Her Story
About Mary Lynn
Mary Lynn is a healthcare product development leader, consultant, and innovator with more than 30 years of experience designing solutions that improve health outcomes while reducing the overall cost of care. Her career began in copywriting and communications, where she discovered a talent for connecting with people through clear, compelling messaging. Drawn to healthcare by a lifelong interest in medicine and a desire to make a meaningful impact, she transitioned into the industry and built a career focused on helping individuals take control of their health. Today, she combines strategic product development, behavioral science, and patient-centered design to create programs that empower people to live healthier lives.
Throughout her career, Mary has focused on addressing some of healthcare’s most persistent challenges, including chronic disease management, preventive care engagement, and patient activation. She has developed innovative solutions for individuals living with conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, making it easier for them to monitor their health, access nutritious foods, and receive the support they need outside of traditional clinical settings. By helping people adopt healthier behaviors and manage their conditions more effectively, she has contributed to improved quality of care while working to bend the healthcare cost curve for patients, employers, and health systems alike.
Known for her curiosity, tenacity, and ability to bridge the gap between technical healthcare systems and human behavior, Mary has spent three decades championing solutions that make healthcare more accessible, affordable, and effective. Recently, she launched Triple Threat Healthcare Consulting, where she partners with organizations to develop innovative healthcare products, optimize care delivery, and create strategies that improve both patient outcomes and business performance. Guided by a commitment to listening, caring, and serving others, Mary remains dedicated to helping individuals and communities thrive through better health.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Mary Lynn
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to determination, tenacity, and curiosity. These three qualities have been the driving forces throughout my 30-year career in healthcare. My determination kept me going even after being laid off multiple times in retail, pushing me to find a more stable path in healthcare. My tenacity has helped me continue working on the same core problems for three decades - activating people, ensuring they use preventive services, and helping them live healthier lives. And my curiosity has been essential in my role as a product developer, constantly seeking new ways to assess population needs and create innovative solutions, whether it's making blood glucose monitoring easier or connecting people with healthy food delivery programs.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received was 'trust, but verify,' which came from my boss Pam Stahl when I was at UnitedHealthcare. This principle has become a theme throughout my career. It applies to working with other individuals within an organization, and also to what you read - especially nowadays when people are generating their own content, which can lead to some really bad decision making. The advice taught me to always do my homework before I represent an idea that somebody else brought to me. It's about being thorough and making sure I verify information before moving forward with it. This has been invaluable in helping me make sound decisions and maintain credibility throughout my career.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
A lot of times, it's more about listening than speaking. You need to try to understand the perspective of the other individuals that you're working with. Whether it's overcoming an objection or helping them see the problem from your point of view, you have to start by listening and understanding theirs. That's really the key thing that's helped me succeed in healthcare. This approach of listening first has been essential in my work, especially when dealing with complex healthcare challenges and working with diverse teams and populations.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the greatest opportunities in my field is the ability to bring innovative solutions to an ever-evolving healthcare landscape. Through my new company, Triple Threat Healthcare Consulting, I am focused on helping organizations navigate challenges, improve outcomes, and create meaningful impact within the industry. I believe there is tremendous potential for growth, collaboration, and innovation as healthcare continues to evolve.
Outside of my professional work, I enjoy maintaining a balanced lifestyle through activities such as Pilates and golf. These interests help me stay active, focused, and connected with others, which I believe contributes positively to both my personal and professional growth.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are care and listening. I believe in providing support and assistance, whether that's to an individual who is helping to support an elderly parent or grandparent. This is particularly important to me because so many people fall through the cracks in healthcare, either because they don't have good coverage or they just don't have family around them to support them. I'm focused on changing that model and finding ways within large health organizations to help people who need it most. These values drive everything I do in my work - from how I approach product development to how I think about bending the healthcare cost curve while improving care and quality.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.