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Rachel Strick
Head of Immunology Business Development & Acquisitions at AbbVie
Professional Background
Rachel Strick is an accomplished professional with a solid foundation in inorganic growth strategies within the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries. Currently serving as the Senior Director of Business Development & Acquisitions at AbbVie's Corporate Strategy Office, she plays a critical role in overseeing various mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and partnerships that span multiple therapeutic areas, including Oncology and Specialty fields such as Virology, Women’s Health, and Cystic Fibrosis. Moreover, she is focused on the exciting advancement of AI and machine learning-enabled drug discovery, which represents the cutting edge of pharmaceutical development.
Throughout her impressive career, Rachel has demonstrated a deep understanding of building effective relationships with external parties. She knows how to align those relationships with the internal priorities of her organization, a skill that is invaluable in the fast-paced world of pharmaceuticals. Her expertise enables her to lead initiatives that drive growth and innovation within AbbVie, ensuring that strategic partnerships and acquisitions are in line with company goals.
Prior to her current position, Rachel was actively involved in post-merger integration processes and played an essential role in concluding AbbVie’s successful spin-off from Abbott. Her experience includes conducting emerging markets opportunity screens and commercial assessments, as well as overseeing the commercial development of a late-stage pipeline asset in collaboration with key partners. This breadth of experience showcases her capability in navigating complex drug development and commercialization environments, ensuring that AbbVie remains at the forefront of industry leaders.
Education and Achievements
Rachel Strick's educational background is as robust as her career accomplishments. She pursued dual graduate studies at Stanford University Graduate School of Business, obtaining both an MBA and an MA degree that provided her with an exceptional grounding in business principles, strategic thinking, and analytical skills. It was during her time at Stanford that she honed her leadership capabilities, further enabling her to make significant contributions to her field.
Earlier in her academic journey, Rachel earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brown University, a prestigious institution known for its rigorous curriculum and emphasis on innovative thinking. The combination of these elite educational experiences prepared her for a dynamic career in the highly competitive pharmaceutical sector.
Key Strengths
Rachel possesses a range of key strengths that distinguish her as a leader in business development and acquisitions within her organization. She is known for her:
- Leadership Qualities: Rachel effectively combines listening, diplomacy, and persuasion with decisiveness and a bias for action, allowing her to navigate complex negotiations and inspire her teams to achieve challenging objectives.
- Communication Skills: Her ability to clearly create and deliver oral and written communications to diverse audiences—from sales representatives to CEOs—ensures that essential information is disseminated effectively, facilitating improved collaboration and understanding.
- Positive Attitude: An enthusiastic and optimistic outlook is a hallmark of Rachel's approach to work. She thrives when faced with challenging or ambiguous projects, viewing them as opportunities to innovate and solve problems.
Organizations and Roles
Throughout her career, Rachel has held various influential positions within AbbVie and other prestigious firms. Some of her notable roles include:
- Head of Immunology Business Development & Acquisitions at AbbVie, where she steered efforts to expand AbbVie’s portfolio in the immunology space, a crucial area for the company.
- Senior Director of Business Development & Acquisitions at AbbVie, a position that highlighted her strategic influence and leadership in managing key acquisitions and partnerships.
- Director of Licensing & Acquisitions at AbbVie, focusing on critical decisions regarding the acquisition and licensing of groundbreaking therapies.
- Director at the AbbVie Transition Office, playing a significant role during the pivotal launch phase post-spin-off from Abbott.
- Earlier roles such as Senior Product Manager for Bardoxolone in Global Pipeline Marketing/Commercial Development at Abbott demonstrate her strategic insight into managing pharmaceutical products from concept through commercialization.
- Additional experience as a Summer Consultant at The Boston Consulting Group, Junior Partner at Cambridge Strategic Advisors, and Consultant at Axia Limited reflects her extensive consulting background and strategic foresight.
- Rachel began her career as an Analyst/Senior Analyst at Cambridge Strategic Management Group/TMNG Strategy and as an Analyst at VDC, where she garnered foundational knowledge in strategic management and analysis that would serve her throughout her professional journey.
Achievements
Rachel Strick's impressive command of her fields is further highlighted by her key achievements that include leading critical M&A processes and partnerships that have significantly enhanced AbbVie's therapeutic portfolio. Her role in refinancing strategic partnerships and ensuring successful post-merger integrations has not only established her as a respected leader but also as a pivotal contributor to AbbVie’s ongoing success and expansion.
Her engagement in emerging market assessments has provided crucial insights into global opportunities, positioning AbbVie to extend its reach into new and diverse markets, ultimately enhancing the company's growth trajectory. Rachel's work in commercial strategy and pipeline management, particularly with high-potential late-stage assets, underscores her ability to drive innovation and meet market needs effectively.
Additionally, her contributions to AI and machine-learning initiatives in drug discovery emphasize her commitment to leveraging technology for improved healthcare solutions, illustrating her forward-thinking approach in an increasingly digital world. These achievements together underscore Rachel’s remarkable expertise in business development and strategy, reinforcing her position as a thought leader within the pharmaceutical industry.
In summary, Rachel Strick stands out as a highly educated and experienced leader in the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical sectors. Her strong leadership skills, strategic vision, and positive attitude toward all facets of her work have positioned her as an invaluable asset to AbbVie and the wider industry. As she continues to push the boundaries of M&A and partnership development, there is no doubt that she will make lasting contributions to the fields of medical science and corporate strategy.
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Clay is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Clay beneficial.
Clay offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Clay offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Clay's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
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