CPH 20 — Grief, Healing, and Purposeful Leadership — A Conversation with Simone McPherson, MPH, CHES

Courageous Public Health

On This Episode Of The Courageous Public Health Podcast

In this candid and inspiring conversation, Simone McPherson, MPH, CHES shares how grief, faith, and courage have shaped both her life and her public health leadership. From navigating the sudden loss of her brother to finding her voice as an evaluator and entrepreneur, she reflects on what it means to turn pain into purpose and to lead with both heart and vision.

Simone invites us into her journey of healing and transformation—stepping beyond comfort zones, claiming her multifaceted identity, and building a consulting practice rooted in equity and community impact. With honesty and hope, she reminds us that purpose often emerges from our deepest challenges, and that prioritizing wellness is itself a radical act of leadership.

Meet Simone McPherson, MPH, CHES

Simone McPherson, MPH, CHES, is a powerhouse public health scientist, evaluation and research consultant, and kingdom-minded entrepreneur on a mission to ignite change and transform communities. With over a decade of experience across federal, state, local, and community levels, she has led and supported the evaluation of diverse public health initiatives from national programs to grassroots efforts.

Simone’s expertise spans the development of health equity frameworks, mixed-methods research, qualitative and quantitative analysis, and turning complex findings into actionable insights that shape policy and improve health outcomes.

But her story goes beyond the credentials.

Simone’s journey began with a simple question: “How can we use health information to truly make people’s lives better?” That question has fueled her to launch with purpose, Women Impacting Nations Consulting, LLC (W.I.N Consulting), a women-owned public health evaluation and research firm that helps mission-driven organizations elevate community voices, design impactful programs, and tell powerful stories through data.

Grounded in integrity, intention, and a bold commitment to justice, Simone brings the courage to lead with both purpose and precision by transforming strategy into healing and data into real-world solutions.

Listen To This Episode of The Courageous Public Health Podcast

Conversation Highlights

• From Loss to Legacy — Simone opens up about the devastating death of her brother due to medical negligence, how it shaped her family’s experience of grief, and how she channels that pain into advocacy for better health care and equity.
• Faith as Fuel — She shares how her spirituality and the scripture “Be strong and courageous” (Joshua 1:9) guide her through fear, grief, and the unknown.
• From Comfort to Calling — After job loss, Simone stepped into entrepreneurship, founding Women Impacting Nations (WINN) Consulting to help mission-driven organizations use data to ignite change.
• Power Without Burnout — She challenges the notion that Black women must equate power with exhaustion, advocating instead for boundaries, holistic wellness, and creating a life you don’t need a vacation from.
• Redefining Public Health Leadership — Simone envisions a future where women of color lead boldly, where success stories are amplified, and where data and community wisdom together drive meaningful change.

“I describe my life as a rubber band — every time I think I’ve stretched far enough, God says, ‘Pull more. You’ve got more.’” — Simone McPherson, MPH, CHES

Stay In Touch:

Simone McPherson, MPH, MAcon LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/simone-mcpherson/

Email Dr. Kristi McClamroch - [email protected]

Dr. Kristi McClamroch on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch/

www.CourageousPublicHealth.com

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Public Health Consulting To Support You

At Courageous Public Health, we are turning up the volume on courage within women, particularly Black, Indigenous, and Women of Color who are doing the work of public health. We support public health organizations through workshop design and facilitation, and speaking engagements. Interested in working with us? Reach out on email, LinkedIn, or our website!