Harnessing Hope, Impact & Community For Women's Health Equity With Liz Powell, Esq. MPH
- Lisa Malia Norman
- 2 days ago
- 7 min read
Big Wins for Women’s Health & How Your Leadership Can Make a Lasting Impact: Harnessing Hope, Impact & Community For Women's Health Equity With Liz Powell, Esq. MPH
Building Hope and Action in Women’s Health Advocacy—A Conversation with Liz Powell
I recently had the opportunity to sit down with the dynamic and inspiring Liz Powell, Esq. MPH, Founder of Women's Health Advocates and G2G Consulting for a heartfelt conversation about women’s health advocacy, building community, and what it really takes to spark lasting change in leadership and in health policy. This episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about women’s health, civic engagement, or living with purpose.
How Community Connection Fuels Advocacy
From the very beginning, it's clear that the passionate, welcoming energy Liz Powell brings to her work—connecting people, making complex arenas like Capitol Hill feel accessible, and literally walking the walk as an advocate are not just keys to success but part of a larger system of values that propel the movement.
When you hear Liz speak it quickly becomes apparent why she’s such a force. With a background as a legislative staffer, lawyer, and public health expert, she’s familiar with the inner workings of Congress and the value of advocacy. She’s passionate about the pivotal role patient stories play in making legislation real and urgent for policymakers.
Why Women’s Health Needs a Holistic Approach
One core takeaway from this episode is Liz's understanding that women’s health is not just one issue—it’s a lifetime spectrum. From first periods to menopause and beyond, every stage is interconnected. Her organization, Women’s Health Advocates, was founded on the premise that we need to bring together all aspects of women’s health under one umbrella. This is especially true as science continues to reveal deep connections between hormonal changes, heart health, cognitive function, and more.
I couldn't agree with this sentiment more, while her primary advocacy is for early breast cancer detection, I deeply values the opportunity to support related issues like menopause, maternal health, and heart health, all important threads in the tapestry of women’s wellness.
Breaking News: Hormone Therapy Gets a Major Policy Boost
A highlight of this conversation is the timely discussion around the FDA’s announcement to remove the black box warning on hormone therapy for menopause. For decades, women, particularly those with personal or family histories of breast cancer, have been wary of hormone replacement due to misleading interpretations of research.
Liz unpacks how the original studies weren’t representative of most women’s experiences and how media scare tactics slashed therapy usage rates overnight.
Now, with the FDA’s reversal, millions more women may have access to better, safer options for navigating menopause—potentially improving their quality of life, workplace productivity, and overall health. Which is why it's so important to keep sharing personal stories and educating each other about these evolving policies.
Making Activism Accessible for Everyone
One of Liz's greatest strengths is demystifying advocacy. She repeatedly assures advocates that political action doesn’t require specialized knowledge—just the willingness to share your story and take simple steps, like sending a letter or joining a call. Women’s Health Advocates features streamlined online tools so that anyone can take action within minutes, reinforcing that collective voices add up to genuine legislative leverage.
For those feeling overwhelmed or angry about the state of women’s health policy, Liz encourages using that energy in productive ways—signing up, joining calls, or simply sharing an experience. In her words: “Anger is powerful… you can use it in a productive way.”
Real Change Is Happening—And Everyone Can Be Part of It
The interview concludes with a message of hope and progress. Thanks to coordinated advocacy—letters, briefings, in-person meetings—real policy wins are happening, such as increases in women’s health research funding and bipartisan support for critical legislation like the Find It Early Act, which would expand insurance coverage for supplemental breast cancer screening.
Everyone’s voice matters—men, women, survivors, family members, and even those just starting to get politically engaged. Their conversation is a testament to women supporting women, and the exponential power of community-driven action.
This interview was recorded for The Clear Voices Of Hope Series powered by For The Love Of Cups and The Clear Pathways Program learn more and join our Task Force to end the disparities in early breast cancer detection or join The Advisory Board
Liz Powell is Founder of G2G Consulting, which creates and implements government to growth (G2G) strategies for clients—securing $550 million since 2007. We advance health and high-tech innovation for businesses and nonprofits by accessing non-dilutive funding, shaping policies and regulations, and building relationships with key decision-makers. Liz founded the Women’s Health Advocates, which is in all 50 states and has organized the first-ever Women’s Health Capitol Hill Day on May 21, 2025, the Breast Cancer Early Detection Coalition Hill Day on July 16, 2025, Congressional Briefings and online forums, advocacy letter-writing campaigns, the drafting of legislative language, and grassroots mobilization events across the country. Previously, she served as Legislative Director in Congress where she staffed the Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues, Armed Services Committee and Small Business Committee and served as a Policy Analyst for UK Parliament’s Health Committee as well as congressional and presidential political campaign staff. She has received the Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award and Women of Achievement Award and earned her MPH from Harvard, JD from George Washington, and BA from Colgate.
