What makes an effective Global Health Advisor? My 12 top skills and tools.
Being a global health advisor is more than just a job for me. It taught me how to balance knowledge, strategy, and effectiveness. Over the years, I’ve found that success depends on mastering two key areas: deep, multidisciplinary knowledge and practical tools to manage the workload. Here’s what I’ve learned along the way.
Knowledge Competencies
Global health is a multifaceted field, and excelling requires you to wear many hats. These are the key areas I’ve come to rely on:
1. Science
Understanding the science behind public health and clinical interventions is essential. I’m so grateful I chose to study science when I was 18, and to continue with a PhD in genetics, even though I did not take an academic career later on. In my early years as a healthcare consultant for pharmaceutical and medical device companies, I felt undervalued for my PhD background compared to my entry-level but younger colleagues coming from business schools. However, the results of my studies are something that is extremely valued now, 10 years later, when they bring me credibility and the ability to speak with professionals with a scientific background.
2. Policy
Health policies and regulatory frameworks shape everything in our field. Knowing how to navigate them and advocate within them is crucial. Many professionals in the healthcare industry are disconnected from the policy side of healthcare. But the truth is: there are no sales, no comms, no scientific progress, no access to patients in any therapeutic area if the policy environment is not ready or appropriate. I’ve learned that understanding how these frameworks work is just as important as any clinical, scientific, or business skill.
3. Business
The connection between health challenges and business dynamics is something I had to learn over time. Health challenges rarely exist in isolation. They are deeply interconnected with economic, organisational, and systemic factors. Clinical solutions alone often fall short without sustainable funding models, partnerships, and operational strategies to implement them effectively.
4. Project management
Delivering results in global health means managing projects across different time zones, languages, and cultural contexts. Sure, no one will work with you if you don’t know your stuff. But no one will work with you again if you’re a mess at managing projects.
5. Stakeholder management
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is the value of relationships. Whether it’s government officials, NGOs, corporate sponsors, or patients, being able to listen, communicate, and collaborate is everything. I’ve found that building trust, being clear, and finding common objectives are the keys to moving projects forward.
6. Health systems knowledge
Understanding health systems is critical for developing realistic, impactful solutions that improve the patient journey. Knowing how healthcare delivery works at every level, and how systems align with global health priorities, allows you to create solutions that resonate with all stakeholders involved in patient care.
Tools for Effectiveness
For me, staying effective in this field isn’t about working harder. When I tell what projects I work on, people often react with: “That’s a lot, you must be very busy”. The truth is that over the years I’ve built systems and tools that enable me to make the most out of my work time, so that I can focus more on my personal time:
1. Weekly planning
Every Sunday, I look at my upcoming week and:
List everything I need to do.
Estimate how much time each task will take.
Block time on my calendar to get it done.
So for the rest of the week I can forget about what I should be doing, and I can actually get things done.
2. Time blocking
My calendar is my most trusted tool. Each task gets a dedicated time slot, so I can stay focused and reduce overwhelm. If something isn’t on my calendar, then it’s not happening.
3. Inbox zero with email classification
Emails can be a productivity killer, but I’ve created a system for managing them. When an email arrives in my inbox, it goes into one of these folders:
Follow-Up: Anything that needs action soon.
Hold: Emails that have been managed and for which I’m waiting for someone to act.
Archive: Anything I need to save for future retrieval.
Clearing my inbox regularly keeps my mental space clear.
4. Work offline, refine in meetings
I don’t use meetings to do work. Instead, I prepare drafts, plans, or proposals offline, then use meeting time to refine and finalise them collaboratively. This approach improves productivity and saves everyone’s time.
5. Be selective with commitments
Not every conference or project is worth my time. Saying "no" can be hard, but it’s necessary to protect my energy and focus on what truly matters. For me, it’s about being intentional with my time and ensuring every yes is a deliberate choice.
6. The PARA Method
I use this framework by Tiago Forte to organise my digital files:
Projects: Active efforts with clear goals and a deadline (e.g. “Write a report”).
Areas: Ongoing responsibilities that I actively manage but have no deadline (e.g. “Finances”).
Resources: References and materials I might need.
Archive: Everything else.
I guarantee it takes me less than 30 seconds to retrieve or save documents.
Useful resources
Some books and podcasts have shaped how I think and work:
Books
Building a Second Brain by Tiago Forte
Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout by Cal Newport
Company of One by Paul Jarvis
So Good They Can’t Ignore You by Cal Newport
Consulting Success by Michael Zipursky
Make Time by Jake Knapp
Getting Things Done by David Allen
Ultralearning by Scott Young
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
Podcasts
Deep Questions by Cal Newport
The Knowledge Project
The Lancet Global Health
By balancing knowledge competencies with effective tools, I’ve found it’s possible to navigate complexity without burning out. This balance lets me focus on what really matters: creating meaningful, sustainable solutions in global health. If you’re in this field, I’d love to hear what works for you!
