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Meet Sanjula Jain, Ph.D.: Sanjula Jain, Ph.D. is SVP of Market Strategy and Chief Research Office at Trilliant Health and a Co-founder of Think Medium. She also serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in the Division of Clinical Informatics. Previously, she was the Executive Director of Research and Advisory at The Health Management Academy. She received a B.A. in Psychology and Ecology & Evolutionary Biology from Rice University, and a Ph.D. in Health Services Research and Health Policy from Emory University. Key Insights: Sanjula Jain, Ph.D. is co-author of “The New Health Economy: Ground Rules for Leaders.” It’s an overview the history and impact of health care politics, policy, providers, and personalization. Defining Healthcare. The New Health Economy serves as a framework for understanding healthcare. Healthcare is a $4 trillion economy, with many stakeholders and silos. Making meaningful change in a specific area requires understanding and accounting for the many other pieces of the healthcare equation. (7:46) The Writing Process. The best writing advice is simple, but effective: chunk it up. Outlining, even if you don’t stick to it, provides a starting point and helps define the scope of the project. Additionally, Dr. Jain knows she writes best in the morning, so she set aside 15-30 minutes each morning to write a paragraph or just a few bullet points. (15:11) Healthcare Expertise. It’s common for women leaders to doubt their expertise. Dr. Jain reminds us that you don’t need to know everything about healthcare. It’s hard to be an expert because healthcare is a complicated industry. Being an expert is a balance between breadth and depth. (22:11) This episode is hosted by Ceci Connolly. She is a member of the Advisory Council for Her Story and is President and CEO of the Alliance of Community Health Plans. Relevant Links: Check out “The New Health Economy: Ground Rules for Leaders” Check out Dr. Jain’s website

Meet Denise Cardo, M.D.: Denise Cardo, M.D. is the director of the Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). She first joined the CDC as a medical epidemiologist. Prior to the CDC, she worked in the division of infectious diseases at Escola Paulista de Medicina in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where she also received her medical degree.  Key Insights: Denise Cardo, M.D. brings partners together to achieve goals in patient safety.  Developing Partnerships. For creating effective partnerships, Dr. Cardo recommenders setting common goals and clear expectations. Develop trust and understanding before a crisis occurs, so that uncertainty can be faced with teamwork. (5:26) Embracing Identity. Dr. Cardo was nervous about having an accent, but a mentor told her to take advantage of it instead. She jokes that she never has to introduce herself on a conference call. Dr. Cardo decided that her accent, and affinity for brightly colored clothing, made her unique and she should embrace her full identity. (19:53) Empowering Ourselves. Dr. Cardo shares that sometimes people will talk to a male colleague over her, even though she is the division’s director. She was worried about how to stand up for herself in those types of situations, because she knows she represents her program. Dr. Cardo chose to enlist the help of her male colleagues to combat these instances of sexism. (24:03) This episode is hosted by Julie Gerberding, M.D. She is a member of the Advisory Council for Her Story and the Chief Executive Officer at the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health. Relevant Links: Learn more about Dr. Cardo Learn more about the Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion Read “Public Health Hero: Denise Cardo” 

Meet the Guests: This episode features three leaders previously showcased on Her Story and the powerful advice they received from mentors. Renee DeSilva is the CEO of The Health Management Academy. Melinda B. Buntin, Ph.D. is a Mike Curb Professor and Chair of the Department of Health Policy at Vanderbilt University. And JaeLynn Williams, the CEO of Air Methods. Key Insights: Mentors play an important role in career trajectory by providing advice, perspective, and direction. Personal and Professional Development. Renee’s mentor provided an outside perspective, helping her understand her unique strengths and areas for improvement. (1:07) Maintaining Job Opportunities. Dr. Buntin’s mentor pointed out that too many consecutive roles in government would limit her job opportunities in academia. Due to that advice, Dr. Buntin maintained her connections and continued to publish research to keep those doors open. (3:21) What is Your Ideal Job? Jaelynn was given the advice to start with the end in mind. To think about her ideal job and work backwards to determine the experiences and skills necessary to achieve that. This informed her choice to leave a company she worked at for many years to pursue a new opportunity. (4:51)

