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HIT Like a Girl Pod: Empowering Women in Health IT

HIT Like a Girl Pod: Empowering Women in Health IT

By: Like a Girl Media
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HIT Like a Girl Pod is back—with Joy Rios, Grace Vinton, and Rebecca Love. Three women. Three lenses. One big conversation about the future of healthcare, technology, and leadership. Policy & tech. Patient. Nursing. Each mini-series begins with all three of us around the mic, framing the big question. Then each of us hosts an episode through our own lens—bringing you voices you haven't heard, perspectives you haven't considered, and healthcare conversations that actually matter. We don't have all the answers. We just know these conversations are worth having. This podcast is built on joy, fueled by love, and led with grace. Bigger vision. Deeper impact. Stronger together. Join the community. Subscribe now.2026 Economics Hygiene & Healthy Living Management Management & Leadership Physical Illness & Disease
Episodes
  • Changing Who Writes the Checks: Naseem Sayani on Women Investors, Social Capital, and Building the Women’s Health Pipeline

    Changing Who Writes the Checks: Naseem Sayani on Women Investors, Social Capital, and Building the Women’s Health Pipeline
    Sep 8 2026
    In this episode, host Grace Vinton welcomes Naseem Sayani, founder and CEO of GCWC and Director of WHAM’s Innovators Circle. They dive deep into a critical question: why does it matter who allocates capital, not just who raises it? Naseem shares her journey from incubators to founding her own fund, revealing the collaborative and abundance-driven style that sets women investors apart. She debunks persistent myths—like the idea that women-led funds are "sweet" or that women are bad with money—and offers invaluable advice for founders: lead with the market opportunity, not just the pain point. The conversation explores the need to bridge the social capital gap, the coordinated approach behind WHAM's Innovators Circle, and her vision for redesigning venture capital from the ground up. Tune in to hear how Naseem is building a new kind of pipeline and learn how you can be part of the change. What You'll Learn: Why having more women as decision-makers changes what gets funded and the behaviors that technology creates. The collaborative, "abundance" style of investing that is reshaping GP-founder relationships. The truth behind the top myths about women investors (spoiler: we're great with money). Why building social capital across the gender divide is crucial for getting startups through Series A and B rounds. How WHAM's Innovators Circle is coordinating capital to prevent losing critical innovations in women's health. Practical advice for founders: lead your pitch with the money and the market, not just the problem. Naseem’s thoughts on the future of health tech, biotech, and why a more integrated approach to "the health of women" is needed. Resources & Links: Naseem’s Substack: gcwccapital.substack.com Naseem’s Podcast: The Capital Flex Connect on LinkedIn: Naseem Sayani Chapters: 00:00 | Welcome and Intro 00:20 | The Case for Women Allocating Capital 01:52 | A Collaborative Investing Style 03:03 | Debunking Myths About Women-Led Funds 05:15 | Early Investing Lessons & Diligence 07:09 | Is Venture Capital's "Game" Changing? 08:54 | WHIM's Innovators Circle: A Pipeline Engine 11:13 | GCWC's Media Platform & New Fund 13:24 | The Stigma & Semantics of Women's Health 15:33 | Pitching "The Health of Women" 17:12 | Opportunities & Structural Shifts for Investors 19:43 | Advice to Younger Self & Where to Find Naseem
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    22 mins
  • Prescribing Wealth: A Doctor's Prescription for Financial Freedom

    Prescribing Wealth: A Doctor's Prescription for Financial Freedom
    Sep 1 2026
    Is your money working for you, or are you just working for your money? Dr. Nkem Ezeamama, CEO of Pheenyx Capital Investment, is an ER physician who discovered that the business of medicine was changing faster than the practice of it. When a private equity firm took over her hospital and began slashing physician hours, she realized relying solely on her clinical income was a risk she couldn't afford. In this episode of HIT Like a Girl pod, Nkem shares her journey with host Joy Rios from treating patients to building Pheenyx Capital, a firm that helps healthcare professionals break free from the "golden handcuffs" of their salaries. Tune in to hear: The Trigger: How the shift to "corporate medicine" forced Dr. Ezeamama to pivot from burnout to building wealth. The Results: How she and 150 investors (90% in healthcare!) have acquired over $153 million in assets. The "Scarcity" Trap: Why so many high-earning professionals suffer from imposter syndrome and how she helps them shift to an abundance mindset. The Mission: Why she is focused on pulling up other women in a historically male-dominated industry and what it takes to get started. If you are a busy professional looking to diversify your income and build a legacy, this is the roadmap you’ve been waiting for. Key Points with Timestamps 01:00 | From Burnout to Building Wealth: Dr. Nkem Ezeamama, an ER physician, was forced to rethink her career when a private equity firm took over her hospital, cut physician hours, and shifted focus to the "business of medicine" over patient care. This led her to seek alternative income sources. 02:10 | The Genesis of Phoenix Capital: Recognizing that few healthcare professionals and women were investing in real estate, Dr. Ezeamama built a company to help others build passive income and grow wealth outside their daily practice. 03:45 | The Biggest Win: A Mindset Shift: The most significant impact she's made is helping healthcare professionals overcome the limiting belief that they can only do medicine, shifting their mindset from being a "worker" to becoming an "owner" of income-producing assets. 04:45 | The Reality Check on the Housing Market: While the market is daunting, she emphasizes that the first step is education, and the second is partnering with the right operator who understands market analysis, population growth, and landlord-friendly terms. 06:10 | The Numbers So Far: In just 3.5 years, Pheenyx Capital has grown to 150 investors (90% healthcare professionals), acquired $153 million in assets across the Southeast, and provided housing for nearly 800 families. 07:45 | Women as Investors: In a historically male-dominated field, Dr. Ezeamama is proud that she has a higher percentage of women investors than men. Her goal is to create more seats at the table for women and pull others up as she grows. 09:30 | The Abundance vs. Scarcity Mindset: She openly discusses overcoming imposter syndrome and emphasizes that there is "plenty for all of us." She encourages women to link arms and go far together, rather than competing from a place of scarcity. 12:15 | Small Steps Lead to Financial Freedom: She stresses that financial freedom is not achieved overnight but through consistency and taking tiny steps every day. She lives by the motto, "Tiny drops fill an ocean." 13:00 | Leading with Gratitude: Dr. Ezeamama credits gratitude for helping her appreciate how far she has come, which is essential for maintaining the mindset to continue moving forward. 14:45 | The Magic Number to Start Investing: To invest in Pheenyx Capital's deals, SEC rules require a $200,000 annual income (or $300,000 with a spouse) or a $1 million net worth (excluding primary residence). However, she notes that other real estate avenues (like duplexes or single-family homes) require much less capital to start. 17:45 | The Goal: 10,000 Healthcare Professionals: Her big-picture mission for Pheenyx Capital is to help 10,000 healthcare professionals start building wealth and understanding that financial freedom is possible. 19:00 | Group Investing: You Don't Have to Do It Alone: She emphasizes that investors don't need to manage properties themselves—they can pool capital while she and her team handle the day-to-day operations, allowing them to continue doing what they love.
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    23 mins
  • From Patient to Pioneer: Mariya Filipova on Investing, Convergent Care, and the Oral-Systemic Health Revolution

