“Lead with Authenticity, Grow Continuously, and Uplift Others Through Health, Connection, and Joy”
Anna Shadman is a senior biopharmaceutical executive and board leader with more than 30 years of experience across the global healthcare and life sciences industry. Over the course of her career, she has built a reputation for connecting scientific innovation with practical business strategy, always with a focus on improving patient outcomes. Her leadership is grounded in authenticity, continuous growth, and a genuine commitment to making a positive impact through health and human connection.
Anna’s career reflects steady progression through increasingly senior roles at leading pharmaceutical organizations, including Gilead Sciences, GlaxoSmithKline, Amgen, and Johnson & Johnson. At each stage, she has taken on broader responsibility, contributing to both strategic direction and operational execution. She is known for her ability to work across functions and bring clarity to complex challenges, which has made her a trusted partner to executive teams and boards.
Most recently, Anna served as Senior Vice President of Product Portfolio and Strategy at Gilead Sciences. In this role, she was responsible for overseeing a wide range of preclinical and clinical programs across areas such as HIV, oncology, and inflammation. She worked closely with leaders in strategy, finance, and commercial functions to guide investment decisions and ensure the portfolio was aligned with long-term business goals. Her work helped strengthen the connection between scientific progress and sustainable growth.
Before joining Gilead, Anna held a senior leadership role at GlaxoSmithKline as Head of Medicine Development Leaders. There, she led a global team responsible for guiding the development of medicines across the pipeline. She focused on improving how early- and late-stage programs worked together, strengthening team capabilities, and supporting the delivery of therapies to patients. She also contributed to key governance and investment discussions, helping shape the company’s development strategy.
At Amgen, Anna served as Global Product General Manager, where she led cross-functional teams responsible for product strategy across the full lifecycle. One of her most notable contributions was leading the development and launch of Aimovig®, a treatment for migraine prevention. This work required close collaboration across global teams and partners, and it highlighted her ability to move complex programs forward while keeping both patients and business priorities in mind.
Earlier in her career, Anna spent significant time at Johnson & Johnson, including within Janssen Pharmaceuticals and Janssen Alzheimer Immunotherapy. She led compound development teams and played a key role in advancing therapies in challenging areas such as Alzheimer’s disease. During this time, she also served on a board, gaining early experience in governance and oversight that continues to inform her work today.
Anna’s experience covers the full drug development process, from early research through regulatory approval and commercialization. She has worked across clinical development, regulatory affairs, manufacturing, and medical affairs, and understands how these areas come together to support successful outcomes. Her strength lies in bringing these pieces together into a clear, practical strategy that supports both innovation and execution.
In addition to her corporate roles, Anna has taken on advisory and consulting work, supporting organizations with portfolio strategy, leadership development, and growth planning. She has experience in due diligence and business development, and she enjoys helping teams think through complex decisions. Her approach is collaborative and grounded, focused on helping organizations move forward with clarity.
Anna brings a global perspective shaped by her experience in both the United States and the United Kingdom. She is fluent in English and has working knowledge of Spanish. She is open to travel and values opportunities to work with diverse teams and organizations.
She holds a Master of Science in Medical Statistics from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the University of Sussex. She has also completed executive education programs at institutions including Harvard Business School and Smith College, which have supported her development as a leader.
A key part of Anna’s leadership approach is her commitment to mentoring and supporting others. She has spent much of her career developing teams and helping individuals grow into leadership roles. She values open communication, accountability, and creating an environment where people feel supported and challenged in the right ways.
Outside of work, Anna enjoys staying active and spending time outdoors. Her interests include paddleboarding, kayaking, pickleball, and reading. These activities reflect her belief in maintaining balance and staying connected to both personal well-being and lifelong learning.
As she moves into this next stage of her career, Anna is focused on board and advisory opportunities where she can continue to contribute her experience and perspective. With decades of leadership behind her, she is motivated by the opportunity to support organizations that are working to improve health and deliver meaningful impact.
Character:
Anna approaches her work with honesty and consistency, staying true to her values in how she leads and makes decisions. She is known for treating people with respect and creating an environment where others feel supported. Her focus on helping others succeed is a central part of how she shows up as a leader.
Knowledge:
She brings a strong foundation in both science and business, built over many years of hands-on experience. She understands the full drug development process and how different parts of an organization need to work together. She continues to learn and stay current, which allows her to contribute thoughtful and informed perspectives.
Strategic:
Anna is thoughtful in how she approaches decisions, always considering both short-term needs and long-term goals. She has experience guiding portfolios and helping organizations focus on what matters most. Her ability to simplify complex situations helps teams move forward with confidence.
Communication:
Communicating in a clear and direct way, making it easier for teams and stakeholders to stay aligned. She listens carefully and values different perspectives, which helps build trust. Her style supports open discussion and better decision-making across groups.