Meet Cindy Lawrence: Cindy Lawrence is the Executive Director and CEO of the National Museum of Mathematics (MoMath). She started as a volunteer for the organization, and served in a variety of roles including Chief of Operations, Associate Director, and Co-executive Director. She also directs extracurricular mathematics programs with Brookhaven National Laboratory. Previously, she was a Lead Instructor and National Editor for Becker Professional Education. Cindy received a Bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Buffalo, and an MBA from Hofstra University.  Key Insights: Cindy Lawrence is a math enthusiast and leader of the only museum of mathematics in North America: The National Museum of Mathematics (MoMath). Fundraising Through Passion. Asking people for money can be awkward. However, Cindy found that if she focuses on sharing what she’s excited about, and ignites interest in others,the fundraising naturally follows. She has raised millions of dollars for MoMath, and credits it to her passion for math. (4:07) Virtual Museum. Early on, Cindy directed her leadership team to brainstorm and prepare for a potential shut down. This allowed MoMath to smoothly transition to zoom events when the pandemic started. Now, Cindy is working on optimizing hybrid programing for in-person visits, as well as for groups around the country that enjoy MoMath virtually. (17:03) Be Careful What You Volunteer For. Cindy started as a volunteer, but found that she spent more and more of her time at MoMath. She eventually made the leap, leaving an organization she had worked with for 18 years, to work at MoMath full-time. (26:08) This episode is hosted by Julie Gerberding, M.D. She is a member of the Advisory Council for Her Story and the CEO of the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health. Relevant Links: Learn more about The National Museum of Mathematics Listen to “Steven Strogatz Interviews Cindy Lawrence, Executive Director & CEO of National Museum of Mathematics” Stay update with MoMath on Twitter

Meet Megan Ranney, M.D., MPH: Megan Ranney, M.D., MPH is the Academic Dean of the School of Public Health and the founding Director of the Brown-Lifespan Center for Digital Health at Brown University. She is co-founder and Senior Strategic Advisor to the American Foundation for Firearm Injury Reduction in Medicine at the Aspen Institute. Dr. Ranney is also an emergency physician, researcher, and contributor to media outlets including MSNBC, The New York Times, and The Washington Post. She received a Bachelors in the History of Science from Harvard University, and received her medical degree from Columbia University.  Key Insights: Megan Ranney, M.D., MPH is a practicing emergency physician, researcher, and advocate for innovative approaches to health. Relationships. Dr. Ranney’s network of peers provide practical advice as well as social support. She also has mentors and sponsors who have helped create career opportunities for her. Building relationships and friendships are fundamental to career development and career enjoyment. (6:56) Finding Common Ground. Dr. Ranney works with controversial topics. She points out that generally people agree on goals, but disagree on the strategy. A way to build sustainable, community-based solutions is to take away the judgement, focus on the shared goal, and find paths to solutions that converge across stakeholders. (26:26) Balance. Dr. Ranney describes that during different points in her life she was either more focused on her home and family, or prioritized career goals and leaned on her support system. This is okay. Accept that the flux is part of life, and ensure that over the long-run you feel balanced. (30:12) This episode is hosted by Ceci Connolly. She is a member of the Advisory Council for Her Story and President and CEO of the Alliance of Community Health Plans. Relevant Links: Learn more about Dr. Ranney Follow Dr. Ranney on Twitter

Meet the Guests: This episode showcases three guests previously featured on Her Story. Vineet Arora, M.D. is the Dean for Medical Education at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. Stacy Hurt is a Patient Engagement Consultant and HIMSS Digital Influencer. Kimberly Manning, M.D. is the Associate Vice Chair of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the Department of Medicine at Emory University School of Medicine. Key Insights: Social media and the internet have become a growing part of personal and professional careers. Twitter. Dr. Arora uses twitter to correct misconceptions about medicine and discuss important issues in medical education. (1:23) Social Media. Through social media, Stacey discusses and amplifies challenges for patients and caregivers. From her computer, she can reach peers across the country. (3:48) Blogs and Podcasts. Dr. Manning’s blog highlights underrepresented stories of Black patients. Additionally, her podcast provides virtual mentorship for the next generation of health professionals. (6:00)

