GLG Institute Events

About GLG Institute Events

GLG Institute events are designed to create a candid environment for executives to share challenges and insights in a trusted and confidential space. These are off-the-record and invite-only events.

Ascend: The Essential Leadership Experience

Deepen leadership competencies required to succeed in the C-suite beyond business strategy and domain expertise. In this four-part leadership series, GLG Institute Advisors with deep operating experience will share their wisdom on navigating the biggest challenges facing senior executives today.

Roundtables
 

Get multiple perspectives to act with confidence on complex decisions by connecting in a small interactive group setting with trusted Advisors and peers. Roundtables are offered either virtually or in-person with dinner.

Annual In-Person Summit
 

Foster connections and inspire action by convening with Advisors and peer participants across organizations for one to two days of highly interactive, off-the-record discussions about top industry and leadership issues.

Ascend: The Essential Leadership Experience

Past Event

Effective Leadership in Challenging Times with Karen Boykin-Towns & Tamara Jacobs

Occurred Wednesday, October 15, 2025

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Past Event

Strategy Planning Amidst Regulatory Uncertainty with Hilary Malone & Thomas Lönngren

Occurred Wednesday, November 12, 2025

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Roundtables and Dinners

Past Event

HR Event with Sheri McCoy & Dr. Zhen Su

Remote Roundtable

Occurred Tuesday, September 30, 2025

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Past Event

Fall Dinner with Sheri McCoy & Paul Sekhri

Boston, Massachusetts

Occurred Wednesday, October 22, 2025

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Past Event

Fall Dinner with Dr. Jean-Paul Kress

Paris, France

Occureed Thursday October 23, 2025

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Speaker Biographies

Karen Boykin-Towns is a results-driven strategist; intrepid bridge builder; and social justice champion. Karen is a dynamic business executive, decisive board member, and driver of strategic results. With expertise that spans the corporate, community, and coupled with experience leading an array of policy, government sectors — communication and change management initiatives — she brings to board service a uniquely integrated approach. ​

In her 22-year career at Pfizer, a Fortune 50 global biopharmaceutical company, Karen held leadership roles in government relations, policy, and human resources. In her last position as vice president of corporate affairs for Pfizer’s $34 billion innovative medicines business, she supported then-global president Albert Bourla, now company chair and CEO, in ensuring breakthrough medicines were available to patients worldwide. Currently, Karen is president and CEO of Encore Strategies LLC, a strategic public affairs consulting firm providing informed guidance to corporations, not-for-profits, and individuals. She has served a range of clients who are at the forefront of innovation, such as DKMS, an international organization dedicated to fighting blood cancer; Zoetis, the world’s leading animal health company; and the city of New York, as it explored progressive initiatives for economic development. ​
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Karen has channeled her executive experience into dedicated service on corporate boards. Currently, she is an independent board director for iFlT Health & Fitness Inc., the world leader in interactive connected health and fitness with 6.1 million members and $1.7 billion in annual revenue. As a board member, she has applied her well-honed skills in risk management to navigate critical turning points for the company, from pursuit of an initial public offering and transition to a new CEO, to board refreshment, divestiture of key assets, and a successful company turnaround. Sought after for her nuanced understanding of diverse communities, Karen was appointed to the American Airlines Community Council, where she provides expertise in improving the flying experience for Black travelers. The Council works with the CEO on issues Karen has effectively addressed throughout her career: representation, crisis management, and inclusive marketing. Her board service extends also to the nonprofit realm. As vice chair of the board of directors for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization, Karen brings to the board her dual perspective as a veteran business leader and a seasoned community advocate. With her strategic voice and future-focused approach, she has been instrumental in modernizing and mobilizing the legacy organization — from diversifying revenue streams to developing compelling content for social media platforms and leveraging relationships for greater impact.​

Karen received an MBA in business administration from Baruch College of the City University of New York, along with a BA in business administration and management from the College of Mount Saint Vincent.

