From Startup Operator to P&L Leader - And Why I'm Now Helping Health Tech Founders Break Into Pharma
Many health tech founders are brilliant engineers or scientists with limited understanding of clinical research or pharma purchasing.
Or they come from biopharma but don't grasp startup constraints or commercial strategy.
I've been in both camps.
In 2005, I joined a small Maryland startup building what would become the world's first interactive electronic informed consent product for clinical trials—solving a real problem with paper consent forms that were error-prone, tedious, and holding back research.
With a health communication degree and some tech savvy, I did a bit of everything: content entry, client training, product documentation, testing. It took us three years to launch our first study. Three years of regulatory hurdles, pharma skepticism, and learning what "audit-ready" actually means.
But we figured it out. We built trust. We proved the concept. Fast-forward: by 2015, our product was deploying across the US and EU with top-tier pharma.
After moving to Germany and a brief detour into corporate communications,
I was recruited back to SecureConsent in 2016
The eConsent business was rapidly expanding in Europe and needed someone who understood both the technology and the European landscape. We were also positioning for sale. By the end of 2016, DrugDev acquired the product. I continued to lead customer engagement as we navigated this integration and expansion. Within a year, we took another huge leap, as DrugDev was acquired by IQVIA.
In 2020, I took over P&L leadership of a business unit that was breakeven, operationally chaotic, and struggling with morale after two M&A transitions. The pandemic hit the same month I took the reins.
The secret? I didn't do it by being the smartest person in the room. I did it by listening attentively, connecting and encouraging isolated teams, and building systems that made excellence the default - all while leading through influence in a matrix organization where I didn't directly control sales, commercial, or engineering.
"I didn't succeed by being the smartest person in the room. I did it by listening attentively, connecting and encouraging isolated teams, and building systems that made excellence the default."
I chose consulting because this is where I do my best work — focused entirely on the strategic and operational puzzles I've spent two decades learning to solve.
I love this work. I love mapping the path to a first pharma pilot when everything feels impossibly complex — and helping ensure start-to-finish customer satisfaction once you're in the door. I'm energized by the problem-solving, not exhausted by it, because 20 years of pattern recognition combined with continual learning and leveraging AI tools, means I get to answers faster than brute-force hustle ever could.
I'll fly to Basel, Boston, or Tokyo when the work demands it. I'll put in long, intense days during critical phases. But I've also learned — the hard way — that sustainable performance requires balance, and I bring that same philosophy to how I advise founders. Sprint when you need to. Recover so you can sprint again.
What you should know about working with me: I lead with questions, not assumptions. I'll push back when your timeline is unrealistic and celebrate with you when you hit a milestone that seemed beyond the horizon. I communicate candidly but always with respect and genuine investment in your success. I've built and led diverse, global teams across the US, Europe, and Asia, and I believe the best strategies come from listening to the people closest to the problem.
I've sat in rooms where I was the only woman, the only non-technical person, or the only one willing to say "this isn't working." If you've ever felt like an outsider trying to break into an insider's game — I understand that, and I can help you navigate it.
"I'll tell you if you're not ready, if your timeline is unrealistic, or if we're not a fit. Because honesty, integrity and relationships matter."
A phased, milestone-based model that protects your investment while building the foundation for sustainable market success.
I'll tell you if your launch goal is unrealistic—and explain what's actually achievable. Unvarnished candor up front saves you from burning bridges with prospects you're not ready for.
Most comprehensive projects are structured in 2-3 phases. After each phase, you decide whether to continue. This protects your investment and allows you to course-correct based on what we learn.
Every investment must deliver tangible value. You receive clear, concrete deliverables at each milestone—you know exactly what you're paying for, when you'll receive it, and how to use it.
My recommendations are grounded in market research, competitive intelligence, and decades of pattern recognition across clinical technology markets. I show you the data, build the models, and help you make informed decisions.
I guide strategy and provide expert direction while your team executes. This approach manages costs effectively while empowering your organization to build sustainable capabilities that continue delivering value long after our engagement.
Your success is my success. I'm invested in helping you achieve your goals and will bring everything I've learned over 20+ years to help you get there.
Start with an introductory call. We'll discuss where you are on your unique journey, what's realistic, and whether we're a fit to work together.
Schedule a Call