Blair Palmer (MPH ‘01) is a purpose-driven and visionary social impact leader with senior management experience in the public and private sectors. With a deep passion for innovation, strategic partnerships, and epidemiology, Blair holds experience working at UNICEF, the United Nations, and the World Health Organization. She is passionate about applying entrepreneurial solutions to the world’s most pressing issues. Throughout the conversation, she shared her career journey and provided practical advice for students looking to bring innovative solutions into the realm of public health.

Palmer defined intrapreneurship as a “positive troublemaker” role within an institution, challenging norms to bring innovative ideas forward. She noted that intrapreneurs must engage diverse stakeholders to advance initiatives. While at UNICEF, she supported Khushi Baby, a wearable health technology that improves child health outcomes in underserved communities, demonstrating the power of “wearables for good” to make a positive impact. In discussing partnerships, Palmer emphasized focusing on shared values rather than language to create a unified goal across organizations. Learning from the communities you work with is key to building lasting, meaningful partnerships.

Palmer also emphasized data’s role in “illuminating community needs” and enabling real-world impact. At the Center for Humanitarian Data, she helped build a platform to clean and aggregate data, empowering organizations to draw insights and mobilize resources effectively. She underscored the ethical responsibility to ensure data-driven approaches remain centered on the communities they serve. Reflecting on her experience with the WHO during a public health crisis, Palmer shared strategies for achieving “small wins” to build momentum and make substantial progress. She described the importance of consistent, process-focused work, which proved invaluable in accelerating vaccine distribution.

For students eager to drive change, Palmer advised identifying problems they are uniquely positioned to solve, sharing that “success leaves clues that others can follow.” Her tips for incorporating innovation into public health included:

1. Remain positive in the work that you do.
2. Build systems that outlast your involvement – Sustainability is key!
3. Find the opportunities. Don’t always look for the deficit and gaps. Think: Where are all the opportunities where you can make change forward?
   

Learn more about the UNICEF Office of Innovation and Blair by visiting: https://www.unicef.org/innovation