Nanette Patton

I attribute my success to grit. My dad and my mom, they taught me grit - to tough things out. That's really what has carried me through my career and helped me achieve what I have.

The most valuable career advice I've received centers on the art of diplomacy and organizational savvy. Technical excellence and subject-matter expertise will only take you so far — true professional success requires the ability to navigate relationships at every level of an organization. That means understanding how to effectively manage up, lead your team with intention, and read the interpersonal dynamics that shape decisions behind the scenes. Competence earns you a seat at the table; it's emotional intelligence and political awareness that determine how far you go once you're there.

One of the most honest things I've come to understand is that a truly fulfilling life requires intentional trade-offs. Gen X was raised on the idea that you can have it all — and while I believe that's possible, I've learned that 'having it all' is rarely simultaneous. Career ambition and family life are both deeply worthwhile pursuits, but they each demand significant investment, and there will be seasons of life where one takes precedence over the other. The most empowering thing you can do is make those choices deliberately — thinking carefully about when, and whether, you want to build a family, and what that means for your professional trajectory. It's not about limitation; it's about clarity. When you're honest with yourself about your priorities and intentional about your timing, you're far better positioned to thrive in both.

AI is no longer on the horizon — it's here, and it's reshaping the competitive landscape across every industry. The ability to effectively leverage AI in your daily work is quickly becoming a baseline professional skill, not a differentiator. Staying ahead means investing in your own fluency with these tools and understanding how they can sharpen your performance and output.

On the business side, I'm actively working to bring AI technologies and applications to the federal government — which presents its own unique set of challenges. The current environment is marked by significant institutional change and shifting priorities, and we're seeing opportunities pushed further down the timeline as a result. It requires patience, but more importantly, it requires adaptability.

In times of uncertainty, the organizations and individuals who thrive are those who remain ready, stay creative, and continue to find ways to use the very technology they're selling as a competitive advantage. For us, that means using AI not just as a product, but as a tool that sharpens how we compete, how we communicate, and how we position ourselves for what comes next.

At the core of both my professional and personal life is a deep commitment to human empowerment — particularly when it comes to health and well-being. I believe that every individual deserves to be an informed, active participant in their own healthcare journey, not simply a passive recipient of decisions made on their behalf.

That belief has driven my entire career. Healthcare has historically operated within a paternalistic model — one where the clinician holds all the knowledge and the patient simply follows direction. I think we can do better, and I think technology is how we get there. When we use technology thoughtfully — to educate, to guide, and to support people in making decisions that lead to healthier long-term outcomes — we extend the reach of care beyond the walls of a clinic or the limits of a physician's availability. A doctor cannot be present for every question or every moment of uncertainty, but the right tools can be.

Personally, this value shows up in how I approach my own health and the well-being of those around me — with intentionality, self-advocacy, and a belief that informed people make better choices. That alignment between what I do professionally and what I believe personally is something I consider a privilege.