When She Founded
When She Founded
Somer Hamrick
When She Founded with Somer Hamrick, CEO & Founder of Channel Clinical, is an insider view on what it really takes to start and scale a company in STEM. Each episode takes a deeper look into one such business venture and the woman who started it. Industry mavens describe their personal path to entrepreneurship through one-on-one conversations with a host who has been figuring it out herself. Somer Hamrick launched her own company in early 2019. With 20 years’ experience in business development and half that specifically in global health and clinical research, Somer found herself having to reach outside the life science community for support and mentorship. She created When She Founded as a platform to share what she has learned, and is still learning, on her journey. This podcast demystifies some of the steps for female founders in industries where representation is lacking.
B-Side: She Who Sets the Agenda Wins
  When you fall short of having a strong agenda or lose control of the one you've set, the people you're leading will see you as disorganized, uncertain, insecure, and often defensive, it ain't a good look, y’all. - Somer Hamrick   Today on When She Founded: -We are always, always driving an agenda -The importance of agendas -The three keys to a clear agenda -The lesson from the 2020 Democratic National Convention  -The value of succinct talking points   Subscribe, Rate & Share Your Favorite Episodes!   Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of When She Founded with your host, Somer Hamrick. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave a rating and review.   Don’t forget to visit our website channelclinical.com/, connect with Somer on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/somer-hamrick-a053374/, and share your favorite episodes across social media. If you are a female founder who needs more support please visit and sign up on our Launch to Leads Lab https://launchtoleadslab.com website.
Aug 2, 2021
20 min
Why Investing in the Future of Clinical Trials is Smart Business
Devora Torrence is a highly experienced Clinical Research Professional who boasts 17 years of experience, most of which is at the site management organizational level. Devora began her clinical research career in 2003 at the CRO, PPD, in Austin, TX as a project manager for their phase 1 clinical trial division. From there, Devora founded Centex Studies in 2006 (acquired by Headlands Research in 2019) and throughout the years, expanded her business model across five sites from the ground up.  During her tenure at Centex Studies, she operated as the Clinical Operations President and CEO within the multisite organization. Most impressively, she was able to change the way that her organization conducted clinical research when they were faced with the pandemic. The sites utilized a 100% electronic source system that housed regulatory, source, recruitment, and finance, and they were always on the lookout for the latest innovation to improve their efficiency. During this time, more than 1000 patients were vaccinated or treated for COVID-19 between her sites. Devora has experience in all phases of Clinical Trials and across many therapeutic areas (COVID-19 Vaccine and Treatment, Type II Diabetes, Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis, Hypogonadism, Asthma, etc.). As the first site network acquired by the private equity, Headlands Research, Devora had the honor of establishing the multisite networks SOPs. She also had the responsibility of forecasting clinical trial revenue to increase the company’s EBITDA and managing the organization’s operational budget.  Devora’s leadership skills, innovation, and dedication have been the keys to her successful career. Centex Studies was founded and started with two people and within 15 years, grew to 100+ people across two states. She has developed a rapport with physicians across North America and gained a referral network that was key to her site’s recruitment efforts. Today, Devora is ready for the next step in her career and the opportunity to put her skills and assets to the test. Clinical research is her passion and she is an entrepreneur by trade. Her goal is to be a part of an organization that allows her to make her mark and advance the company.   “Risks are meant to be taken. And there's always tomorrow. So even if you make a mistake, that's a learning thing to do to learn and move on.” -Devora Torrence   Today on When She Founded:   -The significance of a site management organization -The benefits for physician’s office to be the site of a clinical study -Which came first, the infrastructure of a corporation or the need for infrastructure -Maneuvering through the dark times  -The importance of expanding your business development network -When people question your quest for high tech solutions -The shift in clinical research post pandemic   Connect with Devora on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/devora-torrence-10a93039/,    Subscribe, Rate & Share Your Favorite Episodes!   Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of When She Founded with your host, Somer Hamrick. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave a rating and review. Don’t forget to visit our website channelclinical.com/, connect with Somer on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/somer-hamrick-a053374/, and share your favorite episodes across social media. If you are a female founder who needs more support please visit and sign up on our Launch to Leads Lab https://launchtoleadslab.com website.
Jul 23, 2021
35 min
Ep. 56 - Why Every Female Founder Needs a Sales Expert
Today on When She Founded Somer welcomes us back after a brief summer break to share her insights on the benefits of having a sales coach as a female founder.    Subscribe, Rate & Share Your Favorite Episodes!   Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of When She Founded with your host, Somer Hamrick. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave a rating and review.   Don’t forget to visit our website channelclinical.com/, connect with Somer on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/somer-hamrick-a053374/, and share your favorite episodes across social media. If you are a female founder who needs more support please visit and sign up on our Launch to Leads Lab website launchtoleadslab.com.
