Member Profile: Shannon Topinka

At the Geena Davis Institute, our members are changemakers, shaping a more inclusive media landscape. Through their work in entertainment, advocacy, and education, they drive meaningful progress. In this series, we spotlight their stories—their inspirations, impact, and commitment to representation. We hope their journeys inspire you to join the movement.

We recently chatted with member Shannon Topinka about GDI and how the Institute’s mission positively impacts her work in health care.

Shannon Topinka is Chief Strategist & Founder of The Collaborative Strategists, where she advises biotech and healthcare companies on strategic planning and collaborative execution.  A long standing supporter and nine year member of the Geena Davis Institute, Shannon is passionate about women’s health and sees a correlation between the Institute’s advocacy for equitable representation in the media and her own efforts towards closing the gender gap in medicine. 

GDI: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what kind of work you do?I’ve spent most of my career in healthcare, with a specific focus on women’s health in recent years. After 25 years in the industry, I launched my own consulting firm two years ago to help biotech and healthcare companies navigate strategic planning and execution. My work focuses on how effective collaboration drives innovation and growth, ensuring that cross-functional teams align to bring impactful healthcare solutions to market more efficiently.

GDI: Have you had any personal or professional experiences that have shaped your understanding of media representation?I’ve always followed Geena. Starting around age 13, people would compare me to her because I’m very tall. Seeing actresses like Geena—and the handful of other tall women in Hollywood—helped me believe, I can do that too. That representation mattered.

My first degree was a Bachelor of Fine Arts in acting, and I don’t think I would have pursued it if I hadn’t known who Geena was. That education in theatre became a strong foundation for the rest of my career—it shaped how I approach storytelling, communication, and leadership, all of which are essential in my work today.

GDI: What draws you to GDI’s mission of advocating for equity and representation?
“See it, be it” resonates deeply with me when it comes to telling women’s stories. Seeing yourself reflected—whether on screen or in any industry—can be the spark that makes someone say, Oh, yeah, I could do that too.

Beyond that, I value the Institute’s research-based approach. The ability to point people to hard data on why representation matters is incredibly powerful. I often refer colleagues to the GDI website and say, Here—read these studies. These are the facts. That kind of evidence-driven advocacy is so important.

GDI: You transitioned away from acting and working in the theatre. How does the Institute’s mission align with your career in life sciences and health care?
The Institute’s support of women in STEM directly impacts my work and the people I collaborate with every day from colleagues and clients to patients. Women weren’t even included in clinical trials until 1993. Increasing the presence of women and underrepresented groups in STEM isn’t just about fairness—it leads to better outcomes and a healthier community.

There’s substantial data to support this. For example, surgical outcomes improve when a female doctor is part of the operating room team. But beyond direct patient care, representation matters in innovation as well—whether it’s women engineers designing medical devices or diverse teams developing new biotech solutions. A variety of perspectives is essential to creating healthcare products that work for everyone.

Connect with Shannon on LinkedIn
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