Meet Jessica Posner Odede: Jessica Posner Odede is the CEO of Girl Effect. She is also a Co-founder and Board Member of Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO). Previously, she was an Associate Direction at Novastar Ventures. Jessica is the author of “Find Me Unafraid: Love, Loss and Hope in an African Slum.” She received a bachelor’s in African American Studies from Wesleyan University.  Key Insights: From Denver, Colorado to Nairobi, Kenya, Jessica Posner Odede is changing the world for adolescent girls.  What is Girl Effect? Girl Effect utilizes media and technology to connect adolescent girls to services and opportunities, like education, finance, and healthcare. They work to decrease barriers and combat internalized gender norms, to create a world where girls are able to take control of their bodies, health, and livelihoods. (1:36) Creating Demand. Investments in services for adolescent girls has increased over time; however, the public and social sector fall short in decreasing the demand gap. Driving demand for important services requires tackling gender norms, decreasing barriers, and providing role models. (17:44) COVID’s Impact on Women. There are 20 million girls out of school due to the pandemic, and many will never go back. The pandemic has decreased schooling and vaccination rates, and increased gender-based violence. The pandemic has created additional challenges for women across the world. (23:32) This episode is hosted by Julie Gerberding, M.D. She is a member of the Advisory Council for Her Story and the Chief Patient Officer and Executive Vice President at Merck. Relevant Links: Learn more about Girl Effect Follow Jessica on Twitter Watch “WISE On-Air: A Conversation On Girl Empowerment Through Media”

Meet Hisani Madison, Ph.D., MPH: Hisani Madison, Ph.D., MPH is the Senior Director and Precision Medicine Franchise Lead at AstraZeneca. Previously, she was a Senior Scientific Reviewer at the FDA and served as a Special Volunteer and Post-doctoral Fellow at the National Cancer Institute. Dr. Madison received a B.S. in Biology from Hampton University, an MPH from Johns Hopkins University, and a Ph.D. in Pathology from Duke University.                             Key Insights: Dr. Madison’s career highlights the importance of balancing strong technical skills with soft skills.  Building Relationships. Dr. Madison emphasizes the importance of building and maintaining professional connections. These relationships create career opportunities or simply let Dr. Madison learn new and interesting insights about her industry. (6:38) Finding Common Ground. As a Black woman, Dr. Madison tries to find details that connect her with people that don’t necessarily look like her. For example, she once befriended a researcher over their mutual love of fashion. Connecting on our similarities, while honoring our differences builds a culture of trust and learning. (10:52)  Building Resilience. In some situations, we feel confident and comfortable, and in others we can feel cowardly. Confidence is often talked about as all or nothing, but we can choose to channel our confidence when we need it. Dr. Madison acknowledges that we face daily challenges, but encourages us to ask “what else is true?” and reflect the daily positives. (17:45) This episode is hosted by Kristi Ebong. She is a member of the Advisory Council for Her Story and Head of Partnerships and Market Development at Define Ventures.     Relevant Links: Read “Q&A with Former Fellow, Hisani Madison, Ph.D., MPH” from the National Cancer Institute Read “Transitioning From the FDA to Working in Pharma” by Women in Pharma Careers

