In this latest epsiode, Dr. Morriss-Olson is joined by Van Ton-Quinlivan, Founder and CEO of Futuro Health, for a powerful conversation about purpose-driven leadership, systems change, and what it really takes to build opportunity at scale.

Van’s leadership journey began “behind the starting line” as a child refugee from Vietnam, and that lived experience continues to shape how she leads today. Over the course of her career, she has led across private industry, public higher education, and the nonprofit sector—most recently founding Futuro Health to address one of the most urgent challenges facing theU.S. healthcare system: the growing shortage of allied health workers.

In our conversation, Van shares how Futuro Health was launched at the start of the pandemic and quickly grew into a national workforce ecosystem operating across multiple states. She explains why workforce development must be treated as a team sport, bringing together employers, educators, and community-based organizations to create reliable, equitable talent pipelines.

We also explore Van’s leadership philosophy more deeply—how purpose unlocks courage and “fierceness,” why influence matters more than formal authority, and what she has learned about credibility, feedback, and navigating leadership spaces where women are often underrepresented. Van offers practical insights on building coalitions, listening to critics, and knowing when the window is right to push for meaningful change.

As we look ahead, Van reflects on the future of work, the impact of demographic shifts and caregiving demands, and how technologies like AI are opening new possibilities to redesign education and workforce systems for today’s learners—not yesterday’s assumptions.

This episode is a must-listen for leaders working at the intersection of education, workforce development, healthcare, and social impact—and for anyone seeking to lead with clarity, courage, and purpose.

Check out Van's podcast, WorkforceRx here: https://futurohealth.org/current-press/press-podcast/