In celebration of Women’s History Month, our team at Stevenson Search Partners is spotlighting the remarkable women who are shaping the future of life sciences. As a global leader in executive search for the life sciences industry, we have the privilege of partnering with exceptional women leaders whose vision and expertise are driving innovation across the sector. Their accomplishments not only advance scientific discovery and improve patient outcomes but also inspire the next generation of diverse leadership in the field.
We asked our team members to share their thoughts on the women leaders who have made a significant impact on them professionally and personally. These stories highlight how women in leadership positions are transforming organizations and mentoring others while staying true to their authentic selves. Here are the inspiring women our team admires:
Payal Sahni, MA, Chief People Experience Officer, Pfizer
“Payal was able to achieve incredible success without wavering on her core values and her genuine self. Her style and approach to culture is modern and authentic. She is able to lead growth and change in a way that makes people feel comfortable and valued.” — Adam Bloom, President
Dee Olomajeye Dragon, Vice President, People Strategy and Head of Administrative Operations, Senti Biosciences
“I have had the pleasure of working with Dee Dragon on multiple searches over the past three years, and I continue to be inspired by her passion, expertise, and incredible leadership in the Life Sciences industry. Her deep knowledge of people strategy, combined with her genuine enthusiasm for building strong, mission-driven teams, sets her apart as a true force in the field. Beyond her professional excellence, Dee’s warmth, authenticity, and unwavering dedication make her not only a remarkable leader but also a joy to collaborate with.” — Sara Carter, Senior Search Coordinator
Haiying Grunenwald, PhD, Head of Biology R&D, MilliporeSigma
“Haiying is one of the most thoughtful, colorful, and passionate leaders I have worked with in my 10 years at Stevenson Search. From her captivating positivity to inclusivity, Haiying portrayed an amazing balance of scientific rigor and excitement for her career, the people she works with, and the patients she serves. I can't forget to mention her LOVE and expertise for incredible and unique fashion!” — Brenna D’Alessandro (Fleis), Senior Recruiting Consultant
Lee Ann Kimak, MBA, JD, Head of North America, Bavarian Nordic
“I hired Lee Ann to lead Bavarian Nordic’s US business in early 2020, 6 months after she had just closed the book on a glittering 25-year career at Pfizer and JnJ. Lee Ann brought the perfect balance of strong leadership, commercial expertise and a winning mentality – she did an incredible job of successfully transitioning two commercial-stage vaccines from GSK and building a high-performing US team all against some pretty tight timelines! I’m a huge admirer of her great character, ambition, and achievements. In late 2020, Lee Ann was deservedly recognized as one of the top 25 Women in Biotech.” — Ben Brickell, Partner
Cherie Hauck, PhD, M.Ed., RN, Senior Clinical Scientist/ Clinical Development Consultant, ICON Strategic Solutions
“Cherie approaches her work with an unparalleled positive attitude even under the immense pressure of fast-paced environments and the gravity of working in the oncology drug development space. She is relentless in her passion for the work she does. She is an industry professional that truly has the patients’ at the forefront of her mind and it would be an understatement to say she is very invested in the impact her work ultimately has on those in need of treatment where they are little to no options. Her level of dedication and the impact she has on the people she works with is not something you see every day. I could never express enough gratitude for the contribution she makes each and every day.” — Kirsten Gjermo, Senior Manager, On Demand Talent Solutions
Claire Mazumdar, PhD, MBA, Chief Executive Officer, Bicara Therapeutics
“In recent years, there has been a concerning trend in the biotech industry - fewer women CEOs. However, in the spirit of women’s history month, I want to highlight a true trailblazer, Claire Mazumdar, PhD, MBA. She is the founding CEO at Bicara Therapeutics. Where other biotech companies have struggled, Claire successfully raised funds for Bicara and progressed their lead drug, Ficerafusp, into late-stage clinical development. This past September, she led Bicara’s IPO, achieving a market valuation of over a billion dollars, and earlier this year, her company enrolled its first patient in a pivotal phase 2/3 clinical trial in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. We always look forward to collaborating with her and the Bicara team in building a brighter future for patients and find her to be nothing short of an inspirational leader.” — Nam Hoang, Senior Research Associate
Nina Kjellson, General Partner, Canaan Partners
“Nina Kjellson is inspirational not only for her decades of significant accomplishment investing in (and advising) high science biotech, but also her genuine, thoughtful, and positive approach to interacting with individuals and the world around her. I am struck by her ability to balance curiosity and conviction, cut to the heart of the matter, and leave you feeling better and clearer. I am also impressed with how seamlessly she incorporates her passion for the outdoors and empowering female leadership into her everyday way of life, mentoring female investors, entrepreneurs and students. It is this breadth of impact, positive influence, and incredible spirit that I admire about Nina.” — Melissa Singer Weiss, Principal
These remarkable women exemplify the talent, resilience, and vision that drive progress in the life sciences industry. At Stevenson Search Partners, we remain dedicated to identifying and promoting diverse leadership talent, with particular emphasis on addressing gender disparities at the executive level. With a 45% gender diversity hire rate, we actively support strengthening inclusion across the life sciences ecosystem—not just during Women's History Month, but throughout the year. By highlighting these inspirational leaders, we hope to encourage organizations to create more pathways for women to lead and innovate in this critical sector.
