Website:

www.marinagerner.com
https://marinagerner.substack.com

What do you freelance about?

My first book about women’s health innovation, The Vagina Business: The Innovative Breakthroughs that Could Change Everything in Women's Health, has just come out! My freelance work is all focused on the book right now: I speak on podcasts, I’m being interviewed by journalists about the book and about femtech (which stands for female technology) and I’m giving talks at conferences.

Do you specialise in any particular areas?

Women’s health innovation, business, investments and personal finance.

Are you happy doing corporate work?

I do corporate speaking engagements.

How can PRs help you with your work?

PRs in the women’s health space can put companies, non-profits, and research on my radar. I’m also interested to hear data-focused insights about female investors.

Tell us about the pieces of work you’re most proud of, or any recent highlights?

I’m proud of my Wired article “We need to talk about investors problem with vaginas” – it went viral, and it led me to write The Vagina Business! Over the last three years, I’ve interviewed over 100 entrepreneurs, researchers, and investors for the book to highlight innovation in everything from fertility, birth, menopause and sexual health to female heart health and bone health. It has been a huge effort so I was very heartened to see the first review saying the book “offers hope for positive new ways of not only thinking and talking about female bodies but also improving health outcomes for women worldwide. Energetic, thoroughly engaging reading”.

What are the main advantages and disadvantages of being freelance financial journalist?

Advantages are flexibility, autonomy, and the hustle. Disadvantages are flexibility, autonomy, and the hustle.

What advice would you give to a new freelance journalist?

Follow your curiosity. And have multiple income streams.

When you’re telling a story, what’s the most important thing to remember?

Why does this story matter? What’s the impact?

What’s the commission you’d most like to undertake?

I’d love to write a column on women’s health innovation. I already write a newsletter on the topic.

What was the last article you read that really shocked you?

Not really an article but a story I saw unfolding on LinkedIn: When Innovate UK only awarded 25 grants out of a potential 50 grants to female founders in a funding competition - even though a staggering 1452 founders applied! They have reversed their decision since there was an outcry on social media. But even 50 grants are nowhere near enough given how little funding female-led companies get.

Have you won any awards/gained specific financial qualifications?

Yes, I’ve won awards as a financial journalist and as an arts critic. And The Vagina Business has received grants from The Society of Authors and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. 

We’re now well into 2024, what are your predictions for the main stories that will dominate the rest of the year?

I sure hope that the conversations around women’s health continue to get louder - whether that’s because of the upcoming US election or because of new breakthrough research in the space.

Sum up your time as a financial journalist in three words:

What an adventure.

If you were up for an award for any hobbies/activities outside of work, what would you be likely to win, and why?

I had a baby six months ago and I’d win 'sun hat wrestle champion' (silver medal) and 'sleep deprived yet silly singer songwriter'. 

Finally, if you had to eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Stracciatella ice cream with strawberries.