With over 20 years of experience recruiting for the biotech industry, Kara Coluccio is a consultant in Spencer Stuart’s global Biopharma and Boards practices, specializing in board, CEO and C-suite placements. She specializes in serving innovative organizations that work at a fast pace to drive groundbreaking therapies for patients.
Kara believes it critical for a biotech recruiter to have a deep appreciation for the science involved and the unique nuances required to lead and govern science-first, patient-centric companies. Throughout her career, Kara has been viewed as a trusted adviser, sought after by clients for her formal and informal advice and thought partnership.
Partnering to advance science through strategic biotech leadership placement
- Prior to Spencer Stuart, Kara led a Boston-based boutique executive search firm where she partnered with biotech companies across a spectrum of early-stage private, newly or established public and commercial stages, specializing in board, CEO and C-suite placements. She led several board evolution advisory projects and executive team builds to help companies ensure the proper leadership and governance appropriate for their strategy and goals.
- Kara spent her early career in healthcare policy in Washington, D.C., after which she spent several years at a global executive search firm in the life sciences practice working with biotech and large pharma companies nationally and internationally. Following, she joined a New York-based life sciences boutique executive search firm where she partnered closely with investors, boards and C-suite clients to build biotech companies during a time of exponential growth in the industry.
- Having also started her own retained recruiting advisory firm, Kara has the unique ability to relate to entrepreneurs and leaders, particularly in their efforts to drive results, hone strategy and build a sustainable business.
Kara is an active member of multiple networks of women biotech leaders, she is an avid supporter of diversifying boards and C-suites of biotech companies. Kara is currently a member of the board of advisers for Life Sciences Cares Boston.
Kara has a B.A. in history and sociology of science from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Bioethics from University of Pennsylvania Medical School.