Catalyzing Impact For Healthcare & Life Sciences

SKS Life Sciences Group delivers results for biopharma industry leaders and startups alike — with deep execution expertise, sharp commercial instincts, and an unmatched network across pharma, digital health, biotech, and investors.

Meet the Team

We bring deep industry expertise and firsthand experience. We’ve been in your seat — and know how to execute strategies that drive real results.

Managing Partners

  • Sasha Khursheed Said

    FOUNDER & MANAGING PARTNER

    Experience:
    18+ years life sciences & digital health

    Companies:
    Bertarelli Family, Waypoint Capital, Gurnet Point Capital, Transformation Capital, LetsGetChecked, Pharma Digital Health Roundtable, Panalgo (acquired), Health Catalyst (IPO), Vera Whole Health (acquired by Elevance)

    Specialty:
    Fractional CCO/CGO/CEO, Direct-to-Patient platform design, patient-centric support models, AI & data strategy across R&D, clinical and commercial functions, pharma GTM and commercialization, B2B Marketing, Team Recruiting, BD and licensing, and capital raise strategy for PE/VC backed growth, thought leadership. 

  • Kirsten Carlson

    MANAGING PARTNER

    Experience:
    20 years life sciences 

    Companies:
    Takeda, Tolmar, Avadel, Pear Therapeutics, Biofourmis, Affymax, CareCrowd, Beacon BioMedical, Waters, Pfizer 

    Specialty:
    Fractional CCO/CGO/CMO, Direct-to-Patient platform design, pharma GTM and commercialization, Agency launch strategy, Pricing, Contracting & Reimbursement, Policy & Advocacy, therapeutic asset launch, BD and licensing, investor intros for PE/VC-backed growth, thought leadership.   

Operating Partners

  • Steff Bristol

    Steff Bristol

    OPERATING PARTNER

    Experience:
    13 years life sciences  

    Companies:
    Medtronic, Philips, Biogen 

    Specialty:
    Fractional CEO, Direct-to-Patient platform design, patient-centric support models, med devices, market access strategy, pharma GTM and commercialization, BD and licensing, and capital raise strategy for PE/VC backed growth, investor intros for PE/VC-backed growth

  • Karthik Lavakumar

    Karthik Lavakumar

    MEDTECH OPERATING PARTNER

    Experience:
    20 years life sciences  

    Specialty:
    Fractional CTO; Med Device, regulatory, clinical, device strategy

  • Rodrigo Martinez

    Rodrigo Martinez

    MARKETING OPERATING PARTNER

    Experience:
    25 years in Marketing across healthcare, life sciences, and other industries 

    Companies:
    BCG, IDEO, Veritas Genetics, CIC Health, CIC, Manta Cares 

    Specialty:
    Narrative and brand design for healthcare innovators; experience-led marketing campaigns; go-to-market creative for DTP and PSP programs; Emmy- and award-winning storytelling; executive-ready messaging and patient-centered engagement  

  • Dr. Amit Suri

    AI, DTP, MED AFFAIRS OPERATING PARTNER

    Experience:
    20+ years in pharma and biotech

    Companies:

    Sanofi, Takeda, GSK, Advanz, Novo Nordisk  

    Specialty:

    Fractional Med Affairs leader, Prepare market for product launches, Scientific Platform Development, KOL Engagement & Advisory Boards, Disease State Education Programs, Congress Strategy, HCP Resource Hub, Clinical Pathway Integration, Treatment Algorithms & Decision Support Tools, MSL Management, Market Access & Reimbursement, PSPs, Adherence and Persistence Initiatives

Core Team

  • Jade Li

    Jade Li, PhD

    Experience:
    20 years in marketing and operations across life sciences  

    Companies:
    Anumana, Pear Therapeutics, Biogen, EPIRUS Biopharmapeuticals, LEK Consulting,  

    Specialty:
    Pharma Direct to Patient platforms, HCP and health system marketing, portfolio strategy, brand planning, and GTM execution across neurology, sleep, cardiology, and psychiatry.

  • Ruth Kidane

    Ruth Kidane

    Experience:
    12 years in life sciences 

    Companies:
    Pfizer, Flatiron Health, i3 

    Specialty:
    Driving strategy and execution across pharma including - market expansion, cross-functional planning, customer engagement, market insights, execution across go-to-market, BD, and product strategy, data in pharma, oncology

  • Caroline Conforti

    Caroline Conforti

    Experience:
    5 years in life sciences and healthcare 

    Companies:
    Biofourmis, Health Advances, Pear therapeutics 

    Specialty:
    Omnichannel marketing strategy, paid media optimization, B2B/B2C campaign design, sales enablement, marketing analytics, and GTM support for digital health commercialization

Strategic Advisors

  • Vinay Gidwaney

    Vinay Gidwaney

    PRODUCT & AI ADVISOR

    Experience:
    Founder 4 digital health & tech companies 

    Companies:
    Control-F1, Neurosilicon, CA Technologies, MIT Media Lab, Daily Feats, Maxwell Health, Sun Life Financial, CIC Health, One Digital  

    Specialty:
    Product design & strategy, fractional CPO, serial entrepreneur, healthcare tech co-founder, Ai Expert 

  • Ali Tourmadj

    Ali Tourmadj

    PHARMA PARTNER & MED AFFAIRS

    Experience:
    17 years life sciences  

    Companies:
    Gilead Sciences, Intarcia Therapeutics, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Vigil Neurosciences 

    Specialty:
    Medical affairs strategy, KOL engagement, payer collaboration, value and evidence generation, field team leadership, scientific communication, and launch support across neurology, immunology, rare disease, and infectious disease