Elyse Stoltz Dickerson
CEO, Co-Founder
Eosera Inc.
Elyse Stoltz Dickerson is CEO and co-founder ofEosera Inc., a majority woman-owned biotech company committed to developing innovative health care products to improve the lives of both doctors and patients.
Its first product line focuses on solving common ear conditions, such as earwax impaction with Earwax MD and Wax Blaster MD, painful ears with Ear Pain MD, and itching ears with Ear Itch MD.
The company was founded in March 2015 by Dickerson and Joe Griffin in Fort Worth.
Dickerson has more than two decades of experience leading teams in the health care and pharmaceutical industries.
Prior to co-founding Eosera, Dickerson spent over a decade at Alcon, where, as Global Director, she set the near and long-term global strategic vision for many products as well as launching new products globally and consistently grew sales year over year.
Dickerson actively mentors women who pursue careers in health care and technology.
One of her nominators, Beatriz Arana of Energia Communications, notes that Dickerson, at an early age, had to overcome her dyslexia, but “refused to let anyone other than herself define her identity.”
Dickerson holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame, and an MBA from the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University.
Married with two children, Dickerson lives in Fort Worth. She is also a lifelong athlete and has completed marathons, triathlons and an Ironman.
– Robert Francis
What advice would you give young women rising to a position of prominence?
There are two pieces of advice I would give.
First, life is so unpredictable. You can’t plan your life; the only thing you can plan for is how you respond to the twists and turns of life. Second, never be afraid to ask for help. So often leaders think they have to project that they know everything, when in reality, no leader can know everything.
You could choose to spend your time many ways; why do you choose to spend it the way you do?
I prioritize my time in three ways.
First, my family. I have two middle school-aged children and a husband with a high-powered career. My evenings and weekends are dedicated to spending time with them.
Second, myself. I have learned that if I am not happy and healthy, no one around me can thrive. For as long as I can remember, I have always started the day with a workout, often with friends. I end almost every day at 8 p.m. and sleep for 8 to 9 hours.
Third, my work. I love my work, so it doesn’t feel like a job. I am so lucky to be surrounded by amazing colleagues that inspire me to dream big.
Who is the most significant role model and/ or mentor in your life?
There are two
First, my mom. She was a stay-at-home mom and homemaker, but at age 40, she decided she wanted something more and needed more for herself. She then started her own business while still taking care of children and the home. Thirty years later, she still is running that business.
Second, I was also incredibly blessed to have some amazing coaches during my formative years. Most notably, Coach Butch Traeder at Fort Worth Country Day School. He coached me from 6th to 12th grade and left a lasting impact on my spirit. He believed in me before I knew how to believe in myself. He taught me how to push myself to my physical limits, which made me mentally and emotionally strong.
What book, movie, TV series or play influenced you growing up? Why?
Mary Poppins taught me not to take life too seriously and that laughter is an essential part of living. I must have watched this movie one hundred times as a child, constantly rewinding the VCR to see it again and again.