Title: Senior Director of Global Public Affairs
Company: Gilead Sciences Inc.
Location: Pacifica, California, United States
Nicole Renae Risdall, Senior Director of Global Public Affairs at Gilead Sciences Inc., has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Executives for dedication, achievements, and leadership in Public Affairs.
Ms. Risdall’s career in the business sector has been defined by her expertise in public affairs, therapeutic area communications, data communications, patient advocacy and patient support. Her current role as the senior director of global public affairs for the LIVE Portfolio and global patient advocacy in liver at Gilead Sciences Inc. began in 2023. In this capacity, Ms. Risdall is responsible for data communications that highlight Gilead’s work at the European Association for the Study of the Liver Congress in Barcelona.
Among her daily goals, Ms. Risdall is tasked with presenting critical data on pharmaceutical advancements and real-world evidence regarding the epidemiology of liver disease, releasing findings to the public and promoting them among physicians and reporters. She also manages patient advocacy initiatives and collaborates with advocates worldwide to understand their perspectives and improve Gilead’s contributions to the community.
Affiliated with the organization since 2021, Ms. Risdall began as the director of U.S. public affairs for COVID-19. In 2022, she was promoted to senior director of global and U.S. public affairs for COVID-19 and emerging viruses at Gilead Sciences Inc. Ms. Risdall’s responsibilities in these roles included overseeing communications strategies related to COVID-19 therapies and engaging with stakeholders across the healthcare industry.
Before joining Gilead Sciences Inc., Ms. Risdall had founded N. Risdall Public Relations Consulting in 2019, where she held the position of vice president of healthcare and public relations consultant until 2021. During this period, she provided strategic counsel to clients navigating complex healthcare communication challenges, including during the COVID-19 pandemic.
From 2016 to 2019, Ms. Risdall worked at Experian within its health information technology division as a marketing communications manager and senior public relations specialist. Earlier in her career, she was affiliated with several other organizations in various capacities, dating back 20 years. Ms. Risdall excelled as a senior account supervisor at Chandler Chicco Agency, a Syneos Health company, in 2016, following her role as a business development manager at First Interstate BancSystem from 2014 to 2016.
Between 2013 and 2014, Ms. Risdall managed operations as a cattle ranch owner and operator at Triple R Ranch Inc., a family enterprise near Red Lodge, Montana, that has been passed down through three generations since her ancestors immigrated from Holland under the Homestead Act. She now co-owns her family’s cattle ranch with her brother and cousin while leasing land for cattle grazing, maintaining ties to her heritage rooted in Montana’s agricultural tradition.
Ms. Risdall’s agency experience included serving as an account supervisor at Hill & Knowlton from 2012 to 2013 and at MSL between 2010 and 2011. From 2006 to 2010, she advanced through several roles at Cohn & Wolfe (now Burson), starting as an account executive before becoming a senior account executive and then account supervisor. Ms. Risdall’s tenure at Cohn & Wolfe was marked by significant involvement in crisis communications for pharmaceutical clients, particularly those focused on diabetes drugs, leveraging her earlier endocrinology experience.
Ms. Risdall began her professional journey as an assistant director of public and media relations at the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology (AACE) from 2005 to 2006. In this role, she acted as a liaison between a pharmaceutical company, an agency managing campaigns and AACE itself.
A graduate of California State University Fullerton in Fullerton, California, Ms. Risdall earned a bachelor’s degree in business with a concentration in corporate communications in 2005. Her academic training provided a strong foundation for her subsequent roles in communications strategy and leadership within major organizations. In addition to her degree, Ms. Risdall holds certifications in preventing workplace harassment from Emtrain and as a health coach from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. These credentials have supported her efforts to foster inclusive workplaces and promote holistic approaches to health communication.
Beyond her corporate responsibilities, Ms. Risdall has been active in civic organizations, such as serving as a cyclist with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society since 2017. She has also engaged in raising awareness about multiple sclerosis more broadly in other capacities.
Throughout her career, Ms. Risdall has demonstrated a commitment to advancing patient-centered initiatives within the healthcare industry. One of her most notable accomplishments has been the development of “All the Feelings With PBC,” a campaign designed to raise awareness about Primary Biliary Cholangitis, or PBC, an autoimmune liver disease that disproportionately affects women. The campaign pairs patients with artists, resulting in powerful creative works presented to physicians at medical congresses. This initiative encourages clinicians to focus on quality-of-life issues alongside clinical biomarkers when treating PBC patients. The campaign has received significant recognition by being shortlisted for two SABRE Awards and one PRWeek award.
Ms. Risdall attributes her success to a strong work ethic and self-starting approach, best known for encouraging creative problem-solving among her team members. Looking ahead, she aims to expand further into patient advocacy within the pharmaceutical industry while continuing efforts to champion women’s issues in the workplace. Ms. Risdall also remains dedicated to mentoring others so they can prioritize family commitments without sacrificing career growth.
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