Leadership in Action: Jim Weiss Joins The HBA Foundation Board of Directors to Drive Meaningful Change

For Jim Weiss, Chairman and Founder of Real Chemistry, joining The HBA Foundation’s Board of Directors signifies the next chapter in a decades-long journey of advocacy, mentorship, and deeply personal motivation. 

For more than 15 years, Weiss has been deeply involved with the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA) by supporting local chapters, mentoring leaders, speaking at national events, and championing data-driven insights. Now, he’s stepping into a new leadership role to help propel The HBA Foundation forward. 

“My involvement with the HBA dates back over a decade,” Jim said. “We’ve supported the San Francisco chapter, had team members serve in regional leadership roles, and led efforts around analytics and studies on women in healthcare leadership. That work naturally aligns with The HBA Foundation’s purpose.” 

Weiss’ contributions to the HBA have earned him significant recognition, including being named the 2025 Honorable Mentor, an honor he describes with characteristic humility. “I don’t even know who nominated me,” Jim joked. “It meant a lot to be recognized at the Woman of the Year event in Chicago.” 

While his professional accomplishments are impressive, growing Real Chemistry into a global health innovation powerhouse and advising a host of nonprofit boards, Weiss’ motivation to support the healthcare workforce is deeply personal. His mother, a 1953 Barnard College graduate and pioneering businesswoman, set an early example of leadership that left a lasting imprint. Caring for his late wife, Audra, through her battle with cancer gave his commitment a profound new urgency. 

“My wife was a life sciences communicator who ran her own consultancy,” he said. “Going through her cancer battle with her, and navigating the healthcare system as a caregiver, really drove home how critical it is to support the people, especially women, who make the system work.” 

That lived experience, coupled with his long-standing professional focus, is what inspired Jim to join The HBA Foundation Board. “I wanted to be part of this from the ground up,” Weiss said. “We’ve seen the data, especially post-COVID, that shows women of all ages leaving the healthcare workforce at alarming rates. If we want a resilient and effective healthcare system, we need to reverse that trend. That’s where the Foundation comes in.” 

Weiss views his role on the Foundation’s Board of Directors as an opportunity to help broaden support for building a strong, sustainable healthcare workforce. 

“I’m a caregiver, a patient, a business leader, and someone who deeply cares about the future of healthcare,” he said. “I hope my voice helps bring in more supporters, both men and women, who understand that we can’t have a healthy healthcare system without a healthy, supported workforce.” 

For Jim, the creation of The HBA Foundation isn’t just timely – it’s essential. “We’re at an inflection point,” he said. “Whether it’s ensuring gender-balanced clinical trials, replenishing the healthcare workforce, or investing in early prevention and innovation, the stakes are high. The HBA Foundation can be a catalyst for meaningful change, filling the gaps that data and experience tell us urgently need to be addressed.” 

While Weiss brings considerable influence and expertise to The HBA Foundation, he remains grounded in gratitude. 

“I’ve had the privilege of learning from and working with incredible women throughout my life,” he said. “From my mother to my wife and mentors and colleagues across the industry, they’ve shaped who I am. I’m here to pay that forward.” 

You can learn more about The HBA Foundation and its Board of Directors here.