In this episode of the Courageous Public Health Podcast, Dr. Jovonni Spinner shares what it looks like to do it scared — betting on yourself, speaking honestly about equity, and leading with conviction even when the room gets uncomfortable. This is a conversation about courage as a practice — about pivoting without calling it failure, leaving the "good government job" to build Beacon Public Health, leading with clarity, compassion, and conviction, and protecting your peace with boundaries, rest, and a full-body "no." Meet Dr. Jovonni Spinner Dr. Jovonni Spinner is an award-winning public health entrepreneur, author, TEDx speaker, and thought leader dedicated to advancing health equity through innovation, strategy, and social impact. Believing that health is a fundamental human right, she founded Beacon Public Health to help organizations design culturally responsive programs that strengthen systems and improve community well-being. Her entrepreneurial leadership—rooted in equity, collaboration, and purpose—bridges research, education, and practice to create sustainable, inclusive solutions that close health gaps and uplift historically marginalized communities by ensuring their voices shape the solutions through authentic engagement. Through impactful campaigns on maternal health and obesity, Beacon has become a trusted voice in public health, helping individuals and communities make informed, confident choices about their well-being. Dr. Spinner aims to expand Beacon's Public Health Impact Academy to support professionals to lead with purpose and reimagine health systems that honor culture, dignity, and justice for all. Conversation Highlights Do it scared — and bet on yourself anyway: Dr. Skinner reflects on leaving a highly coveted government position in the DMV to found Beacon Public Health, moving from rumination to action, and trusting her vision before the full path was clear. Pivoting is not failure: She reframes shifting direction as a sign of courageous leadership and self-awareness, not weakness—choosing growth over comfort and clarity over ego. Clarity, compassion, and conviction: Dr. Skinner shares the three C's that guide her leadership, especially in rooms where naming structural racism, power, and inequity makes people uncomfortable. Rest is the baseline, not the reward: From setting boundaries to letting "no" be a complete sentence, she speaks candidly about protecting her peace and rejecting the narrative that exhaustion equals worth. Community-led solutions as a non-negotiable: Dr. Skinner challenges top-down public health approaches, calling for equity to be embedded as a core function, prevention to be prioritized over profit, and lived experience to be valued as expertise—not an afterthought. "I didn't need any more plans. I didn't need another business plan. I didn't need another idea. I just needed to start." — Dr. Jovonni Spinner Stay in Touch With Dr. Jovonni Spinner LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/cmadavis-mph-b507ba54/ Website: www.beaconpublichealth.com Email: [email protected] Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook: Beacon Public Health Personal: Dr. Jovonni Spinner (all platforms) With Dr. Kristi McClamroch LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch/ Website: www.CourageousPublicHealth.com Subscribe to Weekly Courageous Public Health Podcast Updates: http://eepurl.com/jcgQv6 Public Health Consulting to Support You We partner with public health, healthcare, nonprofit, philanthropic, and government organizations to offer facilitated, interactive virtual 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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