Building Better Women's Health: Adrianne Nickerson and the Oula Revolution

This week, Ivy Slater, host of Her Success Story, chats with her guest, Adrianne Nickerson. The two talk about the challenges women founders face in raising capital, the strategic formation of partnerships with major health systems, and how Oula is addressing both the medical and emotional needs of women before, during, and after pregnancy—all with the goal of transforming women’s healthcare in the U.S. In this episode, we discuss: ● How Adrianne Nickerson identified the problems with traditional maternity care and designed Oula’s innovative, team-based care model combining midwives, OB-GYNs, and care navigators to create a more personalized, supportive experience for women. ● What it took to develop partnerships with major institutions like Mount Sinai, Stanford, and a soon-to-be-announced Charlotte, NC location, and what shifting market trends made big institutions willing to consider new care models. ● When market conditions, such as changing consumer sentiment about over-medicalization and health workforce shortages, accelerated Oula’s traction with health systems. ● Why the U.S. maternity care system was overdue for change, with poor outcomes, high costs, and a one-size-fits-all approach that left many women dissatisfied or even traumatized by their experiences. ● How constraints, obstacles, and even pandemic-era disruptions created unexpected opportunities to refine and scale the Oula business model. Adrianne Nickerson, CEO and Co-founder, Oula Adrianne Nickerson, MS, is the co-founder and CEO of Oula, which is redesigning maternity care from the ground up. Before starting Oula, Nickerson co-founded a virtual cancer care management company and consulted for large health systems and insurers at Deloitte. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Columbia University and a master’s degree in global health from Harvard University, where her research focused on the barriers to accessing reproductive health services. Website: https://oulahealth.com/ Social Media Links:   / adriannenickerson