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Perla Development is a training, facilitation and executive coaching consultancy, specialising in leadership, management and professional development, (primarily within the life sciences sector). Founded in 2014, and run by Liz Mercer, Perla Development offers executive coaching, leadership and management development programmes, workshop design and delivery, team development and meetings facilitation. 

Perla is offering 20% discount to gold and 10% to silver One Nucleus members.

Perla’s flagship development programme is the Management Essentials Programme for first line leaders which has been running since 2022. Commencing in February 2026, (in partnership with Matt Evans of Fired-Up Talent), the Expert Leader Programme will also be running for middle to senior leaders in the life sciences. 

Both these programmes are open programmes with participation from across the industry. Liz also works with many life science clients providing training and development in a variety of topics: coaching skills, feedback, delegation, difficult conversations, managing performance, leading change, motivation and engagement, to name but a few.  Her recent clients include, OMass Therapeutics, Charm Therapeutics, Microbiotica Ltd, T-therapeutics, Alchemab, Vernalis, Besins Healthcare and Ensocell. 

Perla’s work often involves utilising a number of industry-leading models and tools such as the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), Korn Ferry competencies, Hogan, 360 feedback tools and the Key Polarity Indicator.

For larger projects, Perla partners with a network of trusted, well-established and experienced colleagues and can deliver scaled solutions across a broad span of organisational and geographic boundaries.

As an MSc graduate in Organisational Behaviour from Birkbeck College, London, Liz’s career has been largely spent in the Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology sector:  Liz’s last corporate role was as the Head of Learning and Development for a Cambridge-based Biotechnology company.

Her track record is characterised by developing highly effective partnering and is underpinned by a solid appreciation, and empathy for, people, teams and organisational dynamics. Liz has managed and mentored others and well appreciates the transition from individual contributor to line manager and the challenges presented in getting work done through others.

Programmes and Offerings

  • Management Essentials – Online
    • an in-company, modular programme for groups of 9-12 people managers, delivered through Zoom Workplace over a period of 12 weeks
  • Management Essentials Programme
    • an in-person, open programme for first-line people managers, delivered in 3 days, over 3 weeks, with follow-up coaching (also offered as an in-company programme)
  • The Expert Leader Programme
    • an intensive, 3 month, open programme for middle to senior leaders in the life sciences, delivered in-person over three, two-day modules with integrated coaching and follow-up support
  • In-house courses, workshops and bespoke training events
    • content curated and programme customised in consultation with client (see website)
  • Professional Development/Leadership Coaching/Career Development and Transitions
    • a series of 4 or 6, 1:1 sessions, (or a ‘pay as you go’) 1:1 coaching
  • Team Development and Facilitation
    • facilitated, tailored events for new teams, teams in transition and company meetings and events

Get in touch to discuss your needs, request more information or find out about fees, via: -