Our Team

Christa Bleyleben, MBA

Christa is the Founder and Managing Partner of MassGlobal Partners, a firm that supports US market access and expansion as well as training and mentoring of innovative international companies. Her special focus is on value proposition, pitch practice, financing & finding key resources as well as facilitating partnering at senior levels. Christa also works with international governments and multinational organizations to employ open innovation strategies as part of broader economic development programs.

Previously, Christa was Executive Director of the Massachusetts Office of International Trade & Investment and President of the Massachusetts International Trade Council, responsible to manage all international business relationships between Massachusetts and regions around the world with special focus on collaborations, partnerships and strengthening economic development through global expansions.

In her earlier career, Christa was a Managing Director in Bank of America’s global investment group with responsibility to manage global relationships with the world’s top financial institutions and supra-national organizations. Christa is an active angel investor and serves on several advisory boards. She holds an MBA from the Vienna University of Business.

Abigail A. Barrow, Ph.D.

Abi brings thirty years of experience in supporting technology innovation and innovation ecosystems. Prior to joining MassGlobal Partners, Abi was the founding director of the Massachusetts Technology Transfer Center, supporting commercialization activities of more than 30 research organizations and helping inventors take their ideas out of the lab and into the commercial world. Simultaneously, she served for several years as interim executive director of the Office of Technology Commercialization and Ventures at the University of Massachusetts. Previously, she was the founding managing director of the ‘von Liebig Center’ at the University of California, San Diego, and held several positions at CONNECT.

Abi is also the managing partner of Cambridge Innovation Partners, a firm that coaches entrepreneurs and connects them to the resources they need to make their companies successful.

In other capacities, Abi currently serves as Board Chair of the national organization VentureWell; is a member of the Program Committee of BIO (the Biotechnology Industry Organization); advises several universities on commercialization issues and has served on the New York State Energy Research Agency Advisory Board. Abi received a Ph.D. and B.Sc. from the University of Edinburgh.

Robert Gottlieb

Robert has advised, coached and mentored US and international companies in life sciences and other leading innovation sectors for more than 30 years. Having worked with well over 150 companies and organizations, ranging from start-ups, to multi-nationals and academic institutions, he has particular expertise in company positioning, external and internal communications strategy as well as preparation for financing and partnering.

In addition to his role with MassGlobal Partners, Robert is the Principal at the communications and strategy consulting firm RMG Associates. Previously, he co-founded the life science communications and business consulting firm Feinstein Kean Healthcare (now part of Ogilvy), served as Biogen’s communications director and as executive editor of F-D-C Reports, “The Pink Sheet.” Robert is an active member of the Massachusetts innovation community and for the last 20 years has served on the Board of Directors of the industry association MassBio. He also volunteers as a mentor at MassBio’s programs as well as at MIT’s Venture Mentoring Service, supporting startups from the university community. Robert holds a B.A. degree from Trinity College (Connecticut).

Nancy J. Levy, Ph.D.

Nancy has been mentoring and driving growth of early stage international companies in the US for the last 20 years. She brings a core expertise in business and market development, US business practices, including FDA requirements, and a deep network of industry contacts. Having worked with hundreds of companies in various stages of development, Nancy has a particular focus on strategy and company positioning.

In addition to her work with MassGlobal Partners, Nancy is the founder and Managing Partner of Boston Landing and BioHealth Management LLC. Both firms are focused on international development of entrepreneurs and their technology-based companies across all sectors.

Previously, Nancy held senior roles with several leading companies in the bio/pharma sector including Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Genzyme and Immunetics Inc., a Cambridge based medical device company, where she served as CEO and raised three rounds of financing. Nancy is an active member of Boston’s innovation ecosystem and participates in many mentoring programs including MIT’s Idea² and Venture Mentoring Service, supporting early stage companies and spinouts from universities. Nancy earned her Ph.D. from the University of Chicago.