It was a surreal moment. Standing on the balcony of the London Stock Exchange, surrounded by my incredible team, our families and investors, I exchanged a glance with my co-founders, Esther Reynal de St Michel Richardot and Tatum Getty. Together, we were on the cusp of making history as the first all-female fund founding team to open the markets in the LSE’s 300-year legacy. Without doubt, the Oxford Executive MBA played a pivotal role in my journey to the LSE balcony.
Our early-stage MedTech fund, THENA Capital, had just secured its first close at £27 million – backed by the British Business Bank’s Enterprise Capital Funds programme and a series of high-impact investors from pharma, private equity, family offices and beyond. The honor to open the markets on such a momentous occasion, covered by The Financial Times and Bloomberg, felt like the perfect way to mark all of our hard work.
It was the culmination of four years of sheer determination, vision, and unyielding commitment. As I stood there, gazing out over the historic trading floor, I reflected on the extraordinary path that had led me to this very moment.
Re-imagining healthcare
My journey in healthcare began more than two decades ago, with a relentless passion for transforming the industry. As a healthcare investment specialist, I’ve had the privilege of helping some of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies bring their life-changing products to market. Along the way, I've seen the industry shift – pivoting toward patient wellness and focusing on alleviating the burden of illness.
What excites me most is the vast potential of technology and innovation to elevate patient care. For example, helping individuals with debilitating chronic conditions live fuller lives – not just through treatments, but through holistic, tech-enabled solutions that make a real difference to their day-to-day lives. The tools are already within our grasp to revolutionize healthcare –and that vision fuels everything I do.
I’ve been fortunate to enjoy a rewarding and interesting career, but I was fascinated to see how I could add even greater value and apply that knowledge in different ways. It was this curiosity that led me back to Oxford in 2017, to hone my business expertise through the Executive MBA. Having previously completed my PhD in Medical Sciences at Jesus College and part of my undergraduate studies at St Catherine's, I already had a strong connection with the university, making it a natural step to return and explore how I could further contribute to healthcare innovation.
A catalyst for new ventures
I entered the Oxford Executive MBA program with an open mind, not actively seeking a career pivot, but the seeds for something transformative were planted there. The insights I gained from fellow senior executives, with their diverse backgrounds, were invaluable. The opportunity to test my business acumen in a global context, especially alongside leaders from sectors beyond healthcare, shaped my approach to leadership and entrepreneurship.
The international exposure to India, China, and Silicon Valley, paired with deeper dives into funding and scaling businesses, equipped me with not just knowledge, but a level of confidence and resilience that I could apply immediately. Balancing a demanding career, family, and academic commitments, the Executive MBA pushed me to maximize my time management and perseverance.
That experience was pivotal, and set the stage for the birth of THENA Capital.
Realizing our dream
At THENA Capital, our mission is to accelerate the development of life-changing businesses that transform the patient experience. We’re laser-focused on backing early-stage startups that are innovating digital healthcare solutions and fast-tracking breakthrough medical devices. As the UK’s first specialist fund of its kind, we are excited to disrupt an underserved sector and make a lasting impact.
We envision scaling this impact exponentially, developing future funds to bring more game-changing products to market. Our success is rooted in collaboration – the kind of synergy that the Executive MBA embodied. It’s a powerful reminder that when a purpose-driven team comes together, we can achieve the extraordinary.
Find out more about the Oxford Executive MBA.
***Main image shows Dr Pamela Walker Geddes (far left) with her co-founder Esther Reynal de St Michel Richardot and Tatum Getty.***
