In this episode, Kristin Gross takes us on her journey of exploration with "on the job" learning in a complex health system. She discusses the significance of being your own experience, developing a business that becomes a "must have" for its target audience, and being ready to pivot when founding a start-up company. Kristin's strengths of grit, endurance, a love for learning, and a network of relationships has helped her to be apart of numerous incubators and accelerators while continuously striving towards breaking the viscous cycle that limits the advancement of health literacy and health equity within the healthcare system. Kristin's professional experiences as well as her journey as a patient and caregiver reminds us to be easy on ourselves, know that may takes time to see progress, and it is most important to pour into our minds what is positive and uplifting for us.

Kristin Gross is the founder of the startup NavDee (previously Parakletos), a digital platform focusing on empowering patients and caregivers to better advocate for themselves in a complex healthcare system. Kristin Gross started out in the healthcare industry while in the Northeast working at various medical facilities in New England and New York until she relocated to the West Coast. Her experience spans from direct healthcare services to medical sales and business development over the years. She is active member of numerous accelerators and incubators. She is a Board member of YANA Cancer Comfort, Harvard Club of San Diego and Women in Bio. She holds a Masters in Biology from Harvard University.