by Katy Robinson | Jan 31, 2025 | Women Who Lead
In the rolling farmlands of northwestern Wisconsin, Shelly Lanning’s journey began amid dairy farms and grain elevators. Her family ran the local feed mill, an experience that deeply influenced her understanding of interconnected systems. This rural backdrop was more than just a childhood setting—it was a living laboratory that sparked her fascination with the delicate balance between environment, nutrition, and health.
“Everything we were attached to was about animals, their care, the land, and farming,” Shelly recalls. This early exposure cultivated a holistic view of health that would later define her work in healthcare innovation.
Bridging Science and Human Experience
At the University of Minnesota, Shelly’s academic pursuits refined her interdisciplinary approach. She immersed herself in physiology and chemistry, drawn to the intricate ways scientific principles manifest in human biology. Her studies weren’t just about memorizing textbooks but understanding the profound connections between different scientific disciplines.
“I was very interested in this combination of various aspects of science and what impact that it had on your body,” she explains. Her curiosity extended to understanding fluid dynamics and how blood flows through the human system, revealing an early passion for connecting complex scientific concepts to tangible human experiences.
The Venture Capital Years: A Landscape of Healthcare Innovation
Shelly’s professional trajectory took her through the dynamic world of healthcare venture capital. For nearly 25 years, she navigated the complex ecosystem of emerging healthcare technologies, first with a seed and early-stage healthcare venture capital group, and later at Morgan Stanley’s Healthcare Private Equity group.
Her work wasn’t just about financial investments but about identifying transformative potential. She looked beyond immediate market sizes, seeking technologies and companies that could fundamentally change healthcare delivery and patient experiences.
Discovering Women’s Health Disparities
Approximately eight years ago, Shelly’s career took a profound turn with the discovery of ‘women’s health’ as a category. Her first investment in women’s health—a fetal and maternal medicine venture from the Mayo Clinic—unveiled a startling reality: maternal outcomes in the United States were significantly lower compared to other developed nations. Even more shocking: more than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S. at the time were determined to be preventable.
This revelation wasn’t just a statistical anomaly for Shelly; it became a mission. She delved deep into research, convincing herself and others about the critical gaps in women’s healthcare. Subsequent investments in fertility-based companies further solidified her commitment.
Visana Health: Revolutionizing Women’s Healthcare
With Visana Health, Shelly found a true blending of her passions. She was introduced to Visana CEO Joe as a potential investor in his company and was once again surprised by the large number of women’s health conditions that had been systematically overlooked—endometriosis, uterine fibroids, chronic pelvic pain, and conditions like menopause that society had long considered taboo.
“We didn’t grow up talking about them, we didn’t really understand what they were or how to treat them or why they were important,” she reflects. “I liked Joe and his model enough to join him as a Co-Founder.”
Challenging Scientific Paradigms
One of Shelly’s most passionate critiques is the historical male-centric approach to medical research. From anatomy books to clinical trials, male bodies have been the default standard—a paradigm that fundamentally misunderstands women’s unique physiological experiences.
“What we know now is that so much of women is completely different than men, right down to the very cell of every single aspect of every single system in the body,” she emphasizes.
Innovative Care Model
At Visana Health, Shelly is pioneering a revolutionary care approach. Unlike traditional 15-minute medical consultations, the Visana Health model offers appointment times of up to 60 minutes or more as needed based on the patient’s health concern. Here, women can discuss comprehensive health concerns—from physical symptoms to mental health, recognizing the intrinsic connections between bodily systems.
Continuous Learning and Personal Growth
When asked about professional challenges, Shelly mentions that she at times can experience imposter syndrome. Transitioning from a broad investment perspective to deep, specialized knowledge at Visana Health initially shook her confidence.
Her strategy for overcoming self-doubt is both practical and inspirational:
- Develop a 24-month career vision
- Identify core competencies needed to achieve that vision
- Set incremental monthly goals
- Create a “personal board of directors” for support and guidance
A Vision for the Future: Collaborative and Inclusive Healthcare
Looking ahead, Shelly sees a promising shift in professional dynamics. Where women were once cutthroat competitors due to limited opportunities, there’s now more collaboration and mutual support.
