Gaylene Xanthopoulos

CEO and Founder

“When I founded the company, over 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 cultures 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 her leadership role every day. Her focus is on the future. Her curiosity, love of learning, and creativity come together as she continually develops the strategies that build the bridge from today, to the company’s vision for its future. She provides our “true north” and the path to get us there. Her education at the Wharton School of Business, combined with her 36+ years guiding and developing the boards and leaders from science and technology, has given her the experience and resulting wisdom to confidently develop innovative organizational development solutions, strategic partnerships, and the adoption of new technologies and approaches to learning and development that positively impact the pace and performance of our incredible clients.
She led the recent acquisition of 2Connect, a globally recognized communications and presentation skills training firm. By combining The Leadership Edge’s depth in leadership and organizational development with 2Connect’s proven communications and presentation expertise, life science companies and other highly-technical industries now have access to a single source partner that is uniquely positioned to support their companies through each stage of growth.
Gaylene loves her continued work as an executive coach and thought partner with select executives and board members who are purpose driven, high performing leaders in fast-paced, innovative, life science companies. She thoroughly enjoys 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 an award-winning company that has developed over 8,000 board members, leaders, managers and their teams from over 1,000 of the most innovative and successful life science companies in the world.
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.

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:

2025 Finalist CEO Of The Year, San Diego Business Journal
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)
Published author and guest expert on television, podcasts and vlogs

MORE TEAM MEMBERS

The Leadership Edge Acquires 2Connect

The Leadership Edge

ASSESS. GUIDE. DEVELOP.

Gaylene Xanthopoulos

CEO and Founder

empathetic

capable

articulate

visionary