Verna McErlane

Verna began her career in cancer drug development in biotechnology and academic settings and came to appreciate the necessity of commercialisation as a means to turn new scientific developments directly into patient benefit. Verna sought the opportunity to develop her knowledge around not only how you build a company, but importantly how you lead and grow a global company of scale in Scotland. She was chosen to take part in the inaugural Saltire Foundation Fellowship programme in 2009.

After studying with her cohort at Babson College, Verna had Saltire work placements with Genzyme based in Cambridge, Massachusetts as well as Axis Shield based in Dundee, Scotland. Of her Fellowship experience Verna says: "Some of the people that we had the opportunity to work with there were some of the most inspiring and thought provoking people I have had the pleasure to meet. The fellowship program has been one of the most amazing, challenging and rewarding experiences of my life and I feel truly privileged to have been able to take part it. Now, as a member of the SF Alumni I remain closely linked to the SF and all its members which is an enviable business support network to have both locally and globally with the GlobalScots amongst others".

After completing the programme, Verna joined Sistemic a high growth company based in Glasgow as Director of Commercial Operations. Verna says: "In this year alone we have already seen an 82% increase from the same month a year ago so the company is going from strength to strength. I believe that without the skills that I developed during the Fellowship I would not have been able to do the job I do today. I continue to learn each day and also have the resource of the SF Alumni and my network to help me when I need some advice or just want to throw an idea around!"