Gaylene Xanthopoulos

CEO and Founder

“When I founded the company three decades ago, there were a few key principles that guided me. The work we did needed to make a difference. My goal was to develop greatness in others, not tell them what to do. I wanted to surround myself with a team of individuals and work with clients who were intelligent, positive, shared the company’s values and whom I would enjoy having over for dinner. Today, I am incredibly proud of the company we have built and feel privileged to partner with the most brilliant and innovative life science companies on the planet, profoundly impacting their pace, performance and culture as they discover life-changing medical solutions for us all. “

empathetic

capable

articulate

visionary

KEY GIGS:

Gaylene brings a broad understanding of business and the life science industry to every engagement. Her education at the Wharton School of Business, combined with her 30+ years working with leaders from science and technology, has given her the experience and resulting wisdom to confidently assess, guide and develop boards of directors, executives and managers in fast-paced, innovative, life science companies. She loves nothing more than assisting entrepreneurs in making their big ideas a reality. But don’t let this mislead you, she is a ton of fun and will make sure you laugh at least once a day.
Founded The Leadership Edge in 1989 and has built it into a company that develops the leaders in the most innovative and successful life science companies in the U.S. and Canada
She and her team have taught business skills to 7,500+ scientists, engineers and executives from over 1000 life science and technology companies
Her custom designed and developed Board Assessments have led to the strengthening of board practices and thoughtful board composition in public and privately held companies
She co-authored From the Laboratory to Leadership, Leveraging your Leadership, and is responsible for the development of program content that we utilize at The Leadership Edge
Gaylene has written numerous articles, is a contributing author to “A Women’s Way In Leadership,” and authored “Tips, Techniques and Strategies on Referrals“. She has presented on television and is in numerous vlogs
In addition to being a wife and mother of four, Gaylene is a businesswoman, professional trainer, facilitator, speaker, and published author

EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS:

B.S., Economics, Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania
Certified Meyers-Briggs Practitioner
Certified in numerous 360 Degree Feedback Assessments

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS & RECOGNITION:

2013 Athena Pinnacle Award, Individual in Services
Top 50 Businesses in San Diego, San Diego Business Journal
Top Ten Learning and Development Company, San Diego Business Journal
Women Who Mean Business Award, San Diego Business Journal
World Sales Leader of the Year, Leadership Management International (Waco, TX)
American Society for Training and Development
National Speakers Association
Member of Corporate Directors Forum
Member of Athena San Diego

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The Leadership Edge

ASSESS. GUIDE. DEVELOP.

Gaylene Xanthopoulos

CEO and Founder

empathetic

capable

articulate

visionary