Shalin Dave is a Benefits Risk Manager at Conner Strong & Buckelew, where he focuses on the firm’s Life Sciences and Technology practice.
He partners with organizations across the full market spectrum—from emerging growth companies to large enterprise employers—helping them design and manage employee benefits as a strategic investment rather than a fixed expense. By combining data analytics, clinical consulting, and risk financing expertise, he works alongside leadership teams to control costs, improve outcomes, and drive greater predictability in benefit spend.
In addition to employee benefits advisory, his firm provides comprehensive property and casualty risk management services, enabling clients to take a holistic approach to both human capital and enterprise risk strategies.
1) What did you want to be when you grow up? How’d you get from there to here?
Growing up, I was always drawn to entrepreneurship and innovation. I was fascinated by how businesses are built and scaled, and I knew I wanted to play a role in helping organizations grow.
That interest led me to study Innovation Management and Design Thinking at the Fox School of Business at Temple University. Early in my career, I worked in the human capital space, partnering with HR leaders and executive teams on benefits, workforce strategy, and employee experience initiatives. That exposure gave me a front row seat to how closely people strategy ties to financial performance and long term growth.
Over time, I realized that employee benefits sit at the intersection of finance, risk, and human capital strategy. That ultimately led me to Conner Strong & Buckelew, where I now focus on advising life sciences and technology organizations on how to approach benefits and broader risk management as strategic levers, not just line item expenses.
The common thread throughout my journey has been helping organizations make smarter, more intentional decisions about their people and their growth.
2) How are you helping to build a more connected community?
In the life sciences ecosystem, connection drives growth and innovation. At Conner Strong & Buckelew, I help bridge conversations between finance and HR leaders in emerging growth and scaling life sciences companies, aligning benefits, risk strategy, and workforce planning.
I also contribute by sharing market insights and facilitating peer conversations so companies can learn from each other’s challenges. From the BioBuzz community, I value opportunities to collaborate on events, roundtables, or content that strengthen our regional biohub and help leaders scale more effectively.
3) What are currently buzzing about? Anything and everything…
I’m focused on helping life sciences and technology organizations navigate today’s complex healthcare landscape while attracting and retaining top talent—the lifeblood of companies across all market segments. I work to align HR and Finance, connecting benefits, risk, and workforce strategy so organizations can scale smarter. I’m also passionate about creating opportunities for leaders to share insights and learn from one another across our regional life sciences community.
4) If you could travel back in time – what early career advice would you give yourself?
If I could give my early-career self advice—or shout from the rooftops today—it would be this: people move business forward. Build strong relationships, listen more than you speak, and invest in understanding how teams and leaders operate. The right connections and collaborations create opportunities, drive strategy, and make even the most complex challenges manageable. Always prioritize learning from others and helping them succeed—impact grows exponentially when people are aligned and empowered.
5) The fun (and rotating) one… What’s on your bucket list?!
One thing at the top of my bucket list is doing a track day at either Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps or the Nürburgring in Germany. I’m a big automotive enthusiast, and getting behind the wheel on these legendary tracks has always been a dream.
