Kathryn Godburn Schubert

How can we bridge the gap between scientific research and policy to create lasting change in women's health?In this engaging conversation, Kathryn Schubert, President and CEO of the Society for Women's Health Research, shares her journey as a trusted leader and advocate for women's health. She dives into her work, driving major investments in research, pushing for the inclusion of pregnant and lactating populations in clinical trials, and shaping public policy through science, education, and advocacy.Kathryn also discusses effective advocacy strategies—relationship building, personal storytelling, and policymaker education—while offering insights on leadership, board service, and the role of personal branding in advancing organizational goals. The conversation wraps up with a powerful discussion on staying motivated in advocacy and celebrating progress along the way.Takeaways:Build Meaningful Relationships: Advocacy and policy success depend on trust and personal connections. Genuine relationships can lead to long-term alliances and new opportunities.Prioritize Sex Differences in Research: Advocate for the inclusion of women in clinical trials and highlight the ethical issues of exclusion. Use historical milestones to showcase progress and remaining challenges.Leverage Personal Connections: In both professional and advocacy settings, understanding and utilizing personal interests can influence outcomes. Small gestures, like remembering personal details, help build strong rapport.Maximize the Power of a Small Organization: Small teams can create a significant impact by forming strategic partnerships and bringing in external expertise. Focus on niche areas where you can lead while collaborating broadly.Advocate for Your Team: Support staff growth by ensuring their voices are heard, especially those who may be less vocal. Create an environment that fosters professional development and inclusivity.Use LinkedIn and Social Media Strategically: Strengthen your personal brand to amplify your organization’s mission. Be intentional with posts, share authentic stories, and engage consistently with your audience.Celebrate Small Wins: Advocacy work can be slow-moving, but recognizing progress—no matter how small—keeps motivation high. Regularly reflect on achievements to sustain long-term commitment.Quote of the Show:"The key word, I think, is listening. Many of us in advocacy, especially policy advocacy, love to talk—we have plenty of ideas and opinions. Maybe some of us were in debate club and feel the urge to jump into a discussion to win it. But I think it's crucial to first sit back and truly hear what someone is saying about their concerns. Even before getting to the listening part, there's a connection that needs to be made."Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathryn-godburn-schubert-07352a7/ Website: https://swhr.org/ Shout Outs:Judy SchneiderSteve Taylor Chuck HendersonLeah Howard National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF)

The National Health Council (NHC) Leadership Conference brings together leaders from top patient organizations and nonprofits to foster connections, discuss leadership topics, and share best practices in nonprofit management. This year's theme, "The Future of Leadership," focused on the evolution of leadership in response to changes in healthcare, technology, policy, and crisis management. The conference equips leaders with tools to navigate current challenges and future opportunities, ensuring their leadership adapts to a rapidly changing world.At the event, host Anthony Shop moderates a powerful panel of CEOs who discuss their roles as Chief Influencers on LinkedIn. The panel features Chuck Henderson, CEO of the American Diabetes Association; Katie Schubert, President and CEO of the Society for Women's Health Research; and Steve Taylor, President & CEO of the Arthritis Foundation. They share insights into their success on LinkedIn, focusing on how they have built trust, maximized engagement, and fostered personal connections through the platform.The CEOs offer practical tips on content strategy, posting frequency, and how to engage with comments and tags. They highlight the impact of their social media presence in achieving meaningful outcomes such as talent recruitment and securing major funding. The discussion emphasizes the value of using LinkedIn to reach wider audiences and the importance of commenting, liking, and reposting relevant content to amplify organizational messages.Takeaways:CEOs see ROI from LinkedIn: Make it a habit to regularly connect with peers, industry leaders, and your audience. For instance, the speaker encourages everyone to connect with him on LinkedIn as a first step toward meaningful engagement.Faces Are the New Logos: Personal presence is key to building trust. Share your personal experiences and stories to create a deeper connection with your audience. Remember, trust is built through people, not just organizational logos.Share the Stage: Celebrate and promote others. Instead of focusing solely on your own achievements, highlight the successes and contributions of colleagues and partners. This not only amplifies your message but also uplifts others.Build Internal Champions: Cultivate a strong internal network within your organization. True external support begins with advocacy and engagement from within your own team.Embrace the Gray: Blend your professional and personal brand by showing up authentically. While different contexts may call for varying levels of personal sharing, authenticity should always be at the core.Engage with Content: Actively like, comment, and share relevant posts. This increases visibility and sparks conversations, making networking just as important as posting your own content.Schedule and Be Consistent: Use scheduling tools to ensure regular content posting at optimal times. Reposting or sharing valuable content with your own insights can further boost engagement. Repurposing content from other platforms, like Instagram, can also be effective on LinkedIn.Links:Chuck HendersonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlesdhenderson/ Website: https://diabetes.org/ Kathryn Godburn Schubert LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathryn-godburn-schubert-07352a7/ Website: https://swhr.org/ Steven TaylorLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-taylor-a18b9b2/ Website: https://www.arthritis.org/ Shout Outs:Eric Racine: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericracine/ Jean Wright: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanwrightmdmba/ Randall Rutta: https://www.linkedin.com/in/randall-rutta-1622952/ National Health Council: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-health-council/