    From Patient to Pioneer: Mariya Filipova on Investing, Convergent Care, and the Oral-Systemic Health Revolution
    Aug 25 2026
    When a routine physical uncovered a giant kidney tumor, Mariya Filipova’s life and career trajectory were irrevocably changed. Faced with the daunting "standard" medical path of a nephrectomy, she chose to take a weekend to think differently. That single decision sparked an 18-month journey as her own healthcare quarterback, coordinating care across oncology, nephrology, genetics, and computational science—and ultimately preserving both her kidneys and her quality of life. Today, as the founding partner of Marram Ventures and CEO of Proclaim Health, Mariya is on a mission to fix the systemic fragmentation she experienced firsthand. Her powerful investment thesis—"Convergent Care"—seeks to break down the professional and financial silos that have separated oral health from overall health for nearly 100 years. In this compelling episode, she discusses the startling lack of women in venture capital decision-making roles, the connection between gum disease and chronic conditions like diabetes and preterm labor, and why the solution lies in understanding healthcare's complex incentive structures. Join host Rebecca Love for a conversation that exposes the absurdity of a fractured system and offers a clear, actionable blueprint for how patients, employers, and investors can drive the change toward a truly integrated healthcare future. Why Women Investors Matter: The absence of women in venture capital decision-making roles isn't just a diversity issue—it's a market failure. By investing in what matters to the 51% of the population that makes the majority of healthcare decisions, we can build a smarter, more effective system. The Power of a Frustrated Patient: Mariya’s personal health scare taught her that a successful outcome isn't just surviving surgery; it's returning to a full, vibrant life. This patient-centered definition of success is the north star for her investment and leadership philosophy. The Healthcare "Black Box": As an executive at a major health plan, Mariya discovered the system's shocking inability to aggregate simple data, like total employer spending across medical, dental, and vision benefits. The same silos that frustrate patients are embedded in the business of healthcare. A 100-Year Divide: The separation of medicine and dentistry is a historical accident, not a biological reality. The scientific consensus is clear: inflammation in the mouth directly impacts the heart, brain, and pregnancy outcomes, yet the system refuses to connect the dots. Speaking the Language of Incentives: True change won’t come from disruption alone. It requires speaking the language of employers, health plans, and benefit administrators—showing how convergent care can reduce costs and improve quality by lowering high-cost claims (like NICU stays) through better oral health. Key TakeawaysKey Points with Timestamps 00:00 | Welcome & Guest Intro Host Rebecca Love introduces Mariya Filipova, a woman she describes as one of the most incredible people in her decade-long career. 01:30 | The Thesis & The Disconnect Mariya defines "Convergent Care" and explains the investment thesis behind Marram Ventures. She discusses the shocking statistic that only 10-17% of VC decision-making roles are held by women. 05:47 | A Life-Changing Diagnosis Mariya shares the pivotal story of her "accidental find" of a giant kidney tumor, revealing how a routine physical turned her from a jet-setting executive into a scared patient in 72 hours. 08:19 | The 18-Month Journey She details her decision to reject a "convenient" nephrectomy and coordinate her own care. This section reveals her inspiring fight to preserve her kidney and her life, and how she defines success as "full recovery." 15:39 | Fragmentation from the Inside Mariya exposes the "shocking" reality of the business side of healthcare. A simple request to an employer's total spend across medical and dental took a six-week project to complete. 18:09 | The Oral-Systemic Link Mariya connects the dots between gum disease and chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and preterm labor, calling out the scientific absurdity of treating the mouth as separate from the body. 21:20 | The Role of Incentives Mariya explains how to drive change by speaking the language of benefit managers. She details how a single preterm labor claim can cost up to $1 million, and how preventative dental care can prevent it. 24:00 | The Power of the Employer She makes the case for why self-insured employers are the key to unlocking convergence, acting as the "buyer" who has the power to demand integrated dashboards and better benefits. 27:09 | Actionable Steps & The Call to Invest Mariya provides a powerful, three-part call to action for patients, employers, and women. She encourages female executives to start seeing themselves as investors, building wealth while supporting mission-aligned companies. 33:35 | Closing & Thanks Rebecca and Mariya wrap up with final thoughts on the future of...
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    37 mins
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