In this episode, Dr. McClamroch reflects on what 50 conversations have taught her about courage in public health — how it shows up, why it often goes unnoticed, and what changes when we begin to name it clearly. Because if there’s one thing she sees now, it’s this: courage is already happening — it’s just not being recognized. And when it is, something shifts.
Conversation Highlights 🎙️
1. Courage is already happening — it’s just not being named
Across conversations, women described making difficult decisions, holding boundaries, and navigating uncertainty—but rarely called those actions “courage.” What looks like ordinary responsibility is often unrecognized leadership.
2. Recognition changes how people lead
When someone names their own courage, something shifts. Not just internally—but in how they speak, decide, and show up. Visibility creates capacity.
3. Courage is a response to conditions, not a personality trait
Courage doesn’t belong to certain people. It emerges in specific moments—under pressure, constraint, and risk—when alignment with values is still possible.
4. Misclassification hides leadership capacity
When courageous actions are labeled as “just doing the job,” they disappear from how we understand and support leadership. What isn’t named can’t be strengthened or scaled.
5. Courage can be intentional
Courage doesn’t have to be accidental or reactive. When recognized, it can be practiced, applied, and used deliberately to guide decisions and leadership under pressure.
“Courage is not rare. It’s unrecognized.” — Dr. Kristi McClamroch
Stay in Touch 🔗
With Dr. Kristi McClamroch
LinkedIn ↗: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch
Website ↗: www.CourageousPublicHealth.com
Follow for weekly reflections on courage and leadership ↗: http://eepurl.com/jcgQv6
Public Health Consulting to Support You 🤝
We partner with public health, healthcare, nonprofit, philanthropic, and government organizations to design and facilitate interactive workshops for women leaders in public health — turning courage into a leadership skill so it becomes an organizational strength.
If your organization would benefit from this kind of support, we’d love to connect. Reach out on LinkedIn ↗ or through our website ↗.
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