Dr. Norah Obudho

What was your first job, and what did it teach you?

My career began as a medical intern in a rural public hospital in Western Kenya. The workload was grueling, and this trial-by-fire taught me this: when human resources are severely stretched, collaboration becomes your greatest asset. It was our collective, synchronized effort with nurses and others that ultimately bridged the gaps and saved lives.

What have you learned to do differently as you’ve moved into more senior roles?

Greater authority demands greater responsibility for cultivating people and driving collective outcomes. I realized that impactful leadership begins within; it requires deep self-awareness and emotional intelligence. At the executive level, the role shifts entirely from operational control to influence – inspiring others to align with and achieve a shared vision.

Who is someone who’s had a big influence on your career?

My father, Eng. Washington Oluoch, has been the single biggest influence on my career, investing deeply in both my education and my professional trajectory. An engineer by trade who trained in Russia, he instilled in me a defining approach to excellence: the understanding that success is built on the sum of small, consistent habits. He taught me to see myself as a "24- hour scholar"—someone for whom learning never ceases.

When did you start thinking about using your skills to effect social change?

That drive started when we would travel upcountry to our rural home. Having noticed skin lesions on my younger cousins' hands and legs associated with their proximity to cattle, I began carrying ointments during the holidays to clean and manage them. I loved seeing them recover. Medicine became the clear path. Working at Kakuma refugee camp is where public health truly came alive for me. Realizing that a single nutritional intervention could instantly impact the nutritional status of thousands of refugees was a turning point. That is when I chose to dedicate my career to public health.

What strategies do you employ to manage through difficulty?

First, I deliberately acknowledge the challenge, allowing myself the room to process the emotional reality of the situation rather than rushing past it. Emotion for me is a data point, not a weakness. Once grounded, I evaluate the crisis through the lens of my circle of influence (what is within and beyond my control).

What’s the biggest or scariest challenge you’ve taken on as an organizational leader?

Discerning the exact moment to exit an organization and transition into a new chapter. True leadership occasionally requires the courage to walk away. Saying no to environments that compromise your well-being and diminish your capacity to lead effectively can be terrifying but essential.

How do you organize your time?

In distinct buckets: physical well-being, leadership commitments, consultancy work, and family. I have learned to fluidly integrate these areas based on priorities and focus on being fully present. Sometimes I intentionally allow for a complete "shutdown" to recharge.

What’s a good outcome for you, professionally, in the year ahead?

Completing my second master’s degree in Business Administration! And to actively expand my professional networks.

People would be surprised that I…

...once had an entire career move determined by a cricket, scorpion, and snake! As much as I have dedicated my life to healthcare and public health, I discovered that I absolutely cannot share my space with those particular creatures. It turns out that establishing leadership boundaries applies to nature, too!