Barbara Dalton has worked at Pfizer’s corporate venturing unit for the past five years as vice-president.
She joined Pfizer from EuclidSR Partners, a venture firm backed by UK-based pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline, where she worked from 2000 to 2007. Before this she was at GlaxoSmithKline’s corporate venturing unit SR One for seven years.
Dalton took a PhD in microbiology and immunology at the Medical College of Pennsylvania.
She said: “We use a fund-of-funds strategy to expand our reach in developing geographies in Africa, Brazil and China. In addition to traditional VC investments we are exploring and supporting other investment models – consortium, product development deals, corporate spin-outs.”
When asked what her biggest success was, she said: “Thriving in the corporate VC world for 20 years.”
Lessons from the top: Dalton said: “Understand the corporate culture within which you operate. Manage the business of corporate venture investing by never losing sight of strategic and financial investment objectives. Develop trusted relationships both within and outside your corporation. Be flexible, supportive and helpful to all members of the ecosystem you operate in.”