Jul 15, 2021
22 min
When She Founded Goodpods with JJ Ramberg
JJ Ramberg is an award-winning journalist, entrepreneur, best-selling author and investor.   JJ is the co-founder of two companies. Goodpods, a social network for podcast listeners and creators where users can follow groups, friends, and influencers .  She was recently named as part of Inc Magazine's Female Founders 100 list and Goodpods was included in Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies. SearchKibble is a Bing-powered search engine which supports shelter animals with every search. For 12 years, JJ hosted MSNBC's then second longest-running program Your Business which focused on entrepreneurship and what it takes to run a successful venture. JJ is the author of two books, the best-selling  It's Your Business and the children's book The Startup Club.     Today on When She Founded:   Problem solving in the podcast space When to focus on monetization vs. user experience How to plan for growth How important podcasts are during COVID How to get the word out about a company How to succeed in the midst of what feels like failure     Subscribe, Rate & Share Your Favorite Episodes!   Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of When She Founded with your host, Somer Hamrick. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave a rating and review.   Don’t forget to visit our website, connect with Somer on LinkedIn, and share your favorite episodes across social media. If you are a female founder who needs more support please visit and sign up on our Launch to Leads Lab website.
May 13, 2021
36 min
Ask for More with Alexandra Carter
Alexandra Carter is a Clinical Professor of Law and the Director of the Mediation Clinic at Columbia Law School. In 2019, Professor Carter was awarded the Columbia University Presidential Award for Outstanding Teaching, Columbia University’s highest teaching honor.     Professor Carter’s teaching and research interests lie in the field of alternative dispute resolution, primarily in mediation and negotiation. She is a leading trainer on negotiation and mediation for many from the private and public sectors, including the United Nations, where she designed a negotiation workshop as part of the first ever skills-building summit for female diplomats, entitled “Women Negotiating Peace;” U.S. courts and federal agencies; private corporations, such as Comcast NBCUniversal, Time Warner and Viacom; and law firms, including Cravath, Swaine & Moore, Morrison & Foerster and Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman.     Back at home, she serves on the New York State Alternative Dispute Resolution Advisory Committee commissioned by Chief Judge Janet DiFiore; she previously served on the Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee for the New York City Bar Association as well as the Mediator Ethics Advisory Committee for the New York State Unified Court System.  She is an admitted mediator for the Southern District of New York.   Prior to joining the Columbia faculty, Professor Carter was associated with Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, where she worked as part of a team defending against a multibillion dollar securities class action lawsuit related to the Enron collapse, served as the senior antitrust associate on several multibillion dollar mergers, and handled cases involving copyright law.  She also worked as an analyst at Goldman Sachs. She is a former U.S. Fulbright Scholar to Taiwan.   Professor Carter received her Juris Doctor degree in 2003 from Columbia Law School, where she earned James Kent and Harlan Fiske Stone academic honors. She also won the Jane Marks Murphy Prize for clinical advocacy and the Lawrence S. Greenbaum Prize for the best oral argument in the 2002 Harlan Fiske Stone Moot Court Competition. After earning her degree, Professor Carter clerked for the Hon. Mark L. Wolf, U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts in Boston.   Professor Carter has been sought as a media commentator in the area of conflict resolution, with appearances on MSNBC Live, Hardball with Chris Matthews, the CBS Early Show and NPR Marketplace. Her first book, Ask for More: Ten Questions to Negotiate Anything, will be published by Simon & Schuster on May 5, 2020 and became an instant Wall Street Journal bestseller -- the first negotiation book solo-authored by a woman to make that list.   Professor Carter is the Executive Director of Stand Up Girls, a New Jersey organization dedicated to the empowerment of girls and women. She lives in Maplewood, New Jersey with her husband, Greg Lembrich and their daughter Caroline.      “The biggest negotiation you will have is within the four walls of your own brain.”  -Alexandra Carter     Today on When She Founded: Asking for what you are worth with clarity and confidence The importance of picking the right problem to solve Realizing that if you are talking to someone you are negotiating What makes you different is your market advantage How to lessen the gap of understanding your value The three things that your ask should contain How to reconcile your imposter syndrome  The importance of audacity The Elenor Beaton Episode The Brandi Bernoskie Episode   Connect with Alexandra on her website alexcarterasks.com and on LinkedIn, Instagram and Clubhouse. Below is a link to her Free 7 Day challenge.  The second link  is for digital course - which will do a second launch at the end of the 7 day challenge (May 11) https://alexcarterasks.com/7days/ https://alexcarterasks.com/courses/     Subscribe, Rate & Share Your Favorite Episodes! Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of When She Founded with your host, Somer Hamrick. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave a rating and review. Don’t forget to visit our website, connect with Somer on LinkedIn, and share your favorite episodes across social media. If you are a female founder who needs more support please visit and sign up on our Launch to Leads Lab website.