Re-meet the Hosts: This episode showcases the Her Story Advisory Council. Ceci Connolly is the President & CEO of the Alliance of Community Health Plans. Joanne M. Conroy, M.D., serves as CEO and President of Dartmouth-Hitchcock and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health. Kristi Ebong is the head of Partnerships and Market Development at Define Ventures. Julie L. Gerberding, M.D. is Chief Patient Officer and Executive Vice President at Merck. Sanjula Jain, Ph.D. is a co-founder of Think Medium and is an SVP of Market Strategy and Chief Research Officer at Trilliant Health. Key Insights: For young professionals starting their careers, to established leaders looking to refine their skills, Her Story is the show for you. We tell stories by women, for women, to expand the vision of what is possible in healthcare. Bringing Others Along. Ceci emphasizes that women leaders should play a role in supporting and advancing the next generation of leaders. (1:01) Women Together. Dr. Conroy describes how groups of female leaders can help each other find their purpose, create impact, and make meaningful goals a reality. (2:38) Competitive Advantage. Kristi points out that being a woman can be a competitive advantage in male-dominated fields, by providing an outside perspective on the industry. (5:42) Building Your Toolbox. Dr. Gerberding encourages leaders to think of their career as a toolbox – each experience should add a new tool. The more versatile you are, the more opportunities you will have long-term. (7:39) Navigating Healthcare. Dr. Jain describes how healthcare is a complex industry. Her Story explores the multitude of career paths within and associated with healthcare. (9:52)

Meet Mary Rotunno: Mary Rotunno is the General Counsel for El Camino Health and Board Chair at Momentum for Health. She is also a board member for VistaGen Therapeutics, Inc. and SaNOtize Research and Development Corp. Previously, she served as Senior Counsel for the Bay Area Region at Dignity Health. Mary has also worked as a registered nurse. She graduated from University of Illinois at the Medical Center with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and earned her Juris Doctor degree from the University of California. Key Insights: Mary has over 25 years of experience as an attorney specializing in litigation and healthcare law. Most Valuable Skills. Mary shares that the most important skills she uses as General Counsel include flexibility, resilience, and the ability to stay calm in crisis. Sometimes Mary has to provide legal perspectives that are in the best interest of the organization, but not necessarily popular. (10:09) Patient-Care Perspective. Mary’s previous experience as a nurse compliments her work as a General Counsel. She has empathy, and can to relate with clinical staff and understands the healthcare industry from a patient-care perspective. (13:29) Understanding Your Career Trajectory. Mary emphasizes that life and careers are not linear. Be open to opportunities or new challenges, and be agile so you can pivot to those opportunities when they present themselves. You can’t plan your life, because then you have a plan and not a life. (18:30) This episode is hosted by Sanjula Jain, Ph.D. She is a member of the Advisory Council for Her Story, co-founder of Think Medium, and the SVP, Market Strategy and Chief Research Officer at Trilliant Health. Relevant Links: Read “From Nurse to General Counsel: How Mary Rotunno's Passion for Service Led Her to Healthcare Law” Learn more about Mary Rotunno’s role at El Camino Health

Meet Seema Verma: Seema Verma serves on the board of directors for Lumeris, LifeStance Health, WellSky, and Monogram Health. Previously, Seema served as the Administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). She was also the Founder, President, and CEO of SVC. Seema received an undergraduate degree in Life Sciences from the University of Maryland, and a Master’s in Public Health from John Hopkins University Key Insights: From her work at the state level in Indiana to the national stage at CMS, Seema Verma has established herself as one of the nation’s preeminent health policy leaders. Determining Priorities. While CMS administrator, Seema focused on issues that impacted large groups of stakeholders and solved multiple problems at once. For example, addressing interoperability improves quality of care and decreases costs. (12:34) Good Business Practices for Government. Under Seema, CMS reorganized to increase efficiency. The regional offices were better integrated with the national team in terms of communication and workflow, and reorganized by centers of excellence rather than location. (19:12) Advice from a Mentor. No matter the job, there will be some level of dysfunction. Successful people are able to navigate an environment, regardless of the hurdles, to accomplish goals and make the most of the experience. (25:52) This episode is hosted by Sanjula Jain, Ph.D. She is a member of the Advisory Council for Her Story, co-founder of Think Medium, and the SVP, Market Strategy and Chief Research Officer at Trilliant Health. Relevant Links: Former Medicare leader Seema Verma joins board of health tech firm Lumeris One-On-One With Trump’s Medicare and Medicaid Chief: Seema Verma HealthLeaders Women in Healthcare Leadership Podcast: Seema Verma