Tamara Jacobs, Founder and President of a highly successful strategic communications consulting firm, is an internationally recognized expert in the field of building and delivering powerful presentations, as well as image, product, and corporate branding. She is a Certified Professional Coach, recognized by the World Coach Institute, author of Be The Brand, and her latest best seller, from Career Press, Your Ultimate Success Plan.​

Ms. Jacobs has conducted over 3,000 keynote addresses and workshops, appearing on such national television programs as ABC World News Tonight, MSNBC, Inside Edition, Entertainment Tonight, Your World with Neil Cavuto, and Fox News. Her articles on personal branding have been featured in such popular magazines as Fast Company, Fortune, Family Circle, Victoria Magazine, Woman’s Day and Woman’s World. She has been interviewed by the New York Times and is a regular contributor to the Huffington Post.​

Tamara is a former judge for the Miss America Pageant and Member Emeritus of The Women’s Leadership Board, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.​

Before starting her own company, Ms. Jacobs was a television anchorwoman for all 3 of the major network affiliates (winning an Emmy for her superior reporting), going on to serve as a successful senior executive consultant with Johnson & Johnson. She has a diverse roster of Fortune 500 clients, including Amgen, Bayer, BlackRock, BMS, Citigroup, Coty, Inc., Fashion Institute of Technology, Johnson &Johnson, JPMorgan Chase, Liz Claiborne, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer and Revlon.

Speaker Biographies

Marie-Anne Aymerich

Marie-Anne has built a portfolio of senior advisory and non-executive roles, following a successful international career in the FMCG and Luxury sectors. She is a non-executive director of Haleon, a FTSE100 company listed in 2022 after the demerger from GSK. She is also chairwoman of Haleon Environment and Societal Sustainability committee. She is the executive director of the Pierre Fabre Group where she also sits on the Strategic Committee, and she is a Board Member of The Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, one of the world’s most prestigious chamber orchestras. She is also an angel investor and focuses her time and investments on start-ups with the strongest purpose and impact.

Marie-Anne is also a regular lecturer at HEC Paris on purposeful leadership, and she has created a serious game called “Planet Purpose” to upskill people on sustainability and purpose. Throughout her 35year executive career she delivered a strong track-record of business performance and growth in brands and portfolio in both developed and emerging economies.

As a senior leader with Unilever, she led a number of different personal care categories across France, Spain and the USA – including managing the Dove brand worldwide and culminating in leading Unilever’s global Oral Care division. She also worked for LVMH as Brand General Manager of Dior Perfumes and Cosmetics worldwide. Marie-Anne was also Vice-President of Imagine for Margo – Children with Cancer for ten years, a charity she helped found in 2011 with the goal of eradicating children’s cancer. The charity is the #1 charity focused on child cancer in France and has fundraised more than €14m since its creation. Marie-Anne is a graduate from HEC Paris. She is married and has two children aged 29 and 26.

Patrick Jephson

Patrick Jephson is a consultant, journalist, broadcaster and New York Times bestselling author, based in Washington D.C. He is a published authority on corporate and personal branding and crisis communications, addressing conferences worldwide as well as events at the U.S. State Department, the American University and the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.

With more than twenty-five years’ experience in the government, luxury and family office sectors, Patrick’s portfolio has included globally admired brands as well as national agencies and NGOs. He has also worked on reputation and legacy briefs with European, Middle Eastern and Asian families, including royalty. He now writes, presents, and advises on factual and drama TV programs, appearing on every major American and many international networks. He was recently an expert consultant to the award-winning Netflix series The Crown and provided live commentary on the Coronation of King Charles.

Patrick owes much of his practical communications and protocol experience to Princess Diana, who chose him to be her equerry and only private secretary/chief of staff. He served the Princess for eight years, responsible for all aspects of her public life, global humanitarian initiatives, and private organization. Having worked for an internationally high-profile woman (and as the father of two professionally successful daughters) he feels a special affinity for cross-cultural, gender and perception issues.

Patrick was born and raised in Ireland and holds a master’s degree in political science from Cambridge University. As an officer in the British Royal Navy, he served all over the world before being selected for royal duty. He is a citizen of the U.K., U.S.A., Ireland, and Canada.

Speaker Biographies

Hilary Malone PhD, has over 25 years of experience in global drug development, regulatory &government affairs, manufacturing and commercialization within the biopharma industry. Hilary hassignificant board level and executive committee experience including large scale organizationalrestructuring/transformation/integration, major M&A, biotech start-up, capital raising, investorrelations and pre-IPO.​

Hilary is currently CEO of Stylus Medicine, a private genetic medicine biotech company. Previously sheserved as CEO of a Series-A neuroscience company. Prior to these roles, Hilary served as COO & EVP atValo Health Inc., Chief Regulatory Officer & SVP at Sanofi Inc., and Chief Regulatory Officer & SVP atPfizer and Wyeth. Previous experience also includes senior regulatory and drug development roles atReata Pharmaceuticals Inc., AstraZeneca plc and GlaxoSmithKline plc.​

Hilary also serves on the Board of Directors of Hansa Biopharma and Adthera Bio. Hilary holds a PhD inMolecular Neuropharmacology and a BSc in Physiology.

