Fractional CHRO & People Strategy for Biotech
People Strategy that Moves as Fast as Your Science
HR foundations built for the full arc of biotch: from discovery to commercialization, at scale.
hr leadership at
5
drug approvals supported
100+
biotech leaders partnered with
25+
years in biotech HR
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about us
why our company?
Skapa Bio was built for one of biotech's most critical inflection points: the journey from research through clinical trials to commercialization. Our founder, Kristin "KG" Gustafson, has led the people strategy at Kite Pharma, Mirati Therapeutics, Intercept Pharma, Allos Therapeutics, and MGI Pharma — guiding each through their first BLA/NDA and drug approval. KG has assembled a team of experienced biotech HR professionals to bring that same expertise to your organization, at whatever stage you're in.
how we help
Whether you're a first-time CEO, a founder navigating your first hire wave, or a board preparing for a Series B, we meet you where you are. Skapa Bio specializes in right-sizing your HR function — from building your organizational structure and defining your Employee Value Proposition, to shaping the employee experience and culture that will carry you through each funding milestone.
experience the difference
Skapa means "create" in Swedish — and that's exactly what we do. We create people strategies tailored to your company's specific stage, culture, and goals. Every biotech has its own urgent challenges. We help you move through them quickly, with experienced HR leadership that's been in the room before.
our services
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People strategy built for the science of growth.
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Human Resources Consulting
We design and implement human capital strategies that help you attract, retain, and develop top talent — in a culture people want to stay in. Our services include organizational design, strategic HR planning, policy development, and internal audits of existing HR practices. Whether you're building from scratch or scaling fast, we adapt to what your organization needs right now.
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Employee Engagement
In high-growth biotech, disengaged employees are a risk you can't afford. Skapa Bio helps you measure the pulse of your organization, understand what's driving or damaging engagement, and build a concrete action plan. We don't just deliver a survey — we help you interpret the results and act on them, so your people feel seen and your business keeps moving.
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Interim / Fractional Chief People Officer
When you need senior HR leadership immediately — to bridge a departure, navigate a critical transition, or execute a long-term initiative — Skapa Bio's fractional and interim CPO/CHRO service delivers experienced executives who contribute from day one. No ramp time. No guesswork. Just high-impact people leadership when it matters most.
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C-Level Executive Assessment
A structured, repeatable way to evaluate how effective your current and future executives really are. We assess four dimensions — leadership and people management, strategic and commercial acumen, cognitive capability, and values and culture fit — using behavioral interviews, psychometrics, 360 feedback, and business simulations, then debrief the CEO and board on what to do next.
who we serve
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Skapa Bio works with biotech companies from Series A through commercial stage, typically 20–500 employees. We partner with founding CEOs building their first HR function, boards seeking fractional CHRO leadership, and leadership teams navigating a critical transition — from a funding round, an approval, a merger, or a scale-up in commercial operations.
Series A–Commercial
20–500 employees
Pre-commercial to Post-approval
Founder-led
Board-directed
Meet KG
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Kristin "KG" Gustafson · Founder
Kristin "KG" Gustafson is a senior strategic HR executive with over 25 years of leadership in biotech, pharmaceuticals, and high-growth life science organizations. A trusted advisor to CEOs and boards, she is recognized for her mastery in executive assessment, leadership diagnostics, and building succession-ready talent pipelines for companies scaling from research through clinical development and into commercial launch.
Her commercial acumen and operational discipline have shaped successful workforce strategies, strengthened executive bench depth, and guided organizations through complex global expansions, corporate integrations, and high-stakes M&A. She has supported multiple teams through their first BLAs and NDAs, ensuring not just scientific success but the leadership capacity to sustain it.
"KG came in at a critical moment — six months before our NDA submission. She built our HR infrastructure from scratch and was instrumental in keeping our team aligned and motivated through the process."
CEO, oncology biotech (Series C)
Equity 101 Guidebook
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What Every Biotech Employee Needs to Know
Equity can be one of the most valuable parts of your compensation or one of the most confusing. This free guide breaks down exactly what you have, what it's worth, and what to do with it, no jargon required.