May 6, 2021
45 min
Sister Scientist with Erica Douglas
As a formulating, cosmetic chemist in the multicultural beauty space for over a decade, Erica has been the “brains” behind a number of popular products on the market. Erica earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Stanford University. She then advanced to Northwestern University as a National Institute of Health Research Fellow where she conducted research in Biochemistry and Molecular and Cell Biology. However, her personal horror stories as a child who experienced hair and skin issues are what motivated her to dedicate her scientific career to developing innovative and quality products in beauty and personal grooming space. Ascending the ranks in a male dominated laboratory to the position of Director of Research & Development before the age of 30 for one of the category’s most successful brands, Organic Root Stimulator, Erica’s long-term impact and positive influence on natural hair and skin care is undeniable.  After becoming frustrated with hearing the perpetual inaccuracies regarding ingredients and product claims, Erica started engaging with consumers as Sister Scientist to debunk myths and set the story straight by educating the masses on the science behind beauty. Using her expertise, experience and outgoing personality, Sister Scientist has become a fun and creative platform for consumers seeking a trusted source for scientific/technical information about their beauty and grooming products. Erica also uses this medium to motivate and encourage young women to pursue careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) related fields by exposing them to the fun side of science.  Over time, Erica started to recognize that building successful brands only relied partially on developing quality products, and wanted to see more women and minority owned companies building long-term wealth in the space. Her desire to understand the full scope of building successful brands in consumer goods was the catalyst for her to return to academia, earning an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, with concentrations in Marketing Management, Business Strategy and Entrepreneurship & Innovation. In 2014, she founded mSEED group – a product development, manufacturing and brand development company focused on providing strategic growth solutions to aspiring entrepreneurs and established businesses in beauty and personal care. As Chief Executive Officer, Erica manages a 7- figure business and is spearheading mSEED’s corporate mission to grow a new generation of successful entrepreneurs, and drive innovation and creativity in the beauty space. Furthermore, proving that Science Never Looked This Good.   Today on When She Founded: The ecosystem that benefits from startups Science influences on young women Making the jump from corporate comfort to startup Understanding the customer pain point personally Dealing with the expense of expanding A larger vision and the smaller building blocks involved Connect with Erica on all the socials with the tag #SisterScientist, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube.   Subscribe, Rate & Share Your Favorite Episodes! Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of When She Founded with your host, Somer Hamrick. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave a rating and review. Don’t forget to visit our website, connect with Somer on LinkedIn, and share your favorite episodes across social media. If you are a female founder who needs more support please visit and sign up on our Launch to Leads Lab website.
Apr 15, 2021
52 min
B-side: Respect Their Time
How prepared are you when you show up for a client call? Have you really done your homework and know all of their pain points? Today on When She Founded Somer invites you to attend an upcoming webinar that focuses on this topic. On April 8th, Channel Clinical is hosting this business development webinar to help you hone the work that you need to do well before the client call that will set you apart from the pack.    Today on When She Founded: How to use your internet sleuthing to position yourself when in front of the client How data can give you confidence How to recover from a bumbled pitch How to be respectful of your clients time   To sign up for the webinar, please register here   Subscribe, Rate & Share Your Favorite Episodes! Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of When She Founded with your host, Somer Hamrick. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave a rating and review. Don’t forget to visit our website, connect with Somer on LinkedIn, and share your favorite episodes across social media. If you are a female founder who needs more support please visit and sign up on our Launch to Leads Lab website.