Dr. Thomas Lönngren is Director at his own company PharmaExec Consulting AB. He is the Chairman of the Board of directors at Egetis Therapeutics AB, Sweden. Dr Lönngren also serves as board member at Compass Pathways PLC, London UK and NDA Group, Sweden. He acts as advisor to the following companies and organizations: NDA group, Sweden, Sweden, Artis Venture, San Francisco, US, Fujimoto Japan, Skin2Neuron Pty Ltd, Sydney, Australia, US, Special advisor to the Centre for Innovation in Regulatory Science (CIRS), London UK. From 2001 until2011, Mr.Lönngren served as the Executive Director of the European Medical Agency. He was previously Deputy General Director of the Swedish Medical Product Agency until 2000. He has a degree in pharmacy and MSc in Social and Regulatory Pharmacy from Uppsala University. He is also an Honorary Member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in Great Britain, Honorary Doctorate from the University of Uppsala, Honorary Doctorate from University of Bath, UK.

Speaker Biographies

Marie-Anne Aymerich

Marie-Anne has built a portfolio of senior advisory and non-executive roles, following a successful international career in the FMCG and Luxury sectors. She is a non-executive director of Haleon, a FTSE100 company listed in 2022 after the demerger from GSK. She is also chairwoman of Haleon Environment and Societal Sustainability committee. She is the executive director of the Pierre Fabre Group where she also sits on the Strategic Committee, and she is a Board Member of The Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, one of the world’s most prestigious chamber orchestras. She is also an angel investor and focuses her time and investments on start-ups with the strongest purpose and impact.

Marie-Anne is also a regular lecturer at HEC Paris on purposeful leadership, and she has created a serious game called “Planet Purpose” to upskill people on sustainability and purpose. Throughout her 35year executive career she delivered a strong track-record of business performance and growth in brands and portfolio in both developed and emerging economies.

As a senior leader with Unilever, she led a number of different personal care categories across France, Spain and the USA – including managing the Dove brand worldwide and culminating in leading Unilever’s global Oral Care division. She also worked for LVMH as Brand General Manager of Dior Perfumes and Cosmetics worldwide. Marie-Anne was also Vice-President of Imagine for Margo – Children with Cancer for ten years, a charity she helped found in 2011 with the goal of eradicating children’s cancer. The charity is the #1 charity focused on child cancer in France and has fundraised more than €14m since its creation. Marie-Anne is a graduate from HEC Paris. She is married and has two children aged 29 and 26.

Patrick Jephson

Patrick Jephson is a consultant, journalist, broadcaster and New York Times bestselling author, based in Washington D.C. He is a published authority on corporate and personal branding and crisis communications, addressing conferences worldwide as well as events at the U.S. State Department, the American University and the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.

With more than twenty-five years’ experience in the government, luxury and family office sectors, Patrick’s portfolio has included globally admired brands as well as national agencies and NGOs. He has also worked on reputation and legacy briefs with European, Middle Eastern and Asian families, including royalty. He now writes, presents, and advises on factual and drama TV programs, appearing on every major American and many international networks. He was recently an expert consultant to the award-winning Netflix series The Crown and provided live commentary on the Coronation of King Charles.

Patrick owes much of his practical communications and protocol experience to Princess Diana, who chose him to be her equerry and only private secretary/chief of staff. He served the Princess for eight years, responsible for all aspects of her public life, global humanitarian initiatives, and private organization. Having worked for an internationally high-profile woman (and as the father of two professionally successful daughters) he feels a special affinity for cross-cultural, gender and perception issues.

Patrick was born and raised in Ireland and holds a master’s degree in political science from Cambridge University. As an officer in the British Royal Navy, he served all over the world before being selected for royal duty. He is a citizen of the U.K., U.S.A., Ireland, and Canada.

