When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Even at a young age, I was a relationship builder. I gravitated to connecting with others, sharing a vision and rallying a group with infectious energy and charm. I have always been a connector of people and things, finding great joy in leveraging my memory and ability to link people and ideas to build connections. In college when I took my first sales and marketing courses, it somehow all clicked on the path I was meant to take.
What would you do if you didn’t work in healthcare?
I have a lot of passion for the lifestyle industry — be it fitness, food/nutrition, travel, music, fashion or media. We are seeing a proliferation of lifestyle companies moving into and influencing the health space. Fresh, non-traditional models with an emphasis on experience such as concierge healthcare clinics and telehealth have emerged. Fashion-forward yet functional wearable devices that measure vitals and gourmet, nutritious home-delivery services were on display at the HLTH conference this past year and it’s exciting to see health having an impact on every aspect of our lives.
What do you like most about working in healthcare marketing?
The unique challenge, and opportunity, to be creative and breakthrough in a highly regulated space. It is easier to swing for the fences when selling a lipstick or sneaker brand; much harder when you are navigating the highly personal, highly regulated and sometimes sensitive space that is healthcare. Perhaps that is why I gravitated to Nox Health and sleep. Good sleep has very clear clinical benefits such as reducing and preventing chronic disease, yet also helps you look and feel better, improves memory, energy and executive functioning. And it adds years to your life.
What frustrates you most about working in healthcare marketing?
The healthcare delivery system remains broken. It can be very difficult to navigate the complicated maze of providers, payers and solutions to find the care one needs; care options aren’t always available or optimal; and waste in the system along with costs for patients, payers and providers continue to rise. Progressive and powerful value-based care models that put the person at the center, remove friction and focus on outcomes are emerging, but not quickly enough.
Who was your mentor? What made her or him an effective mentor?
There are many mentors I’ve had in my career — with the most impactful ones emerging during inflection points in my career. One particularly powerful one is Dorothy Gemmell who hired me in 2008 at WebMD and was one of the first to challenge me to continually reinvent myself, picking up new skill sets along my career journey. She gave me the confidence to follow in her footsteps, pivoting from the healthcare content and media space into telehealth technology and care delivery solutions, leading me to join Livongo/Teladoc and Nox Health. She is still a go-to adviser.
What are you doing to mentor others — to send the career ladder back down, so to speak?
Three things:
1. Like my mentors, I encourage others to reinvent themselves. For example, just because you grew up in one part of healthcare doesn’t mean you can’t spread your wings to explore other aspects of the space. Healthcare is a very big ecosystem and there are so many opportunities to make an impact while growing your skill set.
2. I am a big believer in mentoring and networking organizations. Many years ago I joined an organization in NYC called Power Women, filled with a diverse array of up-and-coming and senior executive women. My love for the organization inspired me to launch a Chicago chapter and prompt a Denver chapter creation as well. At an executive level I am active in Chief and Nerdy Girls Success, an organization that promotes girls in tech careers with an aim to change the landscape of leadership by supporting and preparing young women to become the decision makers of today and tomorrow.
3. I encourage others to create their own diverse personal board of directors and enlist that board in helping them achieve their goals. Be vocal in sharing goals with your most trusted advisors to help you be accountable.
What’s something your colleagues don’t know about you?
My new(est) passion/obsession is gardening. As my two oldest kiddos went off to college and we were desperately seeking new home-based activities to break the monotony during COVID, my husband and I built fruit, vegetable and herb gardens. It’s so much fun to watch the seedlings grow and produce. I’ve learned a lot and have much more to learn. Fresh produce makes every meal better.
What are the three things in your daily workspace that you can’t live without?
Plants and flowers! Plants give off oxygen, energy and life. I buy myself a bouquet (or two) of fresh flowers every Sunday and enjoy how they bloom throughout the week.
A friend gave me a deck of cards called The Big Box of Happiness that has cards to pull from when you’re feeling stressed or in a rut. Tips such as “read a poem,” “call your best friend,” “stare at your favorite color” or “take a dance break” really help — especially on the days when it’s Zoom call after Zoom call.
My two English Cream Golden Retrievers. There is nothing like a furry buddy sitting at your feet who wants a pet or snuggle just when you need a calming influence.
What is your favorite book (or TV show, movie, band or song)? What about it resonates strongly with you?
I love really smart, clever writing — easily found in streaming series such as Succession, Billions or Fleabag. I also love spy and crime stories — With my newfound love of Iceland (Nox Health has its founding offices there) I’ve watched all of the Nordic Noir shows twice!
What’s on your to-do list for when you retire?
So many things! Definitely board work and advisory work: I love leaning into advising companies that I am passionate about — especially those in women’s health. I am currently serving as an independent board member for Solis Mammography and look forward to continuing to help companies transform and achieve growth. I love learning about new countries, languages and cultures and hope to do loads more global travel with my family and friends. Packing suitcases for personal versus work travel would be a joy! Also dedicating more time to favorite things like gardening, cooking and entertaining.