Her observations about workplace flexibility are nuanced. While remote work offers benefits, she cautions about potential drawbacks, particularly for early-career professionals who might miss crucial networking and learning opportunities.
The Enduring Power of Perseverance
Shelly Lanning’s journey is a powerful narrative of perseverance, innovation, and unwavering commitment to transforming healthcare. Her story demonstrates that with curiosity, resilience, and a holistic vision, one can fundamentally reshape industries.
by Katy Robinson | Jan 22, 2025 | Women Who Lead
In the intricate and demanding world of healthcare, true leadership is forged through resilience, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to making a difference. Spring Moore’s remarkable journey provides a profound testament to the power of perseverance, illustrating how personal challenges can transform into professional strengths.
A Childhood That Shaped a Career
Spring’s path to healthcare was not a random choice, but a deeply personal calling rooted in her early life experiences. Growing up on a farm, she developed a unique perspective on care and healing. “I had a deep sense of compassion and wish to help anything that was hurting,” she reflects. Her childhood, which she describes as colorful and challenging, became the fertile ground from which her compassionate nature grew.
Working with animals on the farm taught her an invaluable lesson: “You can do small things to help an animal recover faster or keep them safer.” This early understanding of nurturing and support would later translate seamlessly into her nursing career.
Building Foundational Skills
Before becoming a nurse, Spring worked in customer service, an experience that further refined her interpersonal skills. “I got to see some of the traits that fit well with wishing to bring joy, positivity, and help,” she explains.
Finding Her Professional Niche
When Spring began her nursing career in 2010, she discovered a perfect match for her personality in the Neurotrama Intensive Care Unit. Her detailed nature and ability to remain calm under pressure made her an exceptional critical care nurse. “I realized that my ability to remain calm and perform well in stressful situations was actually a perfect fit for the Neurotrauma ICU,” she shares.
Embracing Professional Uncertainty
One of the most pivotal moments in Spring’s career came when she transitioned from bedside nursing to a role supporting hospital organizations in glycemic management software. This shift was not without its challenges. “I went overnight from expert to novice,” she candidly admits, describing a period of professional transition.
Confronting Imposter Syndrome with Strategic Resilience
Instead of allowing self-doubt to derail her, Spring developed a strategic approach to personal and professional growth. Her methods for navigating uncertainty included:
- Intentionally seeking wise counsel
- Watching expert recordings
- Consulting mentors
- Leaning into uncomfortable learning experiences
- Pursuing recommended skills
Her guiding principle became “just do the next right step” – a philosophy that helped her navigate complex transitions with grace and intentionality.
A Family Legacy of Determination
Spring draws profound inspiration from her aunt, who immigrated to the US and rose from an administrative assistant to a vice president of an international company. Her aunt’s life philosophy of embracing unexpected changes and encouraging others to pursue their full potential deeply influenced Spring’s approach to both personal and professional challenges.
Balancing Professional Demands with Personal Well-being
Recognizing the potential for burnout in healthcare, Spring has become intentional about work-life balance. “Start early and make balancing the two a habit,” she advises, reflecting on her own journey of learning to prioritize self-care. She schedules time for family, friends, and personal activities, understanding that personal resilience is crucial for professional effectiveness.
A Patient-Centered Approach to Healthcare Innovation
In her current role at Monarch Medical supporting hospital organizations with glycemic management software, Spring remains committed to a holistic, patient-centered approach. “Even though we’re dealing with software, it’s crucial to keep the focus on improving patient outcomes and promoting wellness,” she emphasizes.
Contributions to Positive Change
Spring sees her contribution to healthcare not through grand gestures, but through authentic, compassionate interactions. “I want to embody the values I wish to see and encourage those around me,” she explains. Her approach focuses on collaboration, trust, and maintaining a positive culture that supports healthcare professionals and, ultimately, patient care.
Wisdom for Future Healthcare Professionals
If Spring could send a message to her younger self and aspiring healthcare professionals, it would be a powerful reminder of resilience: “Failure is an opportunity. It’s not a bad thing to experience a no or a closed door. Keep your eyes on the goal, but remain open and receptive to what life will bring.”
The Essence of Perseverance
Spring Moore’s story is a powerful narrative of perseverance in healthcare. Her journey demonstrates that success isn’t about avoiding challenges, but about how we choose to respond to them. As she wisely notes, “Discouraging moments don’t have to define how you choose to show up.”
