HR Pathways & Perspectives: General HR Focus
November 4, 2025 | 4:30-5:30 p.m. PT
Our 60-minute virtual career mentoring event is designed to increase awareness of HR career pathways, elevate HR career insights, and expand HR professional networks. This event will feature 3-4 HR leaders representing diversity in demographics, experiences, HR roles, and industries.
Location
Virtual
Program cost starting at:
Member: Free
Non-Member: Free
Panelists
Lucia Cote
Senior Director, Human Resources, Vir Biotechnology, Inc
Lucia Coté currently serves as the Senior Director of Human Resources at Vir Biotechnology, Inc. Her background includes over 17 years of international experience in various business operations positions including team, program, strategy, and financial management. After becoming a people manager early in her career, she realized her aptitude, interest, and dedication to developing people and growing teams. Therefore, she pivoted to become an HR professional and received an MA in Industrial-Organizational Psychology. Since then, she has held various positions in both business partnering and center of excellence functions. She specializes in guiding organizations and teams as they navigate change, including leading major organizational design initiatives and companywide restructuring efforts. In addition, she demonstrates a commitment to operational rigor while building scalable HR systems and compliance frameworks. Lucia prioritizes a collaborative approach to process improvement and strives for practical, compassionate solutions that balance business needs with care for and appreciation of the individual experience. Finally, she has extensive Employee Relations experience including performance management and internal investigations. Overall, she most enjoys the unique challenge, and privilege, of navigating and supporting the complex variability of the human experience at work.
Erika Frank
Vice President and Legal Counsel for the California Hospital Association
Erika Frank is Vice President and Legal Counsel for the California Hospital Association where she specializes in labor and employment, workers’ compensation, workplace safety, workforce, community benefits and seismic compliance.
Leveraging more than two decades of legal, regulatory, and legislative experience, providing counsel to California employers on labor and employment laws at the California Chamber of Commerce, and the Shaw Law Group. Prior to joining CHA, Erika served as Associated Executive Director and General Counsel at the California Lawyers Association.
Erika offers a practical and insightful approach to helping employers, regulators and government leaders understand the impact workplace polices and mandates have on employers and employees alike.
At Shaw Law Group, Erika provided advice and counsel, conducted workplace investigations and developed and facilitated compliance training. Prior to joining Shaw, Erika served as the General Counsel and Executive Vice President of Legal Affairs at the California Chamber of Commerce. With a focus on employment law compliance, Erika oversaw CalChamber’s Labor Law Helpline and assisted countless members with their labor and employment law questions. She also played an integral role in the launch and success of CalChamber’s “The Workplace” podcast.
Erika is a sought-after speaker. She has produced and conducted numerous seminars and webinars on topics including leaves of absence, wage and hour compliance, and harassment, discrimination and retaliation prevention. She is known for her relentless energy and ability to transform legal concepts into simple stories and realistic scenarios.
Erika attended Stanford Graduate School of Business, Finance and Accounting for the Non-Financial Executive Program, University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, and holds a B.A. from University of California, Santa Barbara.
Amanda Santana
Associate Director, Talent Acquisition, Vir Biotechnology
Amanda Santana began her journey at Vir Biotechnology as the company’s first dedicated Talent Acquisition professional, playing a pivotal role in transforming Vir from an early-stage biotech into a commercial-stage organization. With over seven years of experience in Human Resources, Amanda is a skilled Talent Acquisition leader, specializing in full-cycle recruiting within the life sciences.
As Associate Director, Talent Acquisition, Amanda has built Vir’s TA function from the ground up, at times leading teams of recruiters, technical sourcing specialists, and TA coordinators. She partners cross-functionally with departments ranging from R&D to G&A, ensuring the attraction, hiring, and retention of top talent to advance Vir’s expanding focus in Infectious Diseases and Oncology.