Meet Robin Bronk: Robin Bronk is the CEO of The Creative Coalition. She is an author, public speaker, and film producer, including producing several award-winning Public Service Announcement campaigns. Robin joined the Creative Coalition in 1998 as the Executive Director. Prior, she was the VP of Corporate Community Strategies at APCO Worldwide. Robin also serves on the New York Cultural Task Force, is a board member of The White House Project, The Close Up Foundation, Carmel Art & Film Festival, Gold Coast International Film Festival, and Young Playwrights Inc.  Key Insights: Robin Bronk highlights the power of the entertainment industry and passion for change by its members. More than Art for Art’s Sake. The original vision of the Creative Coalition was to lobby Congress and ensure continued funding for the arts across America. The organization expanded their vision, and became involved in social issues, such as destigmatizing mental health and obesity, leveraging the power of art to make a difference. (5:04) A Multi-Pronged Approach. One of the Creative Coalition’s campaigns was anti-bullying. They brought WWE Superstars to speak to kids, built a curriculum for teachers, worked with community organizations to prioritize anti-bullying, and worked with state legislations to pass anti-bullying policies. (10:49) Experts in Messaging. The Creative Coalition was asked to help promote vaccinations. They brought together a team of creatives – like writers, producers, and directors – and field experts – including doctors and behavioral scientists. The coalition created scientifically accurate PSAs with audience-specific messaging. (19:13) This episode is hosted by Julie Gerberding, M.D. She is a member of the Advisory Council for Her Story and the CEO of the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health. Relevant Links: Learn more about The Creative Coalition Follow Robin on Twitter Check out Robin’s books

Ceci sat down with Mandy Cohen, former Secretary of Health in North Carolina, and incoming EVP of Aledade and CEO of Aledade Care Solutions. They discuss the intricacies of healthcare policy and opportunities for the federal government and healthcare industry to drive higher-value care. Check it out here or wherever you get your podcasts.

Meet Melinda Buntin, Ph.D.: Melinda Buntin, Ph.D is the Mike Curb Professor and Chair of the Department of Health Policy at Vanderbilt University. She is also the deputy editor of JAMA Health Forum. Previously, Dr. Buntin was a Director in the Health, Retirement and Long-Term Analysis Division at the Congressional Budget Office. She also served as chief economist and founding director of the Office of Economics, Evaluation, and Modeling within the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT. Dr. Buntin received an A.B. from Princeton University and a Ph.D. in Health Policy with a concentration in economics from Harvard. Key Insights: Melinda Buntin, Ph.D. is a leader in health services research and is a health policy expert. Communicating Policy Research. One of Dr. Buntin’s goals for her Department of Health Policy is to not only publish high quality research, but also influence policy and give decision makers the data and evidence they need to make good decisions. (15:03) Joining Two Worlds. To improve health policy, policy experts need to have an understanding of how clinics and hospital operate day to day. In turn, healthcare professionals need to understand how they fit into the broader health system. (18:52) Honest Mentorship. A mentor told Dr. Buntin that if she accepted another Federal job, that could close doors to academia in the future. It was hard advice to hear, but she knew it was right, and continued to publish research and maintain ties with former colleagues to keep that option open. (27:28) This episode is hosted by Sanjula Jain, Ph.D. She is a member of the Advisory Council for Her Story, co-founder of Think Medium, and the SVP, Market Strategy and Chief Research Officer at Trilliant Health. Relevant Links: Follow Dr. Buntin on Twitter Read Dr. Buntin’s writing for the Commonwealth Fund Learn about the JAMA Health Forum

Meet Stacy Hurt, MHA, MBA: Stacy Hurt, MHA, MBA is a Patient Engagement Consultant, Senior Healthcare Advisor for OSP, and is a HIMSS "Digital Influencer." Stacy is also a certified personal fitness trainer, member of the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association, member of the #TelemedNow Thoughtleader group, and member of the Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine. Previously, she was a Strategic Partnership Manager for the Colon Cancer Coalition, and spent her early career in the pharmaceutical industry. She received her MHA and MBA from the University of Pittsburgh.  Key Insights: Stacy is a cancer survivor, caregiver, digital influencer, and accomplished executive in healthcare. She is paving a new path for patient advocacy and engagement.  Giving Patients a Voice. Stacy brings together her personal experience in industry, as a cancer patient, and as an advocate and caregiver to her son, to represent the patient voice is (2:18) The Power of Social Media. Social media is a powerful tool for sharing information and discussing the issues shaping healthcare. It gives patients a voice access to each other as well as to prominent online providers or other healthcare players. (18:50) Advice for Women Leaders. Don’t identify about a problem without at least one potential solution, demonstrate that the solution has value, and stand up for yourself – if you feel something is wrong, it probably is. (26:56) This episode is hosted by Ceci Connolly. She is a member of the Advisory Council for Her Story and is the President and CEO of the Alliance of Community Health Plans. Relevant Links: Learn more about Stacy and her work on her website Follow Stacy on Twitter Connect with Stacy on Facebook

