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Sharon Williams
Scientific Amici
We got the chance to speak with Sharon Williams of Scientific Amici on what it's like to be a female founder, what she's learned, struggles along the way and what she wants to share with others.
We'd love to learn about your business and what you do. Can you share more?
I always knew I was going to have a career in health care. After grad school, when many of my classmates were heading to DC for careers in health policy, I went back home to upstate NY to be near my family and work to pay off student loans. I met with my state senator to get his thoughts on what I could do. He introduced me to the CEO of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Plan where I interviewed for a role that created my career trajectory.
Long story short, I worked my way through the ranks, moved around the country and eventually became a health plan CEO. The health plans were constantly restructuring and I was getting sick of moving around. When I moved to Atlanta to be the COO of a health plan, I thought this is home. I was recruited to work for a consulting firm and loved the work. Loved the travel. Didn’t like the hierarchy or politics.
I went into business for myself in 2012 and haven’t looked back. My consulting practice started out as SWB Consulting and rebranded a few years ago as Grow Healthcare. My clients are health plans and providers/health systems. I also advise digital health companies and start-ups. I recently cofounded another company, Scientific Amici with a buddy from grad school. We match non-profit hospitals to bio pharma companies and expand the pool of principal investigators for clinical studies.
We also have a partnership with a public benefit company to bring capital to those safety net providers. My dream is to help the US create a cradle to grave affordable health care system. I am energized by networking and the people I meet.
Achieving a balance between personal life and business demands is a hot topic. What strategies have you found effective for maintaining harmony in your life?
I am learning to listen to my body. I am a lifelong learner who’s naturally curious about everything. I am learning to listen to when I need to slow down and hibernate to take care of myself. I can’t be running in the streets all the time.
There’s a rhythm to the work, rest and play that I have developed and I get to decide what to do, when and with whom. It’s very important to me to work with smart and kind people. If I start down the path with someone and sense, this isn’t right for me, I have learned to say no and back out gracefully if it isn’t work my time or reflects my values.
No is such a small word but somehow challenging to say.
How do you leverage community and collaboration in your business strategy? We're keen to explore how female entrepreneurs are strengthening ties and creating synergies with other businesses and community members.
I am inclusive by nature. Collaboration is the essence of how I work and thrive. I intentionally seek out collaborators, meet people in real life that I have connected with on LinkedIn or listened to on a podcast if I liked how they sounded and appreciated what they had to say.
When I look back over my career, I think about the people I have created businesses with, mentored and built meaningful relationships.
I joined Women Business Leaders in health care because I wanted a broader sense of community with women who want to help other women and lead in our industry. I have been inspired by how they move through the world as leaders and uplift each other personally and professionally.
Failure is often seen as a taboo subject, but it can be a powerful teacher. Could you share an experience where you faced failure and how you turned it into a learning opportunity?
I am not afraid of failure. I fear regret. I tried getting into a few businesses and could not compete with the larger companies and monied people in the industry. When I tried to open a cannabis retail dispensary in Boston, I couldn’t get anyone to sell me property without trying to take advantage of me. Then Covid helped me redirect my energy back to healthcare. I also tried getting into wireless energy with a colleague I met at an entrepreneur conference and we couldn’t get past the large companies who owned the patents in that space. I gained experience, learned some lessons and taught me I need to focus on what I know best, healthcare.
Every entrepreneur faces hurdles along the way. Can you talk about a significant obstacle you've overcome and what you learned from it?
Your network is your net worth. Early on I focused on learning the operations and how the sausage is made. Now, I spend more time networking, being curious about what people do and how they go there and how they are planning their journeys. I take inspiration from everywhere and almost everyone.
What advice or tips would you have for other female founders starting their businesses?
Don’t doubt yourself. Do it!
You will amaze yourself at your ability to create whatever it is you want in this world. Don’t let perfection get in the way of it’s good enough for now and just continue to build. Start small and be open to all possibilities. Listen to that voice in your head. The positive voice, not the negative one. Build an advisory team to help you explore and think out loud. No regrets, just experiences. My best wishes to you and good luck on your journey.
Find Sharon on Instagram at @swhealth007
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