After building teams and launching new ventures for others, it’s time to use my skills – and my voice – to help transform women’s health from the inside out.
It’s time for something new.
After nearly 30 years building and scaling teams at two large companies, I felt it was time for something new. In my career I’ve been adept at uncovering market opportunities and reimagining business models; in my career I’ve built ten organizations from the ground up. The question was: what to build next?
More than a decade ago, I turned my attention to healthcare because I wanted to improve patient experiences and outcomes. As a management consultant to biopharma companies, I gained deep insight into the healthcare ecosystem, but I also saw firsthand how distant these companies often were from the patients they aimed to serve. When it came time to make a change, I felt that digital health (or more broadly healthtech), would enable me to leverage my background in product innovation and commercial execution for maximum impact.
As I explored opportunities in healthtech, women’s health stood out as a fast-growth area with a wealth of opportunity to make an impact both socially and commercially. Last year’s Women’s Health Innovation Summit (WHIS) in Boston was a defining moment. Surrounded by extraordinary women – MDs, scientists, entrepreneurs – the energy and commitment was infectious. I was wowed by startup founders pitching groundbreaking ideas, and observed how investors probe for social and economic impact. The contrast to my previous experiences in management consulting (where women accounted for only 13% of leadership roles) was energizing and inspiring.
Why focus on women’s health?
Despite women making up half the world’s population, women’s health receives only a small fraction of global R&D funding and investment. The lack of funding leads to critical gaps including missing scientific data about women’s bodies, innovation that doesn’t meet the needs of female bodies, culminating in missed diagnoses and and suboptimal care delivery.
At the same time, the market opportunity in women’s health is compelling. Valued at nearly $10B in 2024 and projected to reach $12B by 2030, the sector is ripe for innovation. McKinsey’s Health Institute and the World Economic Form (WEF) project a $1T (yes, that’s T for trillion) economic opportunity by 2040 if investment and innovation accelerate. But these numbers are more than market share – they represent real lives, real impact, and an overdue correction of systemic inequities.
My own health challenges have contributed to my desire to galvanize change in this space. Like many leading in femtech, my passion is fueled by infuriating experiences in a healthcare system that often overlooks or undermines women’s unique experiences. Women spend many more years in ill health than men, and it’s time to change that.
When searching for a new executive role last year, my “big company” credentials initially seemed like a mismatch for startups. Yet, through countless conversations across the industry, I realized my skill set – refining product strategy, reimagining business models, and optimizing operations for hypergrowth – is exactly what women’s health companies and their investors need.
Let’s change the future together.
Women have historically been excluded from clinical trials, resulting in data gaps that affect basic science, and ultimately diagnosis and treatment. These gaps impact patient experiences and outcomes in a profound way. As the spotlight finally lands on women’s health, we have an extraordinary opportunity to drive change. That’s why I am thrilled to be building a business focused on healthtech and the business of women’s health, both as a consultant and content creator. Here’s what you can expect:
- Practical advice and candid lessons from nearly 30 years of experience leading innovation and growth in tech.
- Engaging stories of founders, breakthrough technologies, and market trends that are transforming the sector and improving patients’ lives.
- A welcoming forum for your questions, and a space dedicated to advancing health equity in real and actionable ways.
My hope is to connect with executives in women’s health, investors, healthcare professionals, patients, and advocates who believe the health and vitality of women is a lynchpin for society as a whole. Together, we can accelerate progress and make a meaningful impact.
If you believe healthcare is a fundamental human right, that women’s experiences have been misunderstood and under-supported for too long, and if you’re excited by the potential of human-centered technology to change this landscape, I invite you to subscribe and join me. Let’s learn, innovate, and advocate for a healthier, more equitable future together!
I am an executive operator, management consultant, and investor in FemTech. I use my 20+ years of experience in the software industry – combined with my Ph.D. in Anthropology – to drive innovation and growth in healthtech companies, with a focus on the business of women’s health.
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