Meet Marna Borgstrom: Marna Borgstrom is CEO of Yale New Haven Hospital and Yale New Haven Health. She started her career at Yale New Haven over 40 years ago, and advanced through positions of increasing responsibility in administration, management, and operations. In 2005, she was selected to serve as CEO, and after 17 years will be retiring in March of 2022. She received a Bachelor’s in Human Biology from Stanford and a Master of Public Health from Yale University School of Medicine.  Key Insights: Marna Borgstrom has decades of experience in healthcare. She reflects on her career journey and leadership, and shares what she will do next.  Operations and Strategy Inform Each Other. Good healthcare leadership requires both operations and strategic expertise. Being a good operator requires the strategic foresight to innovate, and being a good strategist requires understanding the business. (5:00) How to Develop Talent. Marna shares that she spent at least 25% of her time as CEO on talent development. Yale New Haven created a Lean In group to promote mentorship for both women and men. This work strengthened company culture and promoted internal succession. (15:42) Is Retirement the End? Not for Marna! After 43 years at Yale New Haven, she is excited to leave the organization in good hands. She is working on becoming a career coach, taking bucket list tips, and continuing her volunteer work with the Connecticut Center for Arts and Technology (21:16) This episode is hosted by Joanne Conroy, M.D. She is a member of the Advisory Council for Her Story and is the CEO and President of Dartmouth-Hitchcock and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health. Relevant Links: “YNHHS CEO Marna Borgstrom to retire in 2022” Read “Parting thoughts, advice from Yale New Haven Health's retiring CEO” Listen to “’It’s Important to Have a Vision:’ Retiring Yale New Haven Health CEO”

Meet Nimisha Kalia, M.D., MBA, MPH: Nimisha Kalia, M.D. is the Chief Medical Officer at GE Corporate, and an Assistant Professor and Interim Director for the Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and the Executive Director of Health, Safety and Environment for Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Health System. She earned her M.D. at the University of South Florida College of Medicine. She also received an MPH from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and an MBA from the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School. Key Insights: Nimisha Kalia, M.D. always returns to her roots as a clinician. The extra skills and business acumen she’s developed are all to augment the best delivery of care for her patients.  Understand Healthcare Business. Effective healthcare leaders successfully communicate their ideas and back them up with financial evidence, showing that an idea is a financial win-win for all parties. (5:13) Ask for Help. Dr. Kalia was worried about asking for help early in her career. However, when she did it, was received well and she got the support she needed. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. (14:58) Choose Your Battles. The world is the way it is. However, we can select particular challenges we deem worth taking on, to incrementally change the world for the better. (24:51) This episode is hosted by Kristi Ebong. She is a member of the Advisory Council for Her Story and is the head of Partnerships and Market Development at Define Ventures. Relevant Links: Read some of Dr. Kalia’s research Watch “What is the value of Health Coaching?” with Dr. Kalia

