In this episode of the Courageous Public Health Podcast, Natrina Kennedy reflects on what happens when we stop defining ourselves by our titles and start leading from a deeper understanding of who we are.
From founding a nonprofit at 22, to recognizing when it was time to let it go, to helping students connect their own stories to the work of public health, Natrina shares how understanding her identity has shaped every chapter of her leadership journey.
This conversation explores how our lived experiences shape the questions we ask, the work we pursue, and the impact we’re ultimately able to make.
At its heart, it asks a deceptively simple question: Who are we underneath it all?
Meet Natrina N. Kennedy, MPH✨
Natrina N. Kennedy, MPH, is a Public Health Strategist who works at the intersection of community, data, and corporate social responsibility—helping institutions turn complex challenges into clear, human-centered strategy.
She is an Associate Divisional Strategy Consultant at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, where she leads strategic planning and evaluation across community-based initiatives. Her work includes supporting a $4M+ annual budget for the Blue Door Neighborhood Centers and leading high-impact efforts such as a three-year colorectal cancer screening campaign that distributed 3,078 FIT kits across 314 Illinois zip codes, primarily reaching communities facing socioeconomic hardship.
Beyond her corporate role, Natrina teaches undergraduate students at Loyola University Chicago, equipping future public health leaders to strategically create community-centered solutions led in partnership with those with lived experiences. She is also a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) student at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, specializing in Women’s and Reproductive Health. Previously, she founded and led a nonprofit known as the Women’s Health Initiative, Inc, which focused on reducing economic, racial, and social health disparities for women, primarily on the Far South Side of Chicago—an experience that continues to shape her belief that strong strategy is deeply human and grounded in equitable action.
Conversation Highlights 🎙️
- Who You Are at Your Core — Natrina reflects on how identity—not titles, accomplishments, or roles—has become the foundation for her leadership, her work, and the decisions she makes.
- The Courage to Pause — After years of building, leading, and constantly moving forward, Natrina shares why slowing down, prioritizing her health, and making space for reflection have become some of the most courageous decisions of her life.
- From Lived Experience to Public Health Leadership— As a professor, Natrina challenges students to examine how their own stories shape the public health questions they ask, the communities they serve, and the solutions they create.
- Heart Posture — Drawing on a lesson from her mother, Natrina explores the importance of regularly “checking your heart posture”—aligning your values, intentions, and actions before trying to change the world around you.
- Impact, Flexibility, and Legacy — Looking toward the future, Natrina reflects on moving beyond titles and achievements to build a life defined by meaningful impact, flexibility, good health, and a legacy grounded in community.
“It is my identity, who I am, that’s got me to this space. And so everybody kept asking for the secret sauce and how did I do this? And it was really just me.” — Natrina N. Kennedy, MPH
Stay in Touch 🔗
With Natrina N. Kennedy, MPH
LinkedIn ↗: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natrinakennedy/
Instagram ↗: https://www.instagram.com/natrinanekole/
TikTok ↗: https://www.tiktok.com/@natrinanekole
With Dr. Kristi McClamroch
LinkedIn ↗: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch
Follow for weekly reflections on courage and leadership ↗: http://eepurl.com/jcgQv6
Speaking & Leadership Development 🤝
Dr. Kristi McClamroch partners with organizations navigating complexity through keynote presentations, workshops, and leadership development.
Her work helps leaders better understand themselves, one another, and the conditions that shape what’s possible.
To explore speaking or consulting opportunities, connect on LinkedIn ↗ or visit our website ↗.