SHERIDAN, WYOMING – July 21, 2025 – Audrey Greenberg, known for transforming the cell and gene therapy manufacturing landscape, has embarked on a new chapter as partner at Mayo Clinic’s newly established venture arm. Her move follows a career of strategic pivots across finance, real estate, and biomanufacturing — each driven by an unwavering focus on creating meaningful impact.
From Wall Street to Purpose-Driven Ventures
Greenberg’s professional journey began on Wall Street, a path she reconsidered after witnessing the 9/11 attacks firsthand. "I watched the towers fall, and I thought, what do I want to do that actually makes an impact on society, instead of just moving other people’s money around?" she reflected. This question led her to launch a real estate venture focused on tax credit housing, developing shelters for battered women and affordable housing for seniors in underserved communities.
This pivot marked the start of a pattern — identifying unmet societal needs and creating sustainable business models to address them.
Transforming Cellicon Valley with the Center for Breakthrough Medicines
Greenberg entered the healthcare space unexpectedly after her daughter’s diagnosis with cholesteatoma, pulling her into the life sciences field. Recognizing a critical bottleneck for University of Pennsylvania’s leading scientists, she co-founded the Center for Breakthrough Medicines (CBM) in Philadelphia’s emerging Cellicon Valley.
CBM was established as a comprehensive biomanufacturing hub, offering plasmid DNA, viral vectors, cell processing, testing, and analytical services. Strategically located near UPenn and an international airport, it provided a vital link between innovators and global markets.
- Integrated capital access, manufacturing, and partnerships in one facility
- Supported both emerging biotech ventures and established pharmaceutical firms
- Enabled global distribution of advanced therapies
"It was right place, right time for the industry, for the economy and for Philadelphia and cell and gene therapy," Greenberg said. "We created something that did not previously exist."
Though CBM was originally envisioned as a regional hub, it rapidly evolved into an international ecosystem for cell and gene therapy. Greenberg emphasized her role in hiring top-tier experts and delivering a concierge-level service that met evolving market needs.
A Strategic Exit and Lessons in Leadership
Greenberg steered CBM through significant growth and capital raises totaling over $500 million before leading its sale in September 2023 to SK Pharmteco, a subsidiary of South Korea’s SK Group. From the outset, she had a clear vision: "A lot of people come to me for advice, and I always say, start with the end in mind."
Throughout the process, she refined her approach to investor relations — from adapting to pandemic-era virtual pitches to understanding personal dynamics in deal-making.
"People invest in people they feel comfortable with. You can have the story and have the pitch… but it’s also about the chemistry that you have with that person. Can they trust you? Are you like them in some way? Why are you better than the next person?"
Her advice extends to team dynamics: "If you have a glitch in technology, and then you freak out and start screaming at someone… if the two founders don’t get along, there’s no way."
Joining Mayo Clinic Ventures with a Broader Vision
After completing a one-year transition period post-sale, Greenberg received numerous CEO offers from biotech firms. However, it was the Mayo Clinic’s offer that aligned with her vision of broad impact. She officially joined two months ago as a partner at Mayo’s new venture initiative, drawn by the opportunity "to participate in all aspects of an innovation ecosystem that always puts the patient at the top of the food chain."
Guiding the Next Generation of Innovators
Greenberg remains candid about the challenges of today’s biotech market, advising leaders to balance ambition with pragmatic risk assessments. Still, her message is clear: "Dream big, because you’re only going to achieve what you set out to achieve. And so if you can have very lofty goals, often you will achieve them."
Learn more at Mayo Clinic Ventures.