From Connection to Opportunity: How WIN Helped Launch Opeyemi Ogedengbe's Internship Journey

From left, Dr. Karen Hecht, Opeyemi Ogedengbe, Gwoncheol Park and Annahita Ghassemi at the CRN-ASNF Science in Session event in 2024.

When Opeyemi Ogedengbe began her Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences at the University of Maryland, she knew she wanted to build a career that bridged research and industry. What she didn't expect was that a conversation at a WIN event would help open the door to exactly that opportunity.

This summer, Opeyemi accepted a scientific affairs internship position with Haleon, an experience that she credits in large part to the relationships she built through Women In Nutraceuticals.

Her story is a reminder that professional growth often begins with something simple: showing up, getting involved, and building genuine connections.

Finding a Community

Opeyemi first became involved with WIN while looking for ways to connect with professionals outside of academia.

As a graduate student, she has spent much of her time studying the subject matter of her choice (in particular, the role of Urtica dioica, commonly called stinging nettle and its bioactive compounds), but not as much time learning about how her knowledge can be translated into career opportunities.

Through WIN events, webinars, and networking opportunities, she found a welcoming community of scientists and industry professionals who were eager to share their experiences and encourage early-career researchers.

Those conversations gave her valuable insight into the nutraceutical industry while helping her build relationships with people she otherwise might never have met.

One Conversation Led to Another

Among those connections was Karen Hecht, WIN Science Committee Co-Chair, whose encouragement helped Opeyemi expand her professional network.

Karen introduced her to additional WIN members who generously shared advice, career guidance, and industry perspectives.

Each conversation built upon the last. Instead of simply collecting LinkedIn connections, Opeyemi focused on asking thoughtful questions, learning from others' experiences, and staying engaged with the WIN community. As members learned more about her research interests and career goals, they began educating her on career paths that aligned with her scientific background. Soon Opeyemi found that her options extended well beyond her expected path of academia.

The Internship Opportunity

At the end of a WIN webinar in 2025, the panelists invited WIN members to connect with them on LinkedIn. Opeyemi followed the advice and connected with the panelists.

Several months later, an internship opportunity at Haleon, a large consumer health company, was advertised. Opeyemi applied and members of her WIN community encouraged her to be proactive and seek informational conversations as she prepared for the application process. Coincidentally, one of the professional connections she made through the webinar worked at Haleon, making it possible to learn about the company & the opportunity.

Those networking conversations gave Opeyemi greater confidence throughout the interview process, which ultimately, led to an offer. The experience reinforced the value of networking and building meaningful professional relationships.

For Opeyemi, the internship represents more than a summer position.

It's an opportunity to apply her scientific training in an industry setting, gain firsthand experience, and explore how research translates into products that improve people's health.

It's also validation that building relationships can be just as important as building technical expertise.

More Than Networking

Looking back, Opeyemi says one of the biggest lessons she's learned is that networking doesn't have to feel transactional.

Rather than approaching conversations with the goal of asking for a job, she focused on being curious, learning from others, and building authentic relationships.

The opportunities followed naturally.

She also emphasizes how generous WIN members have been with their time and support.

Whether offering career advice, making introductions, or simply taking the time to answer questions, she found a community that genuinely wanted to help emerging professionals succeed.

Paying It Forward

As Opeyemi continues her Ph.D. and begins her internship, she's already thinking about how she can support others entering the field.

The encouragement she received through WIN reinforced the importance of mentorship and community, and she's eager to do the same for future students and early-career professionals.

Her journey reflects something WIN has long believed: meaningful careers aren't built through résumés alone. They're built through relationships, mentorship, and people who are willing to open doors for others.

For students and early-career professionals wondering whether it's worth attending that networking event, introducing yourself after a webinar, or volunteering on a committee, Opeyemi's experience offers a clear answer.

Sometimes one conversation is all it takes to change the direction of your career.

What would Opeyemi tell someone who is thinking about joining WIN?

“WIN opened a launch pad. It's exposed me to the opportunities, the past and the present. Connected me to the right people, the right information, because truly I've come to realize in this life, without the right information, we are blind. We just navigate blindly…if you don't have the right direction or the right people to steer your path. With WIN, I got clarity, I got direction, I got someone to help me navigate my journey. I have somebody to meet, to discuss my questions, my concerns with. And they are being very helpful in directing me.”

At WIN, we're proud to celebrate Opeyemi's success and grateful to members like Karen Hecht, Yasmeen Nkrumah-Elie, the Science Committee members, and so many others who embody our mission by investing in the next generation of leaders in nutraceuticals.

We can't wait to see where Opeyemi's journey leads next.