Designing a Scientific Advisory Board for Strategic Lift
Transforming an Underused Scientific Advisory Board into a Strategic Asset
How do you build and activate a Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) that reflects a renewed product strategy, new company structure and goals, closes expertise gaps, and supports upcoming fundraising?
When a Series A biotech needed to transform its underutilized SAB into a strategic asset, I was brought in as a fractional chief of staff to provide clarity, structure, and a board-building roadmap.
A Series A biotechnology company was rethinking its Scientific Advisory Board. While it had a few members on paper, the board has not met consistently, wasn’t aligned with the company’s evolving priorities, steep growth trajectory and wasn’t delivering value to meet objectives of tomorrow. The company was in continued product development, international expansion, and evolving organizational structure. The COO needed a rapid, strategic way to evaluate and rebuild the SAB to reflect the company’s current growth stage and goals.
As a fractional chief of staff, I was brought in for a targeted strategy conversation to provide real-time insights on how to reshape an existing SAB into a value-driving function. My role was to help the COO think through the strategic role of the board, reframe its purpose, and provide a framework for action.
Actions & Initiatives:
Led real-time strategy session with COO to define future board purpose and design
Advised on optimal SAB size (6–9 members) and cadence
Identified priority domains to link roles to business goals
Helped distinguish scientific vs. industry needs in membership selection
Outcomes:
“Board Value Map” developed and adopted to guide recruitment to match company’s strategy
Created a skills-first selection model based on product pipeline, fundraising goals, growth and risk
Developed a clear decision framework for prioritizing domains and profiles for COO to align on SAB structure and selection criteria with the executive team
Reframed the SAB from "names on paper" to a strategic function with defined purpose, and critical expertise to give credibility boost for upcoming fundraising
As a Chief of Staff, I did not just operationalize, I unlocked clarity in moments that matter. This case shows how on-demand engagement brought executive alignment, clear direction, and a plan to activate high-value advisors.
Curious if a fractional Chief of Staff could sharpen your next strategic move - and stay alongside you as you scale? Let’s explore what a 4–12 week engagement could unlock for your team.
Need help shaping governance? Identifying and vetting board candidates? Facilitating warm introductions or running a strategic interview process? I bring the structure, precision, and executive rhythm to help you move fast with clarity.
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