LIVTOSHARE

✨ This week's quote: "There isn't a person you wouldn't love if you could read their whole story."

✨ This week's life update: This past week, I had the privilege of volunteering with HSR x Defy Ventures for a day at a level 3 California state prison. I can barely find the words to describe the experience, other than transformative. Defy Ventures works with the incarcerated population across seven states and sixteen prisons nationwide, with the mission to shift mindsets and give people with criminal histories a second chance through personal development and entrepreneurship.

They brought us in to coach the Entrepreneurs In Training on personal statements, resume building, and business ideation. Truthfully, even though the intention was for us to teach them, they taught me so much more about life. Which is ironic, right? A man who has been confined inside a prison for 20+ years taught me more about life than I could teach him.

Our program leader, Quan, the executive director of Defy Ventures, was a graduate of this program. He was incarcerated for 22 years prior to being released and was originally sentenced to life. He then wrote the bestseller "Sparrow in the Razor Wire: Finding Freedom from Within While Serving a Life Sentence."

This day was so emotional—I think I cried 10+ times, and I’m still process it all, hearing the stories of all these humans. My biggest lesson was that so much of what happens in our young lives is shaped by the environment and circumstances into which we were born. We all make mistakes, big or small, but everyone deserves a second chance. We are way more similar than we are different. The power of personal development is so real. The words and labels we tell ourselves shape how we show up in this world and with each other.

I truly believe this is an experience worth having, and I'd love to organize a group of volunteers to go in the future. If anyone is interested, reach out to me.

✨ This week's journal prompt: This week's journal prompt: Where am I in my journey of forgiveness? How do I feel about it?

🌱 COMMUNITY & EVENTS 🌱

• March 2nd: Co-Hosting an IWD Celebration with top women-led health care founders, investors, operators and experts in the bay area - with Nassem Sayani from How Women Invest 🥂

• March 7th: Moderating panel on AI in Women’s Fertility Wellness with HRC Fertility

🍒 WOMEN'S HEALTH NEWS THAT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION 🍒

Breaking Research & Diagnostics: 

Big Slay 🇨🇦 (personally the one I’m most excited about, not biased at all 😉) : Afynia Secures $5M for Endometriosis Blood Test - This McMaster University spinout is commercializing a microRNA blood test to diagnose endometriosis, potentially reducing the 7-10 year diagnosis timeline. As someone waiting for an endometriosis specialist, this gives me hope! 

Revolutionary Monitoring: 

Level Zero Health Raises €6.63M - Developing the first remote, continuous hormone monitoring device using DNA-based sensors. This wearable patch could transform IVF, menopause, and hormone therapies by eliminating frequent blood draws.

Tech & Innovation:

Oura Ring Now Accounts for Menstrual Cycles - In a major update, Oura's Readiness Score now factors in menstrual cycles, addressing disproportionately low scores during luteal phase. Users will see 81% fewer days with artificially low scores - we love seeing technology adapting to women's physiology!

Major Acquisition:

Cosette Pharmaceuticals Acquires Mayne Pharma for $430M - Creating a leading women's health and dermatology powerhouse with 12 patent-protected products. 

One chapter closes:

HerMD Shutting Down All Locations - Despite raising $18M in 2023, this specialized menopause and sexual healthcare provider that served 25,000+ patients will close all clinics by March 21, highlighting ongoing challenges in sustainable women's health care models.

Lastly, I want to leave you all with this video that you’ve probably all already seen… but I’m obsessed. Whatever you do, you can’t win. So win.

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Have a BEAUTIFUL WEEK!!!

With love & light,

Livia Han 💗

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