Amanda Swartz

I attribute much of my success to growing up in a healthcare environment where service, resilience, and accountability were simply part of everyday life. My mother spent more than four decades as a Director of Nursing in senior living communities, and from an early age I was volunteering in dementia care units and witnessing firsthand the dedication required to care for others.

Those early experiences shaped my perspective on healthcare and responsibility. Later, working as a Certified Nursing Assistant and transitioning into healthcare practice management allowed me to understand both the human side of patient care and the operational systems that support it.

Each stage of that journey reinforced the importance of building strong organizational foundations that allow providers to focus on what matters most—caring for people. That commitment to supporting healthcare professionals through thoughtful systems, structure, and strategy continues to guide the work I do today.

The best career advice I was ever given was to “stay safe.” Ironically, that advice motivated me to do the opposite. It pushed me to question the idea of settling for roles that felt predictable or limiting and instead pursue opportunities that allowed me to grow, build, and create something of my own.

Rather than staying within what felt safe, I learned to trust my ability to step outside traditional paths, take calculated risks, and design a career aligned with my values. That mindset continues to guide my work today—encouraging innovation, independence, and the confidence to build systems and organizations that didn’t previously exist.

My advice to young women entering the industry is to build businesses in response to real needs rather than just personal interests. Many people start a business because they enjoy doing something, but without a clear demand, it can lead to years of financial stress and uncertainty. The strongest businesses are built when there is already a need—when people are asking for the service and actively seeking a solution.

For those entering healthcare specifically, I believe it is increasingly important to think early about which side of the healthcare landscape you want to work within. Today there are two very distinct paths: working within the traditional insurance-based system, which operates through structured coding, diagnoses, and regulatory frameworks, or working within emerging models such as functional, longevity, or direct-care medicine that operate outside of insurance reimbursement.

Neither path is inherently better than the other, but they require very different mindsets and operational approaches. Understanding which environment aligns with your goals early in your career can help you build the right skills, experiences, and expectations. Most importantly, remember that healthcare is evolving quickly, and there is room for innovation. The future of medicine will require leaders who are willing to think differently about how care is delivered and how wellness is supported long before illness occurs.

One of the biggest challenges in my field is the growing divide between traditional insurance-based healthcare and private or functional medicine models. This separation can make it difficult for practitioners to transition between systems, as each operates under very different structures and expectations.

At the same time, this shift presents an opportunity to rethink how care is delivered. It opens the door for more innovative healthcare models focused on longevity, preventative medicine, and creating sustainable environments for providers who are often working under staffing shortages and demanding schedules.

One of the values that guides both my work and my personal life is transparency and empowerment through knowledge. After studying data analytics and seeing how information—especially in marketing—can sometimes shape perception rather than reflect reality, I realized how important it is for people to have access to clear, honest information that allows them to make informed decisions.

That experience instilled a commitment in me to ensure that the people I work with never feel limited by a lack of knowledge or access. I strongly believe that everyone has the ability to succeed when they are given the right tools, information, and support. There is room for all of us to thrive, and I don’t see success as competition. Instead, I believe in building environments where people feel capable, confident, and empowered to reach their full potential.

In my personal life, supporting veterans is deeply important to me. Both my husband and my father served in the military, so giving back to the veteran community is something I care about deeply. Each year I volunteer with the VA in whatever capacity is needed, and my family also donates annually to Make-A-Wish. Giving back to communities that support others is something I believe should always be part of a meaningful life and career.