Liz Powell, Esq. MPH: Follow On LinkedIn
Ready to Get Involved?
If you’re feeling inspired, visit womenshealthadvocates.org or check the show notes for links to online advocacy tools, events, and more ways to become part of this growing movement. Remember—change starts when we show up, share our stories, and push together for the future we deserve.
This week’s episode featured a powerhouse conversation between Lisa Malia and Liz Powell—two champions for women’s health advocacy who are truly moving the needle on Capitol Hill and beyond.
Here’s what you missed, and how you can get involved:
What’s New: Major FDA News for Women! The FDA has just removed the black box warning on hormone therapy, marking a significant shift for women navigating menopause. Liz Powell broke it down: thanks to new data, doctors can now have open, informed conversations about hormone therapy with more women, including those with a family history of breast cancer. This change promises improved quality of life and expanded health options—truly, “everyone wins!”
Why Stories Matter & How You Can Help Both Lisa Malia and Liz Powell highlighted the incredible power of personal stories in shaping health policy. Whether you’re a survivor, patient, or simply passionate about the cause, your voice is crucial. Feeling unsure? The Women’s Health Advocates have made it easier than ever: just pick a topic, add your story, and send a letter to Congress—it takes less than five minutes, but the impact is real and measurable!
Spotlight: Breast Cancer Early Detection The Early Breast Cancer Detection Coalition is gaining momentum. Their biggest initiative? The Find It Early Act, which would require insurance to fully cover supplemental breast cancer screening for women with dense breast tissue. Many women currently face huge out-of-pocket costs for this crucial screening—this bill could change that.
As Lisa Malia shared, fighting for full screening herself may have saved her life—these policies matter!
Your Invitation: Join the Movement The Women’s Health Advocates community is growing fast, organizing committees across 11+ issue areas (menopause, maternal health, mental health, and more). You can be as involved as you want, and you don’t have to be an expert—just someone who cares. There’s space for everyone.
Sign up: womenshealthadvocates.org
Share your story: Join Zoom advocacy calls, send letters, or attend events.
Monthly Calls: First Wednesday, noon ET/9am PT for updates and advocacy tips.
Final Inspiration As Liz Powell says: "This is our country, our democracy. Each of us is a constituent... We have a voice in this system and it really does matter.” Whether you’re driven by hope, frustration, or even a touch of righteous anger—put that energy to work!
Stay Connected Get real-time updates and join the conversation on LinkedIn, and be sure to check the show notes for all the useful links.
Thank you for being part of Clear Voices of Hope—together, we can turn powerful stories into real change.
With gratitude, The Clear Voices of Hope Team
P.S. Don’t forget to tell a friend and share your own advocacy wins with us—your action sparks momentum for everyone!
Lisa Malia Norman, CEO & Founder For The Love Of Cups and Clear Pathways Program, Founder Evoke Feminine Leadership Institute & Sacred Purpose Podcast Host
Supporting women is my life's work, first as a midwife and later as a breast cancer survivor, advocate and nonprofit founder.
Having dense breast tissue and learning about the inherent risk factors that compounded my breast cancer diagnosis became the catalyst behind my purpose today.
At my mammogram the year prior to my breast cancer diagnosis. My mammogram was clear, no signs of breast cancer. However, I was one of the rare people to be informed at the time that I had dense breast tissue. An ultra sound was recommended but not covered by insurance and I'd have to pay $350 for the screening
I was a single mom at the time and soccer registration was due for my daughters team.
I couldn't do both and so I didn't get the additional screening and I signed up my daughter for soccer. I never want another woman to have to make that choice who may even be facing a more dire decision like food or putting gas in the car. At the time I didn't understand how important the adjunct screening was for dense breast tissue nor did understand just how dangerous the choice I made was.
The next year I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I consider myself incredibly lucky that we were still able to treat it early. But, knowing how many women are still falling through the cracks in our health care system and missing keeps me up at night. Sharing my story and advocating for them and for our children's future is what drives me.
Lisa, is a women's health advocate, Midwife and Feminine Wisdom Embodied Leadership Coach, Nonprofit CEO, For The Love of Cups, breast cancer survivor and mother of three incredible young women and daughter of a two time breast cancer survivor.