Meet Yasmeen Long: Yasmeen Long is the Director of FasterCures, a Center of the Milken Institute. Previously, she served as the co-director of the Health Policy Fellowships and Leadership Programs at the National Academy of Medicine and as a Program Officer at the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute. She was also a Research Program Manager at the Institute for Global Tobacco Control at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Yasmeen received a B.Sc. in Health sciences and Health Management from Howard University, and a M.A. in Sociology and Women’s Health from Suffolk University.  Key Insights: Yasmeen Long has been intentional in her leadership and career.  Getting a Foot in the Door. Yasmeen wanted to work at Johns Hopkins. So, after graduating from Howard she moved to Baltimore, became a temp for Johns Hopkins, cultivated relationships with faculty, and ultimately was hired in a full-time position. (5:11) Finding Common Ground. Yasmeen’s international travels taught her to think differently about the world. She learned to juggle technical and interpersonal skills, finding common ground while working with diverse groups. (17:19) Believe in Yourself. If you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will. There is a self-care component to that, ensuring that you feel good so that you can focus on what matters to you. (21:31) This episode is hosted by Ceci Connolly. She is a member of the Advisory Council for Her Story and President and CEO of the Alliance of Community Health Plans. Relevant Links: Learn more about FasterCures at the Milken Institute Read Yasmeen’s report about “Achieving Health Equity: A Multi-Stakeholder Action Plan to Address Diversity across the Clinical Trials Enterprise and the Biomedical Research Ecosystem” Follow Yasmeen on Twitter

Meet Deena Shakir: Deena Shakir is a Partner at Lux Capital and a Lecturer in Management at Stanford University Graduate School of Business. She serves on the board of directors for multiple organizations including Maven Clinic, SteadyMD, Alife Health, H1, Adyn, Shiru, and AllStripes. Prior to Lux, Deena was a Partner at GV (formerly Google Ventures). She received a BA in Social Studies and Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations from Harvard University, and an MA in Foreign Service from Georgetown University.  Key Insights: Deena Shakir is an accomplished venture capitalist, and particularly interested in intersectional and underdog entrepreneurs. Non-Linear Path. Lots of different career paths or backgrounds can lead to venture capital. However, Deena discusses how building bridges and unexpected partnerships is a key component of her success. (11:48) Embracing Personal Experiences. Deena emphasizes the value of bringing personal experience to building and investing in firms. Her own life-threatening pregnancies exposed to Deena broken aspects of healthcare, and gave her the conviction to invest in women’s health innovations. (14:23) Don’t Put Yourself in a Box. Deena encourages young leaders to take risks earlier in their career, and not let yourself or other put you in a box. Having a combination of soft and technical skills is important for any field. (22:17) This episode is hosted by Sanjula Jain, Ph.D. She is a member of the Advisory Council for Her Story, co-founder of Think Medium, and SVP of Market Strategy and Chief Research Office at Trilliant Health. Relevant Links: Check out Deena’s website Follow Deena on Twitter “Operators Are the New ‘It’ VCs: 10 Lessons On Making The Transition” by Deena Shakir “Top health tech VC Deena Shakir likes underdogs — Why she says her Arab-American identity gives her an edge” from CNBC

Meet Dana Udall, Ph.D.: Dana Udall, Ph.D. is the Chief Clinical Officer at Headspace Health as well as the Chief Clinical Officer at Ginger. Previously, Dr. Udall was a staff psychologist, Specialty Clinical Services Lead, and Eating Disorder Treatment Team Coordinator at the University of Colorado Boulder. She was also the founder of ED Educate and had a private psychology practice. Dr. Udall received a Ph.D. in Education and Psychology Counseling from the University of Southern California. Key Insights: Dana Udall Ph.D. has experience in digital health and novel care delivery in the behavioral health space.  Intentional Leadership. Depending on the environment, Dr. Udall can be more assertive or competitive. However, she knows that she works best in a collaborative, engaged environment. As a leader, she is intentional about creating an atmosphere that allows vulnerability. (15:43) Personalizing Mental Health Care. It is important that mental health resources reflect the backgrounds and identities of the patients, especially for vulnerable or underrepresented groups. There is no “one size fits all” for treatment. (25:52) Ask For Help. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. It creates better solutions through crowdsourcing, and protects your mental health. (34:38) This episode is hosted by Kristi Ebong. She is a member of the Advisory Council for Her Story and an investor at Define Ventures. Relevant Links: Learn more about Headspace Health Learn more about Ginger “My History with Anorexia and Why I Share My Story” By Dana Udall, Ph.D.