Katie’s Notebook: March 27, 2025

Written By Katie McMillan

Good morning,

This year kicked off with a fast and furious start. Suddenly we are at the end of Q1! How did that happen? I am so thrilled with all of the new opportunities I’ve been exploring, but it’s also a reminder that our careers naturally ebb and flow. I spoke with 20 UNC undergraduates this week about the jobs I’ve had, education I pursued, choices I’ve made, family I created, business I’ve built, and pieces I’ve written. One of the hardest lessons to learn when you are young (honestly I am still working on learning it) is that you don’t always have to have everything figured out. Keep making honest efforts to move forward and the universe will reward you when it’s time. Know when you need rest and take it. Accept the slow times as moments for creativity and exploration without deadlines breathing down your neck. At the end of the day we just all hope to build a beautiful and meaningful life. I hope I was able to portray some of those thoughts eloquently during the 90 minutes I spend with the students.

Let’s jump into the FIVE:

  • Fall plans: I went to the Women’s Health Innovation Summit a few years ago and hope to go back again this year. I remember learning about the Three Daughter’s IUD (which is still in clinical trials) and being completely amazed at an entirely new design that would make the IUD insertion process much more comfortable for women. I am still cheering them on! The conference is November 5-6, 2025 and I just saw this week that speaker applications are open. The link is readily available on the home page — if you are working in women’s health, get that application in!

  • Finding happiness: My sister suggested this Life Kit podcast episode that talks about how to know yourself in order to define what makes you happy. It’s a pretty quick listen and I loved the part about how you respond to requests for your time or attention. It’s a unique insight into personality typing.

  • Facts and figures: Rock Health’s latest report, Screenagers to Silver Surfers: How each generation clicks with care, is a must read. It covers how each generation engages with health technology and there are some surprising differences. The report digs into how often each generation used virtual care in the past 12 months, track at least 1 health metric digitally, own wearable or connected devices, their willingness to share data with a provider, and if they completely trust health information shared by their provider. If you are working in digital health and building or selling products this is a great cheat sheet to understanding target market motivations and activities!

  • Fun top: I admired this Sezanne blouse for years and finally bought one. I recently wore it to a female entrepreneur event and was blown away by how many people said, “Is that from Sezanne? I have it in another color! Or, I have been wanting to buy it!” Mine is silk which feels so adult, feminine, and luxurious, but I have my eye on this floral cotton option and now there is a sleeveless one for summer. It’s the kind of shirt that makes a whole outfit.

  • Fierce founders: Springboard Enterprises announced their Women’s Health cohort this week and there are some incredible founders on the list. Loved seeing Andrea Ippolito from SimpliFed on the list (one of my favorite clients!) and Stacie McEntyre from Couplet Care (a local UNC neighbor!) Congrats to all in the cohort!

What I’ve Been Writing

Fun Finds

  • My friend alerted me that my favorite spring shirt (I have it in 4 colors) is now available in a swimsuit coverup! I just got the pink one and can’t wait to take it on my next tropical vacation.

  • I enjoyed Chrissy Farr’s interview with Georgina McMillan on the Second Opinion podcast. They explored medical influencers and the balance between harm and benefit in celebrities getting loud about health issues. There was also some discussion around framing wellness in a way that speaks to people’s inner vanity versus what’s good for the long-term health of their bodies. All in all, a compelling listen.

  • I spent last weekend with 10 ladies from my book club, which inevitably led to a conversation about some of our favorite books. A few of us rallied around Hench as a surprisingly creative superhero and villains story. Many have read Killers of a Certain Age, a delightful tale of retired female assassins, and I am waiting for the latest sequel, Kills Well With Others to hit my Libby account. I also strongly endorse Deanna Raybourn’s Veronica Speedwell series for those that love a historical fiction mystery with a strong female character.

That’s a wrap on this issue’s notes.

Until next time,

Katie

Katie McMillan
Next

Katie’s Notebook: March 10, 2025