For aspiring healthcare professionals, Spring’s narrative offers an inspiring blueprint: embrace challenges, remain compassionate, cultivate resilience, and never stop learning.
by Katy Robinson | Jan 22, 2025 | Women Who Lead
Christine Nicodemus’s path to becoming CEO of Wayhaven is a powerful narrative of resilience and purpose. Her story begins with a profoundly personal experience that would ultimately shape her professional mission. During her college years, Christine faced significant mental health challenges.
The Seeds of Innovation
Christine transformed her struggle into a driving force for positive change. Her entrepreneurial journey began with her first company in the K-12 space, where she focused on measuring students’ social and emotional skills. Drawing from resilience theory, she understood that social and emotional skills serve as protective factors for mental health and wellness.
Wayhaven: A Mission-Driven Solution
Driven by her personal experiences, Christine founded Wayhaven – an innovative AI-powered mental wellness platform designed specifically for college students. The company takes a unique approach by collaborating closely with clinical psychologists to create a specialized AI that provides support through evidence-based tools and techniques derived from cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, and mindfulness practices.
What sets Wayhaven apart is its hyper-localized approach. The AI is meticulously tailored to specific campuses, integrating knowledge about local resources, clubs, and events to provide truly personalized support. A student chatting with the AI on Wake Forest’s campus, for example, will receive responses contextualized to that specific campus ecosystem.
Navigating Uncertainty
Perseverance wasn’t just an abstract concept for Christine – it was a daily reality that tested her resolve. She candidly shares a critical moment in her entrepreneurial journey when her first startup was on the brink of financial collapse. With only a few months of runway remaining, she faced the daunting task of asking her team to take voluntary pay cuts.
“I had raised a couple hundred thousand dollars to hire a small team around me, and we were getting to the end of our funds…I was feeling immense doubt.”
The emotional weight was significant. Yet, in an unexpected twist of fate, the pandemic became a turning point. As students transitioned to remote learning, demand for Ascend Goals services surged, and investor interest was renewed.
Beyond Professional Success
Christine’s approach to perseverance extends far beyond professional achievements. She emphasizes the critical importance of not defining oneself exclusively through work. Her personal philosophy centers on creating a balanced life and maintaining perspective.
“I’m all about flexibility between the two domains,” she explains, discussing her approach to work-life balance. Some days might involve working late into the evening, while others include midday activities like a [CN2] run to rejuvenate herself.
Inspiration and Personal Growth
Her commitment to personal development is evident in her diverse interests. Christine is a competitive flag football quarterback with ambitious goals. She even challenged herself to perform stand-up comedy, demonstrating her willingness to step outside her comfort zone and embrace vulnerability.
When asked what she would tell her younger self, Christine’s wisdom shines through. Her message is clear: embrace humility, don’t take yourself too seriously, and recognize that success often involves a combination of hard work and occasional lucky breaks.
A Role Model’s Perspective
Christine finds inspiration in leaders like Amanda Lannert, CEO of Jellyvision, whom she admires for mentoring underrepresented founders and giving back to the entrepreneurial community. This reflects her own approach to leadership – one that values creating a supportive workplace where team members can flourish both professionally and personally.
The Most Rewarding Aspect
For Christine, the most fulfilling part of her work isn’t just the technological innovation – it’s the human impact. She finds profound motivation in student feedback, particularly stories of individuals who found crucial support during challenging times.
“I get this a lot when I get to read student reviews of our AI…reading success stories of students who mention, ‘Hey, I was really going down a spiral here, and this helped me a lot’ – that goes a long way.”
A Message of Hope and Resilience
Christine Nicodemus embodies the true spirit of perseverance – transforming personal challenges into a mission that supports and empowers others. Her work with Wayhaven is more than a business venture; it’s a testament to the power of resilience, innovation, and compassionate leadership in healthcare.
Her journey reminds us that our most significant challenges can become the catalysts for our most meaningful contributions.
by Katy Robinson | Jan 22, 2025 | Women Who Lead
For too long, women’s health has been overlooked and understudied, but Dr. Brittany Barreto is breaking barriers and driving change. As the founder of FemHealth Insights, she’s redefining leadership in women’s healthcare by driving innovation and fostering meaningful transformation.
