Marisa Graziano is a transformative business leader, strategist, and mentor whose career spans over three decades in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and consumer packaged goods industries. With a deep-rooted passion for building high-impact teams and optimizing organizational capabilities, Marisa has consistently guided Fortune 500 enterprises and mission-driven nonprofits toward meaningful and measurable growth. Her personal mission—to inspire others to create effective solutions for important problems—has been the driving force behind her success in both the corporate and philanthropic sectors.
Marisa began her journey in the sciences, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame, where she was named a Notre Dame Scholar. Her analytical acumen and technical mindset laid the foundation for her future in marketing and strategic development. She advanced her education at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, earning an MBA in Marketing while serving as a Marketing Teaching Assistant. These formative experiences gave Marisa a rare blend of quantitative precision and creative insight—traits that would define her leadership style for years to come.
Her career at Johnson & Johnson is a remarkable testament to sustained impact and innovative thinking. Spanning nearly two decades, Marisa held pivotal roles across the pharmaceutical, biotech, and consumer health divisions. From leading blockbuster brand strategies to spearheading digital transformations, her contributions were wide-ranging and deeply influential. As Director of Marketing for Global Strategic Immunology, she orchestrated professional and patient marketing strategies for SIMPONI and helped shape communication strategies at key global medical congresses such as ACR and EULAR.
Marisa’s impact expanded dramatically in her role as Director of Franchise Digital Marketing Platforms, where she pioneered customer loyalty strategies for brands like Stelara and Remicade. Her efforts garnered her the coveted DTC Marketer of the Year Award in 2011, recognizing her ability to drive engagement through personalized, omnichannel experiences. These innovations in CRM and digital strategy marked a turning point in how pharmaceutical brands built relationships with both providers and patients.
Her strategic acumen culminated in her leadership as Director of Marketing Excellence and Marketing Development, where she developed and embedded key frameworks across the Janssen NA organization. Marisa introduced transformative capabilities such as the Market Access Excellence and Value Excellence frameworks, aligning cross-functional teams behind unified launch, access, and value strategies. During her tenure, she played a central role in the portfolio strategy development for multiple high-impact products, including the COVID-19 vaccine, gene therapy platforms, and oncology therapies across bladder, lung, and multiple myeloma indications.
In her final corporate role at Johnson & Johnson, Marisa was appointed Head of Learning and Development, Strategy and Innovation for Janssen Pharmaceuticals. There, she led a major L&D centralization effort and served as an active participant on the J&J Learn Council, aligning global learning technologies with the evolving needs of the commercial and medical teams. Her initiatives in mentoring, coaching, and curriculum design directly influenced the growth of talent across the organization and reinforced the culture of lifelong learning.
Since launching her own consultancy—Marisa Graziano LLC—she has continued to empower organizations with her expertise in marketing strategy, omnichannel transformation, and enterprise capability building. Drawing on her years of leadership experience, Marisa advises clients on aligning individual skills with organizational goals, enabling both talent and business to flourish. She partners with executive teams to define purpose-driven strategies that not only drive results but also foster an environment of innovation and collaboration.
Beyond her professional life, Marisa channels her leadership into community-focused endeavors. She serves as Vice President of the Board for Marvin’s Home, a nonprofit dedicated to furnishing homes for youth aging out of foster care. She also holds the position of Secretary on the Board of Directors for the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), where she applies her strategic mindset to enhance outreach and fundraising. These roles reflect Marisa’s unwavering commitment to giving back and driving change on both individual and systemic levels.
Marisa is also an experienced speaker and advocate for lifelong learning. She has presented at major industry events such as the LTEN Conference, where she shared insights on learning optimization, organizational capability development, and the power of design thinking in solving complex business challenges. Fluent in written and spoken Italian, she brings a global perspective to every boardroom and advisory table she joins.
Today, Marisa is actively exploring opportunities to serve on advisory boards and nonprofit committees where her expertise can make a lasting impact. Her ability to unite cross-functional teams, architect strategic roadmaps, and mentor emerging leaders positions her as an invaluable asset to any organization navigating transformation. Grounded in values and propelled by a clear purpose, she is a catalyst for change who leads with both intellect and heart.
Character:
Marisa is guided by a strong sense of purpose and a commitment to making a meaningful difference in both her professional and personal endeavors. She consistently demonstrates compassion through her community service, board work, and mentoring relationships. Her integrity and dedication to ethical leadership serve as an inspiration to colleagues and partners alike.
Knowledge:
With 30 years of experience across pharma, biotech, and consumer sectors, Marisa has cultivated deep subject matter expertise in marketing, learning, and strategic planning. Her academic pedigree from Notre Dame and Wharton underscores a lifelong dedication to mastering complex systems. She continuously updates her knowledge base through consulting, public speaking, and organizational coaching.
Strategic:
Marisa excels in creating alignment between vision and execution, helping organizations define their purpose while delivering tangible outcomes. Her frameworks for marketing excellence and value strategy have shaped enterprise capabilities across global markets. Whether launching new products or optimizing talent systems, she brings a holistic, systems-thinking approach to every initiative.
Communication:
An expert communicator and storyteller, Marisa inspires action through clarity, empathy, and authenticity. Her presentations, leadership programs, and marketing strategies are all infused with a strong narrative voice that connects with diverse audiences. She is as skilled at listening and mentoring as she is at leading from the front.