Apr 7, 2021
21 min
#GoBeyond with Jenn Halweil
Jenn Halweil is an electrical engineer turned story engineer on a mission to amplify inspiring stories of individuals breaking ground in science, technology, leadership and beyond, to inspire a new wave of innovation in the process. Jenn is the Founder and Chief Story Engineer of #GoBeyond, a full service production and educational media company dedicated to uncovering stories that challenge what we as humans know to be possible. When she is not documenting VR for the USGA, digital transformation for EXL, or machine learning algorithms for Ferrari, she is focused on championing diversity and inclusion in STEM through a number of initiatives, including documenting Chloe Capital's #InvestInWomen tour to deploy over $1.5M in capital to female led tech startups across the country and this Forbes piece on the developer of the Brooklyn Bridge: Emily Warren Roebling.  Most recently, she directed and executive produced, Financially Naked, which broke 1M+ views online. Financially Naked focuses on financial literacy, following the journeys of six individuals as they work with their trainers to overcome student loan, medical, and credit debt. Her work has been featured in more than 100 publications, and her content has received millions of views, including features in Forbes, Scientific American, The Economist, and most recently a Marvel comic as a real life superhero.   "And so I think if we're going to shift viewing and trusting women as authority figures and society at large, this (STEM) is the place to start to really crack that ceiling enough that we can go on to the next level” - Jenn Halweil   Today on When She Founded: The mission and background of Jenn’s company, #GoBeyond The services that #GoBeyond provides Her childhood influences on her STEM future How to increase STEM literacy on the masses On how to NOT wait for permission to go do a thing or make a thing The three pillars of her advocacy through her company’s mission Jenn’s dreams for the future  Connect with Jenn and #GoBeyond - You can also connect with Jenn on LinkedIn or Twitter   For information on Somer’s April Webinar you can connect with Somer through When She Founded LinkedIn, Chanel Clinical LinkedIn, or Somer’s own LinkedIn   Subscribe, Rate & Share Your Favorite Episodes! Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of When She Founded with your host, Somer Hamrick. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave a rating and review. Don’t forget to visit our website, connect with Somer on LinkedIn, and share your favorite episodes across social media. If you are a female founder who needs more support please visit and sign up on our Launch to Leads Lab website.
Mar 18, 2021
35 min
B-Side: Business Advice from Lin-Manuel Miranda
Somer is fired up today and she wants to share it. Inspired by interviews of Lin-Manuel Miranda sharing his creative process Somer shares why now more than ever is the time to get in the game. If you have been waiting for a sign, this is it. Somer shares some trends that she is seeing in the industry and some that were talked about at the SCOPE Summit that she attended recently. She also tells us why it is important to be following her on LinkedIn especially on Wednesdays. This mini episode is packed with vital information that you need to hear.   “New markets are opening up, gaps in service solutions are happening, and new technology platforms are in demand.” - Somer Hamrick   Today on When She Founded: What it means to be a disciplined creative Trends in the clinical trial industry How creativity works with entrepreneurship  Why the timing of so many women leaving the workforce significant What the trends mean for those doing pharma research and development How the industry is shifting The opportunities that are available right now Time is of the essence    Connect with Somer on LinkedIN    Schedule a thirty minute consultation with Somer with this scheduler link   Subscribe, Rate & Share Your Favorite Episodes!   Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of When She Founded with your host, Somer Hamrick. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave a rating and review.   Don’t forget to visit our website, connect with Somer on LinkedIn, and share your favorite episodes across social media. If you are a female founder who needs more support please visit and sign up on our Launch to Leads Lab website.
Mar 10, 2021
12 min
A Digital Alchemist with Brandi Bernoskie of Alchemy + Aim
When you are working on your website development, are you looking at the intersection of your business strategy and user experience while leaving room for creativity? Today’s founder, Brandi Bernoskie, is a digital strategist, website developer, and founder of Alchemy+Aim and North Star Sites, companies that help entrepreneurs and business owners elevate their online presence, enhance their digital experience, and embrace their authentic online selves -- what she calls their fifth dimensionality,    or the extension of their selves into the digital world. She is an advocate for using technology in ways that humanize, connect and serve people as well as for asking deeper philosophical questions and teaching others to think more broadly about impact when they create, particularly in STEAM fields. Brandi’s academic background in theatre, philosophy and physics was the perfect foundation for launching her business, where her team has worked with thought leaders like Brené Brown, Laverne Cox, Judy Smith, Kate Northrup, and Alexandra Carter as well as other notable change makers since 2013. Brandi is a natural connector and business matchmaker, who is always working to help others step into their genius work and leverage the expertise of those around them to achieve new levels of success and community along the way.   Quote: “When a lot of people start out, their natural tendency is to have a little bit of that imposter syndrome no matter what degrees or experience they've had. And they want to firehose people with all the information that they have in their brains, and that is not actually digestible by your audience.” - Brandi Bernoskie   Today on When She Founded: The importance of creativity and curiosity in science When to know that you can go it alone How to focus on sales and business growth from your audience’s perspective How important is online presence and how to put your best foot forward The importance of knowing your voice and your target client How story plays a critical role on your website and social media How to scale out and scale up   Connect with Brandi through the contact us form on her website Alchemy & Aim or Instagram   Subscribe, Rate & Share Your Favorite Episodes! Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of When She Founded with your host, Somer Hamrick. If you enjoyed this episode, please head over to Apple Podcasts to subscribe and leave a raDng and review. Don’t forget to visit our website, connect with Somer on LinkedIn, and share your favorite episodes across social media. Also, if you are a female founder and want more support in business development please visit us on our Launch to Leads Lab website.
Feb 25, 2021
32 min
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