Marketing Leadership Meets AI Innovation

Laurel Skurko

Strategic Communications | Marketing Leadership | Healthcare & Technology

About

Laurel is a marketing strategist and communications leader who transforms strategic initiatives into measurable success across healthcare, technology, and global health sectors.

With extensive experience managing multi-million dollar initiatives, she excels at uniting diverse stakeholders and organizations to execute flawlessly. Her track record includes delivering complex projects on time and under budget while driving exceptional growth—from achieving 300% increases in customer engagement to building full-service agencies that expand digital reach by 20x.

Currently, Laurel focuses on the intersection of AI and organizational transformation, leading strategic communications for the University of California's 11,000-member tech community. She holds leadership positions at UCSF, the UC system, and the Harvard Business School Association of Northern California, where she continues to advance innovation in healthcare and entrepreneurship.

Get in Touch

Laurel Skurko

Interested in connecting? Laurel is available to discuss strategic marketing leadership, AI transformation insights, and collaboration opportunities in healthcare innovation.

Experience

Marketing & Business Development Lead

University of California, Office of the President

2022 — Present
  • Leading strategic communications across the UC tech community of 11,000+ members spanning 30+ entities
  • Spearheaded three executive AI leadership retreats focused on organizational transformation
  • Achieved 300% growth in customer engagement (YouTube +330% YoY, web +190% YoY)
  • Built full-service advertising agency that expanded digital communications by 20x

Marketing & Business Development

UCSF Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute

2021 — 2022
  • Led launch of UCSF Center for Real World Evidence at the intersection of biomedicine and data science
  • Managed brand communications generating 7M Twitter impressions daily
  • Achieved 200x growth in social media engagement within three months
  • Created the institute's first CRM system for stakeholder management

Program Manager, Innovation Ventures

UCSF Health

2019 — 2020
  • Led marketing initiatives for organizational outreach and credibility
  • Drove 300% enrollment growth in global entrepreneurship course
  • Developed innovative approach to university startup formation across 30 peer institutions
  • Secured executive leaders from Verily and Walmart Health as keynote speakers

Marketing Manager & Director

UCSF Health

2015 — 2019
  • Managed $400K annual marketing budget for UCSF Radiology ($133M revenue)
  • Created multi-channel survey program: 38% response rate, 200+ interviews
  • Led campaigns for Surgery, Radiology, Orthopaedics, Endocrinology departments
  • Delivered $100K cost savings through vendor optimization
  • Pioneered GEO Fencing, digital radio ads, and live Twitter events

Marketing Consultant & Partner

Linc Marketing

2013 — 2015
  • Created marketing strategies for SaaS, biotech, and supply chain clients
  • Secured first three partnerships for biotech startup's FDA-approved product launch
  • Developed thought-leadership social media strategies for C-suite executives

Director of Marketing & Communications

Blende Dental Group

2012 — 2013
  • Key contributor in NYC expansion for healthcare delivery startup
  • Re-branded three businesses into one cohesive entity
  • Drove 6% increase in professional referrals through segmented communications

Director, Marketing & Business Development

Institute for Large Scale Innovation

2004 — 2012
  • Connected Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and nonprofits for innovation
  • Cultivated partnerships with governments of Chile, Denmark, Finland, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, US
  • Established multi-year innovation training program for Deloitte teams

Director of Business Development

Estée Lauder Companies

1995 — 1996
  • Implemented novel product development program improving time-to-market metrics
  • Hosted first corporate strategic planning session as newly public company

Brand Manager

Procter & Gamble

1991 — 1992
  • Managed product launches and seasonal campaigns for Ariel (Tide) brand in Paris
  • Led cross-functional teams across manufacturing, legal, promotions, and sales

Education

Master of Business Administration

Harvard Business School

Marketing & International Business

Bachelor of Arts

Stanford University

Human Biology & Health Communications