also, the Penn alumni network is vast—everywhere I go I run into someone from Penn. Alumni are doing cool things, we’re all looking out for each other, and are proud to wear the Red and Blue.
How have you helped to foster a positive environment at work as CEO of Ridgeback?
The team at Ridgeback is intelligent and thoughtful. They are individuals who are working to beat Ebola, and solve for COVID-19, among other things. We’re all virtual right now, so our offices in Miami and Silver Spring, Maryland are empty. But we still try to have fun together, by playing games via Zoom or simply checking in on each other regularly. Creating a healthy work environment where everyone is comfortable and confident is what I strive for each day.
Why have you decided to be involved with the Penn Libraries as a board member?
In college I basically lived at the Penn Libraries. On Friday nights I was at Rosengarten, or at the Law School Library. I studied in those places, but I also liked the social element. Penn can be intense, and I wasn’t someone who would have done well camped out in a dorm room studying. Now, I want to support those places at Penn that had a profound impact on my own experience.
Name two things that helped you to succeed.
I received a practical education at Penn that motivated me to work towards making a real impact in the world. As I neared my 40th birthday, a piece of advice I’d received as a young person—do something you love—resonated more fully with me and allowed me to follow my dream of making a difference. We spend so much of our lives working, we shouldn’t waste it on things we don’t like.
Did you receive mentorship while at Penn?
I had three integral mentors at Penn—my advisor, a legal studies professor, and my sister who was also a Penn student. These three people really looked out for me as a young woman on campus trying to make my way in the world. Now, I try to do the same.
