Marla Persky is a Strategic Advisor and Coach at BarkerGilmore with more than 20 years of experience leading global pharmaceutical, medical device, diagnostic, biologic, and OTC product businesses and legal departments. Her areas of expertise include strategic planning and execution, organizational design, ROI optimization, crisis and risk management, and governance within highly regulated industries. She is a skilled communicator, leader, and consensus builder who listens attentively and forges common understanding to drive the best decision-making and implementation. Marla is also an invaluable advisor on leadership, organizational management, talent management, board governance, and succession planning.

Marla has served on numerous boards throughout her career. She currently serves as Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee for the Board of Directors at clinical-stage pharmaceutical company, Panavance Therapeutics Inc.; on the Audit and Strategic Planning Committees of the Board of Directors of medical technology company, YGEIA; as a Member of the Audit Committee and Chair, Nominating/Governance Committee for Xeris Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; and as a Member of the Board of Directors of REVOLO Biotherapeutics. She is a Trustee, Chair of the Investment Committee, and a Member of the Audit Committee for World Neighbors; Director and President of the board for Primary Stages; and Director, Chair of the Audit Committee, and a Member of the Governance and Patient Access Committees for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Marla was also previously on the boards of Watermark Publishing, Inc., Cytyc Corporation, and Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation. A frequent speaker on leadership principles, mentoring, diversity, crisis management, and negotiation techniques, Marla additionally serves as CEO and President of WOMN LLC, an organization dedicated to increasing diversity in the legal profession and helping women and minority attorneys succeed in the business of law.

Marla earned her B.S. in Speech Studies from Northwestern University and her J.D. from Washington University in Saint Louis University School of Law.

Diversity & Inclusion, Executive Search, Leadership Development, Organizational Strategy, Succession Management

Marla Persky was Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary for Boehringer Ingelheim USA, where she oversaw a 70-member department. She was also a member of Boehringer’s executive management team and a director of the company and several of its subsidiaries. Before joining Boehringer Ingelheim, Marla spent 19 years at Baxter International Inc., where she held numerous business and legal positions, most recently Global General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. During her tenure, Marla managed global legal services, led international crisis management teams, acquired and integrated international businesses, and designed and implemented legal strategies to manage global mass torts. Before Baxter, Marla practiced law with the Chicago firm of Lurie, Sklar & Simon. Prior to entering the practice of law, she worked in sales and marketing for the Colgate-Palmolive Company.

Healthcare & Life Sciences, Technology, Consumer