Overview

Sahar Malik is a principal in Heidrick & Struggles’ Chicago office and a member of the Healthcare & Life Sciences Practice. She specializes in board, CEO succession, and senior-level roles, including presidents, chief business officers, chief operating officers, R&D, and commercial leaders across the entire life sciences ecosystem.

Experience

Sahar has 15+ years of experience in executive search and talent advisory, with expertise in pharmaceuticals, biotech, pharma, and biotech services, life sciences tools and diagnostics, life sciences CDMOs, medical devices, consumer health, and the intersection of life sciences and AI/technology platforms. Her clients include start-ups, venture-backed, private equity-backed, large- and mid-sized public and private companies.

Previously, Sahar worked for another leading global executive search firm where she helped build the medical device, digital health, healthcare private-equity, and healthcare services practices. She was the head of research for the Chicago office, leading a team of sixteen analysts and associates responsible for their staffing, growth, and development. She was also a global sub-sector and key account leader.

Sahar began her career as a research assistant in the economics department at Columbia University, conducting research in industrial organization and game theory.

Education

Barnard College, Columbia University, New York, Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics

Philanthropy and Service

At Heidrick & Struggles, Sahar is a mentor and faculty leader for the analyst and associate development programs and is an active member of the American Asian and Pacific Islanders and People of Color Employee Resource Groups.