Cristina Wedderburn
Cristina Wedderburn is a Senior Life Science Project Manager and Team Lead with a multifaceted career spanning law, education, entrepreneurship and corporate leadership. She currently leads complex life science relocation, laboratory planning, and move management initiatives at Visions Management, where she plays a key role in growing and shaping the firm’s Life Science practice.
Cristina began her career as a certified paralegal, gaining early experience in legal research, case management, compliance, and client advocacy. This foundation sharpened her analytical thinking, attention to detail, and ability to navigate highly regulated environments, skills that continue to influence her leadership approach today. Driven by a desire to work more directly with people and create meaningful impact, she later pivoted into special education, where she made a lasting difference in the lives of the children and families she supported. She considers this chapter one of the most meaningful in her professional journey.
Inspired by her mother’s entrepreneurial spirit in San Francisco, Cristina went on to found and operate her own paralegal firm, further strengthening her leadership, business development, and operational management skills. This experience provided a unique blend of legal, educational, and entrepreneurial insight that continues to inform her work.
Today, Cristina is recognized for her leadership in high-stakes life science environments, overseeing laboratory relocations, space planning, specialty vendor coordination, seismic anchoring programs, and research continuity planning for major institutions including Stanford University, UC Davis, Genentech, and Sonoma County. She is known for leading with clarity, empathy, and accountability, embracing a philosophy of “it’s a we thing, not a me thing.”
Cristina is deeply invested in mentorship and team development, actively growing the Visions Life Science team through training, knowledge-sharing, and participation in Visions initiatives. She is passionate about sustainability, operational excellence, and protecting irreplaceable research while building trusted, long-term client partnerships.
Outside of her professional work, Cristina is committed to community service and philanthropy, supporting special education initiatives and organizations such as Meals on Wheels. She has completed the 60-mile, three-day Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Walk, reflecting her dedication to perseverance and service. Above all, she is driven by being a strong role model for both her son and daughter, balancing leadership, impact, and purpose with integrity.
• Certified Paralegal
• Vanguard University
• Graduated National Deans List
• Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my dedication, clear personal goals, and willingness to grow and take risks. Everything I do is motivated by my desire to provide the best life for my children.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is to believe in myself.
Not in a vague or abstract way, but in a grounded, disciplined sense, trusting that no challenge is insurmountable and that every problem has a solution. That belief has allowed me to step into unfamiliar spaces, navigate complex environments, and lead with confidence even when the path forward wasn’t immediately clear. Over time, I’ve learned that self-trust isn’t just personal—it becomes a leadership skill that empowers others, creates momentum, and opens doors that once felt out of reach.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is to stay true to yourself, advocate for your worth, and surround yourself with people who empower your growth.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in today’s market is standing out in a crowded field. In a highly specialized space like life science project management, clearly differentiating expertise, value, and impact requires consistency, clarity, and trust.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are integrity, a strong work ethic, reliability, flexibility, dedication, and loyalty, while I also cherish traveling, cooking, gardening, golfing, and making lasting memories with my children.