{"id":2915,"date":"2026-04-15T14:01:34","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T14:01:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.starsfellows.africa\/?p=2915"},"modified":"2026-04-15T14:03:04","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T14:03:04","slug":"when-access-changes-outcomes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.starsfellows.africa\/fr\/2026\/04\/15\/when-access-changes-outcomes\/","title":{"rendered":"When Access Changes Outcomes"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Access is often the difference between potential and progress. For two African STARS fellows, it led directly to employment, independence, and the ability to shape what comes next.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

For many early-career African scientists, the challenge is not capability \u2013 it is access. Access to networks, to\u00a0industry pathways,\u00a0and to\u00a0opportunities that allow scientific knowledge to translate into real-world impact.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The African STARS Fellowship is designed to bridge that gap. Its value lies not only in training, but in what changes because of it: increased confidence, stronger professional voice, and the ability to move from academic knowledge into applied, meaningful work.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For two STARS, who completed their Advanced and Translational Training (ATT) fellowship in December 2025, that shift has been tangible \u2013 leading directly to employment, financial independence, and growing influence within their communities and professional networks. Both are now working at performance.io, a data-driven health and technology company that translates pharmaceutical and biotech innovation into measurable, applied outcomes.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

MEGAN HANSLOW<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Megan\u00a0Hanslow\u2019s\u00a0path into science has always been grounded in purpose. Growing up in the Cape Flats and becoming a first-generation university graduate, her work has focused on women\u2019s health \u2013 an area where science directly intersects with lived experience.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy background has shaped my focus on using science to create meaningful impact in my community and on the African continent,\u201d she explains. \u201cThrough my working experience I found that knowledge finds its true value in how it is applied.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite strong academic performance, entering the workforce proved difficult for Megan. \u201cThe recurring question, \u2018Do you have industry experience?\u2019 revealed a frustrating reality: experience requires opportunity,\u201d she says. \u201cI treated entering the biotech workforce like a full-time job. But the lack of response reinforced just how limited access to networks can be.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What the fellowship shifted was not only her access, but her mindset. \u201cThe African STARS Fellowship presented an opportunity to step into that next phase to connect the two, and begin shaping work that is meaningful and impactful,\u201d she says. \u201cThe fellowship completely shifted how I think about science, innovation, and impact in Africa. Real impact\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0happen alone \u2013 it happens when people come together.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Through exposure to peers across 16 African countries and direct engagement with industry, Megan began to see science differently \u2013 not as an endpoint, but as a tool.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe fellowship\u00a0programme\u2019s\u00a0conferences, site visits, and conversations with entrepreneurs and industry leaders also opened doors to new possibilities,\u201d she explains. And that shift translated directly into confidence and action for her. \u201cThe fellowship gave me a level of confidence I\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0have before. It helped me\u00a0realise\u00a0that I could step into spaces and contribute meaningfully.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Now entering the workforce, her understanding of impact has evolved. \u201cDignified and fulfilling work is work that combines purpose and impact,\u201d she says. \u201cIt means being in an environment where my contributions are valued and where I can continue to grow.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Importantly, that impact is already extending beyond her own role. \u201cI have been involved in planning community engagement events for girls in science,\u201d she says. \u201cInspiring girls that navigating a career in science is worthwhile and definitely possible.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Megan\u2019s path reflects a broader shift \u2013 from accessing opportunity to beginning to create it. \u201cThe\u00a0fellowship\u2019s\u00a0programme\u00a0truly empowers early-career scientists to transform their potential into real-world impact,\u201d she says. \u201cThis experience has changed my life. I have gone from the shadows to the stars.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

Megan Hanslow, ATT African STARS fellow 2025<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

CHARLEEN WORMSBERG<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Charleen\u00a0Wormsberg\u2019s\u00a0experience reflects\u00a0a very similar\u00a0and critical barrier: the invisible gap between academic training and industry access.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhile I had strong academic training, I found it challenging to access opportunities\u00a0\u2013\u00a0 due\u00a0to lack of structured pathways from academia into industry, and minimal networks,\u201d she explains.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Even within an environment of innovation, that divide was clear. \u201cI felt like there was still a definite divide between entrepreneurs in the industry versus students,\u201d she says.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This is where the fellowship provided both access and direction for Charleen. \u201cI wanted to gain practical, industry-relevant skills, expand my professional network, and better understand how to position myself,\u201d she explains.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A key shift was learning how to translate science into something usable. \u201cLearning how to translate scientific knowledge into practical, business-relevant insights was particularly impactful,\u201d she notes. But just as important was the shift in confidence. \u201cWhen I saw the level of achievement, I initially felt intimidated,\u201d she recalls. \u201cBut there must be something in me that others believed in. And that helped me start believing in my own potential more deeply.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That belief translated into tangible outcomes. \u201cThe fellowship helped me build the confidence to\u00a0recognise\u00a0my value, and to advocate for myself and negotiate a salary that reflected my worth,\u201d she says. It also gave Charleen the tools to access opportunities directly. \u201cThe fellowship taught me how to effectively use platforms like LinkedIn,\u00a0This\u00a0made me more visible to opportunities and showed that I was proactive and serious about transitioning into the industry.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Now working at the intersection of science, data, and technology, she sees her role as part of a broader system of impact. \u201cWe translate pharmaceutical and biotechnological advancements into measurable, data-backed outcomes \u2013 supporting the growth of local innovation and helping advance treatments that are more relevant to African populations,\u201d she explains.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Beyond her own career, the ripple effect is already visible. \u201cEverything has changed. I am now financially independent. And\u00a0I\u2019ve\u00a0already been able to help friends find work,\u201d she says.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Charleen\u2019s ambition is explicitly\u00a0outward-facing. \u201cMy goal is to create those opportunities, uplift others, and contribute to building a more equitable environment,\u201d she says.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

Charleen Wormsberg, ATT\u00a0African STARS fellow\u00a0 2025<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Access, Application, and Action<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

These stories show how the right training, networks, and opportunities enable young scientists to move into meaningful work and extend that impact beyond themselves.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

From greater confidence and income to a stronger professional voice, the effects build over time. Individual opportunity begins to shape wider systems.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This is how potential becomes impact: through access, application, and action.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Text:\u00a0Katrine Anker-<\/span>Nilssen<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Photos<\/span>: CERI Media<\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Access is often the difference between potential and progress. For two African STARS fellows, it led directly to employment, independence, and the ability to shape what comes next. \u00a0 For many early-career African scientists, the challenge is not capability \u2013 it is access. Access to networks, to\u00a0industry pathways,\u00a0and to\u00a0opportunities that allow scientific knowledge to translate […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2917,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2915","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.starsfellows.africa\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2915","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.starsfellows.africa\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.starsfellows.africa\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.starsfellows.africa\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.starsfellows.africa\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2915"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.starsfellows.africa\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2915\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2921,"href":"https:\/\/www.starsfellows.africa\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2915\/revisions\/2921"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.starsfellows.africa\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2917"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.starsfellows.africa\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2915"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.starsfellows.africa\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2915"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.starsfellows.africa\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2915"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}