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The Hidden Climb

A bold insight project revealing the real journey to leadership for diverse talent in life sciences.

We’re calling on aspiring leaders, senior leaders, and change-makers to share their experiences…anonymously and honestly. Together, we’ll uncover what’s working, what’s broken, and what needs to change.

What’s a Senior Leader?

For this survey: anyone in a high-impact role, typically with team, budget, or functional responsibility…usually Director level or above, up to just below the executive team.
Whether you’re climbing or already there, your story matters.
DE&I dashboards show the data—The Hidden Climb reveals the truth behind it.

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We’ve heard the headlines. We’ve seen the DE&I dashboards, but data alone doesn’t drive change. This survey captures the lived realities behind the numbers... and turns them into fuel for action.

Wondering what's in it for me?

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For Organisational Leaders:
The Hidden Climb reveals what your DE&I data can’t... the invisible barriers stalling diverse talent, so you can lead with insight, not assumption.
Organisational leaders should care about The Hidden Climb because it exposes the silent barriers your DE&I data can’t... revealing why diverse talent stalls, so you can lead with insight, not assumption.

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For under-represented talent:
The Hidden Climb surfaces the real barriers holding you back... so you can be seen, supported, and shape a fairer path forward.
Under-represented talent should care about The Hidden Climb because it surfaces the real barriers holding you back... so you can be seen, supported, and help shape a fairer path forward.

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For allies and advocates:
The Hidden Climb uncovers the barriers you can’t see... so you can move from good intentions to real impact where it matters most.
Most strategies miss the silent blockers.
This survey reveals what your dashboards can’t...
lived barriers, missed signals, and why talent stalls before the top.

COMING SOON

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Insight survey overview

Lifting the lid: Leadership, barriers & belonging in life sciences

Three-phase rollout strategy

To build a truly representative and actionable insight engine, we’re deploying the
survey in three strategic waves... each expanding reach, influence, and impact.

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Phase 1: Inner Circle

Audience: Friends of The Black Sherpa, trusted networks, and early supporters

Goal: Engage a small, diverse group to shape a credible, high-quality approach

Purpose: Validate key questions and flow to generate insights that benefit under-represented talent and the wider industry

Approach: Direct outreach to run small online focus groups and 1:1s—building credibility, buy-in, and momentum for Phase 2

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Phase 2: Extended Network

Audience: DE&I champions, leadership development partners, and friendly organisations open to participation

Goal: Scale to 500+ responses

Purpose: Strengthen patterns across organisations, refine messaging, and build momentum

Approach: Targeted invitations, webinars, inclusion in newsletters, and social content

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Phase 3: Industry-Level Momentum

Audience: ERGs, EBRGs, senior sponsors, and cross-sector collaborators

Goal: 1,000+ responses across pharma, biotech, CROs, and health-tech

Purpose: Establish powerful benchmarks, industry-wide trends, and actionable insight for structural change

Approach: Executive sponsorship, strategic partnerships, coordinated rollout through internal comms and leadership cascades

Join the Waitlist
The Hidden Climb

Help map the real path to leadership in life sciences.