The Best CPOs Don’t Just Support the Strategy—They Shape It.
Coaching to help you bridge the gap between people strategy and business results—from someone whose been there.
The CPO Role Has Changed
Today's CPOs are expected to be business leaders first. They help shape strategy, influence enterprise decisions, navigate organizational change, and partner closely with CEOs and boards.
That shift is exciting. It's also demanding.
I work with Chief People Officers and senior HR leaders in biotech and pharma who want to strengthen their business acumen, expand their influence, and lead more effectively at the executive table.
As a former biotech Chief People Officer myself, I understand both the opportunities and the realities of the role.
Common coaching topics include:
Building credibility with CEOs and executive teams
Expanding business and financial acumen
Increasing influence across the organization
Leading through growth, restructuring, or change
Navigating board and investor expectations
Developing executive presence
Moving from functional leadership to enterprise leadership
“25 years into my career, and the 6 months I worked with Angela was a transformative experience.”
Angela Justice, PhD—multi-time award-winning CPO and experienced biotech executive.
I've Sat in This Seat
I know the weight of this role because I've lived it.
Before becoming an executive coach, I spent years leading in biotech, including serving as a Chief People Officer. I've sat at the executive table, navigated difficult decisions, managed competing priorities, and experienced the pressure that comes with helping shape an organization's future.
The role has changed. Today's Chief People Officers are expected to think like business leaders, influence enterprise decisions, partner closely with CEOs and boards, and connect people strategy to business results.
That's why my coaching isn't based on theory alone. It's informed by what actually happens when leadership decisions have real consequences.
The leaders I coach don't just survive the pressure. They build stronger partnerships with CEOs and peers, expand their influence, and stop carrying the burden alone.
My role is part strategic thought partner, part honest mirror, and part sounding board. The goal isn't simply to help you succeed in the role. It's to help you lead with greater confidence, judgment, and impact.
“I now know I have a rightful place at the decision-making table—and I’m showing up that way.”
— Fiona I., VP, People & Organization, Global Biotech
What Biotech CEOs Actually Want From Their CPO
Based on interviews with 20+ biotech CEOs, this whitepaper examines what CEOs expect from Chief People Officers at the executive table—from business acumen and enterprise leadership to strategic influence and CEO partnership.
Use it to understand how the CPO role is changing, where HR leaders often lose traction, and what it takes to be seen as a true business leader.
"This is something that I think many a CEO and CPO will use as a source of reference for many years to come."
— Jo Viney, CEO, President, Cofounder - Seismic Therapeutics
Further Reading for Strategic HR Leaders
A few practical perspectives on business influence, decision-making, and the evolving role of HR leadership.
“Angela is a rare strategic thought partner… coaching with her transforms how you think, act, and lead.”
— SM, Founder & CEO
If you’re a Chief People Officer—or thinking like one—this isn’t theory. It’s the real playbook for aligning HR with business, earning trust, and moving faster with less noise.