Home: Atlanta, GA. Profession: Healthcare; digital health consulting. Organization(s) / Title(s): Innsena, Chief Strategy Officer and Principal; Zorya Foundation, CEO. Alma mater: The Pennsylvania State University.
Current project: Growing the Zorya Foundation, a direct-action philanthropy I founded to help women advance in the healthcare industry, and building out the new market access practice at Innsena, a digital health G2M consultancy in founded in 2017. Recent recognition: My first angel investment, in the women- and Latina-led EmpiricaLab, is helping to address the challenge of rapidly scaling the healthcare workforce. Also, someone recently told me that I’m a shark, which sounds cool. Recent professional development: Started a new market access practice at Innsena, a digital health g2m consultancy I founded in 2017. I’m proud that today this is our consultancy’s fastest growing business unit. Latest accomplishment: Negotiated data sharing agreements between some unusual partners in the healthcare industry resulting in the better flow of data across seven states. What’s been your big (or biggest leap)? Founding Zorya Foundation. Seeing it take off has been a hard but incredible experience. Hobbies: Foraging. I spend a lot of time in the woods picking mushrooms, digging up roots and gathering wild grapes, berries, etc.
Personality profile: GSD. What one word would your closest friend use to describe you? Fearless. Moral compass: I’ve never regretted helping someone out. How do you define an ideal business relationship? A good relationship. Even the most logical deals don’t work if they lack relational connection. What is your greatest joy? Knowing that we can all affect change. What is your greatest fear? A bad future for my children. What is your guilty pleasure? Wine. What is your favorite place (or way) to spend money? Investing in start-ups led by women and/or minorities.
What was your first paying job? Picking strawberries at the farm down the street. What book have you repeatedly read? A Moveable Feast, by Ernest Hemingway. What movie have you repeatedly watched? Lost in Translation. What’s prominently featured on your home or office wall? A deer skull. What modern technology innovation do you most appreciate? Slack. What’s the best advice you received growing up? You can do whatever you want to do, but it might be really hard. What’s the best advice you received in your career? You can say no. And you can say no at any time.
What change are you working on to effect in your profession or field?
Two: connecting health data networks across the country, state by state; contributing financially and professionally to ensure women have more representation in healthcare leadership roles. What change would you like to see in the world? Greater relational intelligence, which will come from greater representation across industries. What widely held belief do you reject? That good leaders need to be highly vulnerable. What mega-trend most concerns you? Media bias. Perception is reality.
What title would you choose for the movie about your life? Who Knew? As a kid, what did you first want to be when you grew up? A diplomat. After your loved ones, what object would you first save from your burning home? My grandmother’s amber necklace from Slovakia. What advice would you give your younger self? They will underestimate you. Use that to your advantage.
Favorite quote: “Never underestimate the power of a small group committed to changing the world. In fact, it’s the only thing that ever has” (Margaret Mead). Desired epitaph: She worked hard and did the good things.
