Colleen Stugard
VP, Industry Relations
AvevoRx
20+ Years in Healthcare
“Leadership is not about having all the answers; it's about listening, learning, and empowering others to succeed alongside you.”
A Career Built Across Healthcare
Colleen Stugard entered healthcare because she wanted work that could have a direct impact on people’s lives and well-being. Over more than two decades, that purpose has taken her through biotech, specialty pharmacy and infusion.
Rather than seeing each transition as starting over, Colleen has embraced the opportunity to learn another dimension of healthcare and add it to the experience she already carries.
Today, her role in Industry Relations at AvevoRx allows her to influence strategies that support access to medications, strengthen providers and bring together the products and partnerships necessary for growth.
Relationships That Shape a Career
Ask Colleen what has been most rewarding about her career, and she points to the friendships she has made throughout her career:
“The friendships that I have made along the way! The women in specialty pharmacy, biotech, infusion, etc are an incredible bunch!”
One of those friendships was with Monica Leonard, Colleen’s first industry friend and colleague. Watching Monica navigate her own career with resilience and authenticity provided an example that stayed with Colleen as her responsibilities grew.
Colleen’s own experience establishing credibility taught her the importance of expertise and accountability, but also of mentors and allies. Importantly, she credits both women and men with supporting her—a reminder that creating opportunities for women in healthcare leadership is strengthened by people willing to advocate for talent.
Building Teams Through Trust
Colleen has built and maintained sales teams from the ground up, and she takes particular pride in the trust and lasting relationships created within them. For Colleen, effective leadership starts with understanding the people you lead.
“Leadership is not about having all the answers; it's about listening, learning, and empowering others to succeed alongside you. Always understand what drives each individual on your team to succeed.”
Understanding what motivates people allows a leader to empower them rather than simply manage them.
Connecting People With Possibility
Colleen has also experienced personally how consequential healthcare relationships can become. When her father faced a serious medical situation, professional connections helped her family reach people who could assist when answers were urgently needed.
The experience reinforced what her career had already taught her: relationships across healthcare are not merely commercial connections. At critical moments, connecting people, expertise and resources can have profound consequences.
Looking ahead, Colleen wants to continue helping improve the connection between patients, providers and access to treatment.
“I hope to continue helping bridge the gaps between access to infusion therapies, providers, and patients while enhancing the overall patient experience.”
What Defines Her Leadership
Building trusted relationships that connect people, opportunities and better access to care.