From Lab Coat to Leadership
Dr. Barreto’s journey began in genetics, where she earned her PhD. But she quickly realized her impact could extend beyond the laboratory. “I felt like I had too much personality to work in a lab my whole life,” she recalls. This realization led her to entrepreneurship, where she found her true calling.
Her first venture was groundbreaking: the world’s first DNA-based dating app. Though the company eventually closed due to policy changes, this setback became a stepping stone to her current mission. “I use that opportunity to kind of jump into my next career,” she explains, demonstrating the resilience that would become her trademark.
Breaking New Ground in Venture Capital
The transition to venture capital proved transformative. Dr. Barreto began mentoring and investing in women’s health companies, introducing her to the world of FemTech. This industry, named by Ida Tin, encompasses solutions for conditions that solely, disproportionately, or differently affect females, women, and girls.
What started as mentorship quickly revealed a stark reality about women’s healthcare. “I started to mentor these founders, and of the things I realized was that they were working on things that I couldn’t believe were still problems,” Dr. Barreto shares. The innovations weren’t just addressing minor improvements – they were creating first-ever solutions or updating technologies that hadn’t been improved in centuries.
Building Infrastructure from Scratch
Recognizing the lack of resources in the field, Dr. Barreto took action. “Our industry had a name, but no infrastructure,” she explains. Starting with a podcast during lockdown in March 2020, she began building that infrastructure. The podcast quickly gained thousands of listeners across dozens of countries, demonstrating the global hunger for information about women’s health innovation.
The Power of Market Intelligence
One of Dr. Barreto’s most significant contributions has been quantifying the women’s health market. “People thought women’s health is niche, which is another word for no one’s quantified it,” she explains. Her research revealed a market worth at least $1.2 trillion, challenging the “niche” narrative and providing crucial data for investors and entrepreneurs.
What sets FemTech apart is its founder demographics. “80% of FemTech founders are female, which is a higher percentage than any other tech industry in the world,” Dr. Barreto notes. These founders often bring personal experience to their innovations, creating solutions born from a firsthand understanding of the problems they’re solving.
Inspiration and Mentorship
When asked about her role models, Dr. Barreto cites Cindy Eckert, founder of Sprout Pharmaceuticals, as a primary inspiration. “She would go on CNBC and be like, ‘There are 13 approved drugs for erectile dysfunction and zero for female sexual dysfunction,'” she recalls, admiring how Eckert maintained her personality while achieving tremendous business success.
The Future of Women’s Health
The landscape of women’s healthcare is changing rapidly. Dr. Barreto points to recent developments, including the Biden administration’s approval of $100 million for women’s health research and the first-ever study of menstruation in zero gravity. These advances signal growing recognition of the importance of women’s health research.
Through her consulting firm, podcast, and book “Unlocking Women’s Health: FemTech in the Quest for Gender Equity,” Dr. Barreto continues to build bridges between innovation and women’s health. Her work demonstrates that with persistence, vision, and collaborative spirit, transformative change is possible.
“We’re not just hoping the men take action. We are taking action,” she declares, embodying the spirit of leadership that’s helping to reshape the future of healthcare. Through her continued advocacy and innovation, Dr. Barreto is ensuring that women’s health moves from the margins to the mainstream of medical innovation.
The Impact of Education and Awareness
Dr. Barreto’s commitment to education extends beyond her business ventures. Her podcast, “FemTech Focus” is available on major streaming platforms. It takes a deep-dive approach to specific topics within women’s health, making complex medical concepts accessible to listeners worldwide. “We have listeners in 142 countries,” she notes proudly, demonstrating the global appetite for accurate, accessible information about women’s health.
Her recently published book serves as a comprehensive guide to the FemTech industry, combining scholarly research with practical insights from over 100 podcast episodes. This work represents another step in her mission to build the infrastructure necessary for sustained growth and innovation in women’s healthcare.
Through these various channels, Dr. Barreto continues to challenge assumptions, break down barriers, and create pathways for future generations of healthcare innovators. Her story is about more than just personal success – it’s about creating systemic change that benefits women worldwide.
