Encountering these disparities in her own family and learning how bioengineering work.

This is the story of “Rene Canady

Medical devices, including smart watches, pulse oximeters, and heart valve implants, are often designed through one-size-fits-all and stratified models that limit their usability and efficacy for a diverse range of bodies and skin tones, contributing to harmful, even fatal, health disparities. Encountering these disparities in her own family and learning how bioengineering work often exacerbates, not mitigates, health disparities, Rene Canady founded Equity Systems (ES) Biodesign Consulting. ES Biodesign Consulting is a social impact software and research consulting business that ensures medical devices meet the needs of all patients and consumers.

With one out of every three adults using wearables, at two years in business, Rene’s leadership and innovation at ES Biodesign Consulting is already having a wide reaching and positive impact on communities often overlooked in medical device design and in the broader market. Leveraging her interdisciplinary expertise in bioengineering, sociology, and STEM education, Rene combines individualized consulting with her proprietary software audit tool to guide medtech companies through community-impact, human-centered, and inclusive systems design approaches to medical device development and company culture, saving lives all while saving companies time, risk, and money.

In addition, ES Biodesign Consulting provides education to designers, STEM professionals and students, medical practitioners, service providers, organizational leaders, and policy makers, developing entire ecosystems that better serve the community. Recently recognized with the Community Impact Award at the 2025 Synergiiize Pitch Showcase and placing second at the National Society of Black Engineer’s 2025 Fall Regional Conference Pitch Showcase, Rene’s innovative work is already transforming the medtech landscape.



Woman Innovator of the Year 2026

If you are nominating another woman, fill out the form for the other woman
Share your innovation story (provide details what problem you solved, and the innovative solution given). The story can be of this year or more long term. Please share your story in a simple and authentic way, covering the following points:• A brief introduction about yourself and your background • What inspired you to start your innovation journey • The problem or challenge you identified • How your innovation/project/idea was developed • The impact or change your innovation has created in your industry, community, or society • Any challenges you faced during the journey and how you overcame them • Your future vision or goals related to your innovationWe would also request you to share: • Relevant photographs/images related to your journey, work, innovation, events, or achievements • Short video clips (if available) that can help us during video creation and storytelling • Any media features, presentation clips, workspace visuals, or behind-the-scenes moments that reflect your journey authenticallyThe more personal and real the story feels, the more impactful the final storytelling piece becomes.
No Choosen File
Photos, short video clips, or behind-the-scenes shots that bring your story to life.
No Choosen File
Brochures, impact reports, presentation decks — anything that strengthens your story.
Woman innovator

Share your story. Inspire others. Lead the change.

We're spotlighting women innovators
who turn ideas into impact.

Deadline to submit
Aug 15, 2026
Stories featured
Oct – Nov 2026
Open to women
Worldwide
Become a member, complete the form,
and share your innovation story.

WHY PARTICIPATE?

  • Get featured on
    VOWI platforms
  • Gain global
    visibility
  • Earn community
    recognition
  • Inspire future
    innovators

Share your story.
Inspire others.
Lead the change.

This October to December, Voices of Women in Innovation (VOWI) will spotlight inspiring stories of women who turned ideas into impact.

We’re inviting women from around the world to sharetheir innovation journeys – or nominate someonewhose creativity, courage, and leadership have made
a difference.

Selected Stories

will be featured on VOWI’s platforms
throughout the campaign.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?

Women innovators from any field — business, technology, sustainability, science, education, or social impact — who have led or contributed to projects that create positive change.

Business

Technology

Sustainability

Science

Education

Social Impact

IMPORTANT DATES

Deadline to submit

August 15, 2026

Story features: Published

October-November 2026

HOW TO JOIN

  1. 1 Become a member of VOWI
  2. 2 Complete this short form
  3. 3 Tell us about the innovation story that deserves to be celebrated
Quill and paper illustration

SELECTED STORIES WILL RECEIVE

Featured on
VOWI platforms
Global
visibility
Community
recognition
Opportunity to
inspire others