Ep 46. Carolyn Schafer - Kellogg: Big Ambitions in Healthcare

Today’s guest is Carolyn Schafer, a Kellogg MBA student with a deep background in global health and public service. Before Kellogg, Carolyn earned a Master’s in Public Health and worked across Burkina Faso, Malawi, and Sierra Leone on global health and youth mental health research, including projects with former child soldiers and their families. After several international roles were cut short by forces outside her control, she made a strategic pivot to domestic healthcare, joining Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine and quickly rising to lead research operations. In this episode, Carolyn shares why she chose Kellogg to add a business lens to her public health career, what it’s like returning to school as a working professional, and how she navigates leadership, identity, and advocacy in the part-time MBA program. We also discuss: 🔹 Blending social impact with business thinking 🔹 Lessons from global and domestic healthcare systems 🔹 Her goal to lead a major health-focused NGO 🔹 Why she encourages others to take a chance on themselves A thoughtful conversation for anyone interested in healthcare, social impact, or purpose-driven leadership.