Lisa Conte

Lisa has been a pioneer in the biotech/emerging pharmaceutical industry for 20 years. She is founder and CEO of Napo Pharmaceuticals, which brings proprietary products to the global marketplace through local partnerships. Napo embraces the “triple bottom line” goals of enhancing financial return by addressing global health needs in its development strategy and environmental sustainability in sourcing its lead product, which is harvested from rain forest areas. Prior to founding Napo, she founded Shaman Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a natural product pharmaceutical company, in 1989. As CEO, she has raised >$250 million (including leading two IPOs). 1987 to 1989 Ms. Conte was a Vice President at Technology Funding, Inc., a venture capital firm. From 1985 to 1987 she conducted risk and strategy audits for start-up companies at Strategic Decisions Group. Lisa received her AB in Biochemistry from Dartmouth College, her MS in Physiology/Pharmacology from the University of California at San Diego and her MBA from the Amos Tuck School, Dartmouth College. She is the recipient of several entrepreneurship awards, including the 1994 E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year Award, has sat on several industry and academic boards, and was a nominee for the 2009 BIO Humanitarian Award.