Dena Summers

About Dena Summers

I am a results-driven leader in the pharmaceuticals industry with extensive expertise in organizational transformation, operational excellence, and staff capability building. My experience spans process improvement, Lean Sigma methodologies, change management, stakeholder engagement, and risk management.I have established and led high performing global teams enabling them to be the best they can be through coaching, mentoring, setting clear direction and embedding a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration and stakeholder partnership. As Senior Director, Supported Studies Process Owner and Ops Delivery at GSK, I established a high-performing global study delivery center of excellence, managing over 560 studies across all therapy areas. I harmonized study delivery processes across R&D teams, optimizing performance, reducing risk, and improving quality using Lean and Six Sigma methodologies.Previously, as Sr Director, Cyber Security Governance and Culture Change, I led transformational initiatives to enhance cyber security awareness and capabilities for 130K global staff, embedding processes, capability plans, and tech enablement that remain integral to GSK’s Cyber security strategy.In my role as Sr Director of Tech Strategic Planning, I implemented large-scale organizational changes, including a new operating model and KPI-driven performance frameworks. As Sr Director Lean Sigma Consultant, I spearheaded process improvement initiatives aligned with GSK’s business needs, building Lean and Six Sigma capabilities.Throughout my career, I have demonstrated strong leadership and stakeholder engagement, influencing cross-functional teams and executive leadership. My ability to foster collaboration and continuous improvement has earned multiple accolades, including GSK’s prestigious Ahead Together award.

Experience

1. Sr Director Head, Investigator Sponsored Studies

   GSK

   Feb 2021 — Present · Collegeville, PA, US

   Awards and Recognition: • Twice received the Annual Ahead together award (IPTc) – highest performance award at GSK• 1 Platinum Award • 4 Gold Awards • 2 Silver Award • 2 Bronze Awards This was a new role to provide global leadership for the Investigator Initiated Studies (IIS) and Supported Collaborative Studies (SCS) portfolio across all franchises/therapy areas. Driving operational capabilities and consistent approach across GSK. • Successfully established, implemented and led the global 70+ staff Operational Center of Excellence (COE). Set COE Objectives, Strategy, Vision while also establishing culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, doing the right thing and being patient focused. • Strategy Design to Implementation - Successfully developed, aligned stakeholders and implemented a strategy to harmonize the various ways of working across GSK into a single aligned model across Vaccines, Pharma, Global Health and R&D. • Significantly reduced cycle time including achieving best in class, by implementing continuous improvement initiatives across processes, systems and people. Doing so while also improving quality, safety and compliance.• Appointed as the Global Process Owner responsible for ensuring ethical standards, regulatory compliance, awareness and adoption of industry changes / best practices, and global risk owner. • Established as a trusted partner through successful stakeholder engagement with R&D key stakeholders at all levels across Medical Affairs, early development, Commercial, Regulatory, Clinical Operations, Safety, Commercial & Clinical Supply, Publications, IP and Asset Attorneys.

Education

• Drexel University

  BS, Electrical Engineering