Linda Sierra is Bench International’s SVP of Business Development and a prominent Latino Life Science and Healthcare Leader. With more than thirty years of experience in the Life Sciences industry, Linda spent the first eighteen years in Human Resources and stock plan administration with five biotechnology companies in both the San Diego and South San Francisco biotech hubs. She transitioned to executive search in 2010, with the first seven years as a top executive recruiter, and has led business development since 2017, focusing on VP and C-Level and Board Seats nationally. She splits her time between San Diego, San Francisco, and Boston.
Linda maintains a deep understanding of the industry, having hands-on experience in all stages of company growth. She is also deeply committed to community engagement and industry service. Her current leadership and advisory roles include serving on the Board of San Diego Squared (SD2); the Life Science Cares National Project Onramp Committee; the Board of Advisors for both Life Science Cares Bay Area and Life Science Cares San Diego, including their Project Onramp initiatives; and the UC San Diego Chancellor’s Community Advisory Board Executive Committee. She is a founding member of both the UCSD Madrinas and Padrinos Scholarship Fund and the San Diego Foundation’s El Camino Fund. In addition, Linda is a Leadership Member of MANA de San Diego, Co-Chair of the MANA de San Diego Advisory Council, a Board Member of the LifeHR Network, and an active member of Women in Bio and Women Give San Diego.
She is particularly proud of being a founding member of MANA de San Diego’s Latina Success Leadership Program, created in partnership with The Center for Creative Leadership and National University, which has supported the career development of over 250 women. Linda holds a Certificate in Human Resources, which she began at UC Berkeley Extension and completed at UC San Diego Extension.