Cambridge alumna recognised by Royal Society for healthtech

In April 2025, the Royal Society, the UK’s prestigious national academy of sciences, marked the 80th anniversary of electing its first women Fellows by celebrating a select group of pioneering women who have reshaped science, technology and society in their publication ‘Meet the Changemakers: A Celebration of Women Entrepreneurs’. Among those recognised is Dr Millicent Stone, a practising clinician, healthtech entrepreneur and graduate of the Master of Studies in Entrepreneurship at Cambridge Judge Business School.

For Dr Stone, the Royal Society’s recognition is not just a personal milestone but a reflection of a broader movement. “The real value is all the women at the back of the book who really have changed the world with their science,” she reflected humbly.

From clinic to CEO

When Dr Stone’s daughter was diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, her world shifted dramatically. A leading UK rheumatologist, she suddenly found herself on the other side of the healthcare system, not as a doctor, but as a mother, struggling to access the trusted information she needed to support her child.

That deep personal experience became the catalyst for founding iOWNA in 2019, a company built on the vision of transforming patient care through better communication. Now an award-winning digital health platform, iOWNA empowers clinicians and patients to manage chronic conditions like cardiovascular disease, cancer and autoimmune disorders using secure, trusted and patient-centred tools. By enabling real-time, 2-way information exchange, iOWNA not only improves health outcomes but has also delivered significant operational efficiencies, reducing nursing time by an impressive 80% to 90%.

Cambridge: a transformational experience

To bring her vision to life, Millicent recognised that medical expertise alone wasn’t enough. She enrolled in the Master of Studies in Entrepreneurship at Cambridge Judge Business School to gain the business acumen necessary to scale iOWNA into an impactful enterprise.

“The single most important, useful piece of knowledge was learning the word ‘value’ – how to discover value for my venture, how to create it and how to execute to deliver it to my customers,” she shares.

She also embraced the challenge of learning systems thinking, which she describes as a transformational concept that now underpins her strategic approach to both business and medicine.

“One of the most surprising insights was realising that remote learning doesn’t diminish the experience – it reflects how the world works now. The MSt in Entrepreneurship has truly perfected the art of hybrid education. It’s not just effective – it’s inspiring. The programme exceeded my expectations.”

The single most important, useful piece of knowledge was learning the word ‘value’ – how to discover value for my venture, how to create it and how to execute to deliver it to my customers.

Millicent Stone

Staying grounded while inspiring others

Despite leading a cutting-edge digital health company, Millicent continues to practise medicine part-time in London. This keeps her closely connected to patients and the clinical community, ensuring that iOWNA continues to evolve in response to real-world needs.

Her passion for innovation also extends to mentoring the next generation of changemakers. She actively shares her experience supporting early-stage entrepreneurs navigating the challenges of creating sustainable, impact-driven ventures.

Building the future, together

Now, Millicent is combining her professional journey with her personal one. Together with her daughter, whose illness inspired iOWNA, she is co-developing a new hospital gown, designed to preserve patient dignity while enabling better clinical care. Their innovation blends empathy, creativity and function, transforming even the smallest details of healthcare into meaningful change.

What makes me get up in the morning is my love for starting with a blank sheet of paper and building something from nothing with the hope that it might change our world for the better.

What makes me get up in the morning is my love for starting with a blank sheet of paper and building something from nothing with the hope that it might change our world for the better.

Millicent Stone