About Us

Our Mission and Work

Let’s Talk Women believes in the transformative power of collaboration and the importance of elevating voices dedicated to advancing women’s health. Our mission is to spotlight pioneering work that addresses the women’s health equity challenge from every angle, including frontline care, research innovation, and funding. We focus on women's health as a high-growth economic opporuntity for the life sciences and medtech sectors, uniting leaders who are shaping innovation, investment and policy.

Our platform serves as a catalyst for awareness, built to foster strategic relationsips, fuel investment, and position women's health as a powerful driver of economic growth.

Three women talking at a Let's Talk Women event

Why We Exist

Let’s Talk Women isn’t just a conversation–it’s where real systemic change starts. We bring together trusted experts in frontline care, research, innovation, and investment and spotlight emerging solutions for women–across all stages of life.

This is where the right voices connect to learn, inspire, and make things happen. Women’s health can’t wait. Join us and let’s take action.

Meet The Team

Katie Hjelmstad Severt

Founder

Katie is a healthcare advocate passionate about advancing access to healthcare to underserved communities of children and adults. She serves on the Board of Directors for Hennepin Healthcare, the Philanthropic Board for Community University Healthcare Clinic at the University of MN and is advising ICAR8 at the Adoption Medicine Clinic, UMN. She has founded and operated several fundraising events, including Care To Celebrate benefiting the Adoption Medicine Clinic and has a history in sales and account management for many technology companies. Katie is both a Gopher and a Badger with an MBA from the University of MN Carlson School of Business and a BBA from the Wisconsin School of Business, University of WI Madison.

Chanda Smith Baker

Moderator and Strategic Advisor

Chanda Smith Baker has spent her 25-plus year career at the intersection of philanthropy, business, government and community. An experienced CEO nationally renowned for her power and poise in leadership, Chanda has proven success leading complex organizations, recognizing and nurturing talent, and engaging and activating audiences toward racial equity and a broadened social impact. Smith Baker brings both her executive leadership experience in philanthropy and the credibility of a life and career spent advancing equity to Conversations with Chanda. Her interview style, rooted in her natural curiosity, love of reading and a deep knowledge of community issues, has struck a chord both locally and nationally.

Chanda is the Founder and CEO of Smith Baker, LLC, Co-Founder in Residence with The Black Collective Foundation, serves on The Board of Directors of several high impact organizations and a Co-Curator of Portraits of Us: A Book of Essays Centering Black Women Leading Philanthropy.

Let's Talk

Join us in advancing women's health through education, innovation, and connection. Explore expert insights, cutting-edge research, and emerging technologies shaping the future of healthcare. Attend events, access valuable resources, and be part of a movement empowering women to take charge of their well-being. Looking to make an impact? Partner with us or sponsor an event to help drive meaningful change. Let’s talk, learn, and lead—together.