Linda Park has one word to describe her past year at Irvine-based Edwards Lifesciences Corp.: busy.
“It’s been a busy year,” Park told the Business Journal. “We’re focused on serving our patients. It’s really fun. I’m really happy being here at Edwards.”
Park, who is associate general counsel and corporate secretary for the maker of heart valves, last year was honored with the Rising Star Award at the Business Journal’s General Counsel Awards.
Park, who joined Edwards in 2017, is responsible for M&A contracts, potential acquisitions and strategy, among other areas.
Since she’s handling a lot of work behind the scenes, she’s not allowed to discuss her activities in public.
She did note that she was involved in helping transition the change from Mike Mussallem, who in May stepped down as chief executive after 23 years in the position, to Bernard Zovighian.
One of the more intriguing forays that she can discuss is why she joined the board of directors at BioLargo Inc., an over-the-counter stock with a $50 million market cap (OTC: BLGO), far below the $43 billion market cap of Edwards (NYSE: EW).
She considers BioLargo, a Westminister-based developer of sustainable cleantech technologies, as a “true startup.” At her prior jobs, Park used to take companies public on the stock market.
“I thought I could be a contributor,” Park said. “They have a dream of one day trading on the Nasdaq.”
Park serves on the board of directors for Edwards Lifesciences Foundation, which helps people in poor communities reduce heart valve disease.
Park is a part of the strategic business council for local nonprofit USA Water Polo where she has helped secure city permits in Irvine to build the 2028 Olympic Water Polo Facility at the Great Park.
She’s helping team members get internships with local offices of giant banks like Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan.
Her two boys, ages 14 and 8, are her “pride and joy.” Her older son recently made a national team in his age group in water polo.
“He has had dreams of being an Olympian since the age of 6. I’ve never told him otherwise.”
