SWA Community
LINDA SIERRA
A
t Southwest Airlines,
we believe that
empowering local
professionals in the communities we serve is an
important step in helping those communities thrive. We
take great pride in supporting with business professional
that support this goal, including San Diego-based A-List
Customer Linda Sierra who shares our values of giving
back to community. Linda displays her leadership through
L
inda Sierra is
the Managing
Director for
McDermott +
Bull within the
Life Sciences
practice. As
Managing
Director, she is responsible for
attracting and securing game-
changing leadership talent
for executive teams for her
clients in the medical device,
pharmaceuticals, biotech and
diagnostics industries in the
San Francisco and San Diego
markets. Above and beyond her
professional accolades, Linda
is also a long-time San Diegan
with a deep sense of community
pride and commitment to helping
provide opportunities to others.
Recently, GB Magazine sat down
with Linda to learn more about her
achievements and passions:
50 GBSAN.COM | OCTOBER 2019
different ways just like SWA,
Linda’s investment in local
nonprofit organizations in the San
Diego region is keeping our community
thriving and is preparing the next
generation of leaders.
Lidia S. Martinez
Manager, Community Affairs &
Grassroots Southwest Airlines
GB: Where are you from and
how did you get started?
LS: My family is from Sanger,
California, near Fresno. However,
I was born in Heidelberg,
Germany, while my father was on
active duty with the U.S. Airforce.
Eventually, I started my career as
a legal secretary in biotechnology
in San Diego, where I quickly
realized I enjoy people. Then, a
Linda and Mario at the Chicano
former colleague reached out for
Federation 50th Anniversary
help with an AIDS research start-
up in San Francisco. It was too
good of an opportunity to pass up, so I packed my bags and family and headed north to
begin working in the field of my choice.
GB: Who inspired you to do what you do?
LS: I was fortunate to work with Patty Wray at ViroLogic/Monogram Biosciences who
taught me most of what I know about human resources and setting a company culture.
While working with her, I helped recruit our first 200 employees. Audrey Warfield-Graham
at Ligand Pharmaceuticals was also instrumental in my career development. I had found
my calling in recruiting having spent 14 years in biotechnology HR, prior to moving into
executive search where I have spent nearly a decade.