Hi, I’m Joyce Shulman
Digital Health Strategist | Design, Technology & Human-Centered Innovation
I help impact-driven organizations turn complex healthcare challenges into scalable strategies, validated products, and real-world solutions.
With 15+ years spanning payers, providers, early-stage ventures, and global health institutions, I bring a rare combination of enterprise scale and hands-on execution equally fluent in boardroom strategy and operational delivery. Human-centered design drives this work, from 40M-member enterprise systems to SDOH-focused global health partnerships.
I specialize in the space where ambiguity is highest and the stakes are real: framing the right problem, building the right team, and translating bold vision into something that actually ships.
My work centers on one core belief: relationships are a source of strategic power. From building innovation ecosystems to developing high-impact partnerships, I identify and operationalize the connection points that fuel success.
Committed to the craft of strategy and design, I am an adjunct professor teaching Strategic Management: The Art of Decision Making in the Design MBA program at California College of the Arts. I also serve on the board of SFMade, supporting the Bay Area manufacturing ecosystem, and collaborate with Five Ton Crane, an Oakland-based artist collective, to create public art.
Personal highlights include completing two Ironman triathlons at Lake Placid and Lake Tahoe, multiple North Face 50K ultra-endurance trail marathons, and the AIDS/LifeCycle ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles.
I hold a Design MBA from California College of the Arts.
Fractional Services
Strategy & venture programs
When you're shaping something new, I help you define strategy, align your team, and build the roadmap that gets you moving faster and smarter.
You might need this if:
You're exploring a new market, offering, or audience
You need a clear path from concept to pilot or MVP
You’re stuck at a decision point and need structured clarity
Market research & insight activation
When you need clarity about what your customers truly need, I uncover the insights that help you prioritize, position, and de-risk.
You might need this if:
You’re making assumptions without enough evidence
You need to de-risk investment in a product or service
You’re unclear about what your customers value, or where the gaps are
Customer experience solutions
When you're ready to unlock growth by understanding the moments that matter, I craft seamless experiences that connect strategy, technology, and collaboration, delivering value across every touchpoint.
You might need this if:
You have a bold idea or strategic direction, but need help translating it into a concrete plan with defined outcomes
You’re navigating complexity, cross-functional teams, or competing priorities, and need someone who can drive clarity and momentum
You’ve invested in research, visioning, or roadmaps, but need an experienced partner to lead the implementation and make it real
Innovation workshops & capabilities building
When it's time to align, converge, or co-create, I lead sessions that move your team from ambiguity to action, with clarity, creativity, and momentum. When you need to advance the practice of human-centered design across your organization, I can help grow the capabilities inside your team.
You might need this if:
You’re bringing together diverse stakeholders and need a session that drives alignment, sparks ideas, and ends with clear next steps
Your organization is stuck at the strategy-definition stage, full of ideas but unclear on direction, priorities, or a path forward
Your team is navigating ambiguity and needs facilitation that balances creativity with action
You want to build internal capability in human-centered design and need a partner who can mentor, model, and scale the practice