Women’s Health & Innovation Leadership Dialogue with Jessica Federer

Jessica Federer is an investor, board member for public and private companies, and a globally recognized leader in digital transformation, health technologies and women’s health. Previously, she was the Chief Digital Officer for one of the world’s largest life sciences companies, leading the enterprise-wide digital transformation for Bayer A.G. across the Pharmaceutical, Consumer Care, Crop Science, and Animal Health businesses. Jessica is an external senior advisor for McKinsey and has advised both Fortune Global 100 companies and industry disrupting start-ups. During the pandemic, she joined Europe’s fastest growing digital health company as Managing Director, building a U.S. team and expanding into decentralized clinical trials for international Covid-19 vaccine studies.

Jessica also serves on the board of Angelini Ventures, a Rome-based fund investing in biotech and digital health and was previously a general partner at an established Boston based VC. She chairs the Health of Women Investor Summit, convening investors representing trillions in investment capital, and serves on both the Yale Ventures Blavatnik Advisor board and the Yale Institutional Review Board. Jessica was on the United Nations International Telecommunications Union m-powering development advisory board and the BHP Science and Innovation Advisory Council.

Jessica is recognized as a 2023 “Icon” by Rock Health, a Health Equity Champion, and one of the top 100 CDOs. She began her public health career at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality in the US Department of Health and Human Services. She earned a Bachelor of Science from The George Washington University, and a Master of Public Health from Yale.

HR Event with Sheri McCoy & Dr. Zhen Su

Sheri McCoy is former Chief Executive Officer and director of Avon Products, Inc. Prior to Avon, Ms. McCoy had a distinguished 30-year career at Johnson & Johnson serving as Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee, responsible for the Pharmaceutical and Consumer business segments that represented more than 60 percent of the company’s revenues. 

Sheri joined Johnson & Johnson as a scientist in research and development and subsequently managed businesses in every major product sector, including consumer, prescription medicines and medical devices where she held roles including Worldwide Chairman, Pharmaceuticals Group and Worldwide Chairman Surgical Care Group. Ms. McCoy has experience in mergers and acquisitions and management of complex global structures. 

Sheri currently serves on the public boards of AstraZeneca PLC, a global, science-led biopharmaceutical business; Stryker, a Medical Device company; and Kimberly-Clark,a global consumer products company.  She also serves on the private boards of Galderma, an integrated dermatology company; Parexel, a global Clinical Research Organization; and Laronde, a Flagship Pioneering company focused on endless RNA. Sheri also works as an Industrial Advisor for EQT Partners.  

Ms. McCoy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in textile chemistry from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, a master’s degree in chemical engineering from Princeton University, and an MBA from Rutgers University. She holds four U.S. patents and she has been on Fortune magazine’s “50 Most Powerful Women in Business” list.

Zhen Su, M.D., M.B.A.  Dr. Su has served as Chief Executive Officer of Marengo Therapeutics, Inc. (“Marengo”), a clinical-stage biotechnology company, since July 2021. Prior to joining Marengo, Dr. Su served as Senior Vice President and U.S. & Global Head of Oncology Business Franchise of Merck KGaA, a multinational science and technology company, from July 2020 to July 2021 and served as Senior Vice President, Global Head of Oncology Business Franchise from 2019 to May 2021. Dr. Su served as Chief Medical Officer of EMD Serono, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, from 2017 to 2019.

Dr. Su also held leadership roles with increasing responsibility at Sanofi Oncology, a global healthcare company, and GSK, a global biopharmaceutical company. Before his industry career, Dr. Su served on the faculty of Duke University Medical School, where he led early oncology clinical studies focusing on mRNA-based and cell-based immunotherapy and then the University of Florida, where he was the director of the Cell and Gene Therapy program.

Dr. Su has served as a member of the board of directors of Kayropharm Therapeutics, Inc., a public biopharmaceutical company, since September 2023, a member of the board of directors of CytomX Therapeutics, Inc., a public biopharmaceutical company, since March 2024 and a member of the board of directors of Marengo since July 2021. Dr. Su received his Doctor of Medicine from Technical University of Dresden in Germany and his M.B.A. from the University of Toronto in Canada.

Fall Dinner with Sheri McCoy & Paul Sekhri

Sheri McCoy is former Chief Executive Officer and director of Avon Products, Inc. Prior to Avon, Ms. McCoy had a distinguished 30-year career at Johnson & Johnson serving as Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee, responsible for the Pharmaceutical and Consumer business segments that represented more than 60 percent of the company’s revenues. 

Sheri joined Johnson & Johnson as a scientist in research and development and subsequently managed businesses in every major product sector, including consumer, prescription medicines and medical devices where she held roles including Worldwide Chairman, Pharmaceuticals Group and Worldwide Chairman Surgical Care Group. Ms. McCoy has experience in mergers and acquisitions and management of complex global structures. 

Sheri currently serves on the public boards of AstraZeneca PLC, a global, science-led biopharmaceutical business; Stryker, a Medical Device company; and Kimberly-Clark,a global consumer products company.  She also serves on the private boards of Galderma, an integrated dermatology company; Parexel, a global Clinical Research Organization; and Laronde, a Flagship Pioneering company focused on endless RNA. Sheri also works as an Industrial Advisor for EQT Partners.  

Ms. McCoy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in textile chemistry from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, a master’s degree in chemical engineering from Princeton University, and an MBA from Rutgers University. She holds four U.S. patents and she has been on Fortune magazine’s “50 Most Powerful Women in Business” list.

Mr. Sekhri has over 35 years of experience in the Life Science Industry. His experience​ encompasses senior management in large corporate pharmaceutical and biotechnology​ companies, as well as private equity and venture capital.​

​Mr. Sekhri is President and Chief Executive Officer of vTv Therapeutics, Inc. Most​recently he served as President and CEO of eGenesis, Inc. from 2019-2022 where he was a Board Member and Senior Advisor to the Chairman until 2024. Prior to joining eGenesis, he was President and CEO of Lycera Corp. from 2015-2019. Prior to this, he served as Senior Vice President, Integrated Care for Sanofi from 2014-2015.

Previously,​ he served as Chief Strategy Officer and Group Executive Vice President, Global Business Development for Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd.​ Prior to joining Teva, he spent five years as Operating Partner and Head of the​ Biotechnology Operating Group at TPG Biotech, the life sciences venture capital arm of​ TPG Capital. From 2004-2009, Mr. Sekhri was Founder, President, and Chief Executive​ Officer of Cerimon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Prior to founding Cerimon, Mr. Sekhri was​ President and Chief Business Officer of ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Previously, Mr.​ Sekhri spent five years at Novartis as Senior Vice President, and Head of Global Search​ and Evaluation, Business Development and Licensing for Novartis Pharma AG.​ Mr. Sekhri has been a Director on more than 35 private, public company, and non-profit​ Boards and is currently a member of the Board of Directors of Veeva Systems,​ Chair of the Board at Compugen Ltd., and Kaerus Bioscience. He is also on the Board​ of AdhereTech Inc.

He was, until recently, the Chairman of the Board of Pharming​ N.V. and was also Chair of the Board of Longboard, Inc. until its recent sale to​ Lundbeck. He also spent 5 years on the Board of Ipsen, S.A. Additionally, he is on the​ Board of Directors of The Metropolitan Opera, and was a member of the Board of​ Trustees of Carnegie Hall. Most recently, he was nominated as Chairman of the Board​ of Trustees of Young Concert Artists, Inc.​

Fall Dinner with Dr. Jean-Paul Kress

Dr. Jean-Paul Kress, M.D. has spent the last 30 years leading transformative change across biotech and pharmaceutical companies, leveraging his experience as a trained physician to create meaningful progress for patients. ​

​Jean-Paul has most recently been appointed Chairman and CEO of Vor Bio. Prior to this, he served as the CEO of MorphoSys from 2019 until it was acquired in 2024 for 2.7 billion Euros by Novartis. He led the company in its mission – More life for people with cancer – and has spearheaded its strategic and cultural transformation into a global biopharmaceutical company developing and commercializing novel cancer medicines. ​

Prior to joining MorphoSys, Jean-Paul was the CEO of Syntimmune, where he sharpened the company’s focus on late-stage clinical development in auto-immune diseases, resulting in its acquisition by Alexion. He has held several senior leadership roles at other pharmaceutical companies in the US and in Europe, including Biogen, Sanofi, Gilead and AbbVie. ​

​Jean-Paul is a member of Sanofi’s Board of Directors. Previously, he was the Chair of the Board of Directors at Erytech Pharma and a member of Sarepta Therapeutics’ Board of Directors.​

Jean-Paul received his M.D. from Faculté Necker-Enfants Malades in Paris and Master of Sciences in molecular and cellular pharmacology from Ecole normale supérieure (Ulm) in Paris.​