Kathleen Sebelius has led a career defined by public impact—first as Governor of Kansas and then as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, where she helped steer one of the most significant healthcare reforms in American history. In this episode of Lab Rats to Unicorns, Sebelius unpacks the leadership lessons she’s learned across government and health systems, including the rollout of the Affordable Care Act and her efforts to accelerate translational research through federal agencies like the NIH, FDA, and CMS. 

At a time when NIH funding is under political pressure, Sebelius offers a powerful defense of continued public investment in biomedical science. She argues that undermining NIH not only risks slowing innovation but jeopardizes America’s global leadership in medicine, biotechnology, and economic competitiveness. 

Whether you're a policymaker, entrepreneur, or scientist, this conversation reveals why bipartisan support for public health infrastructure and regulatory expertise is more important than ever—and how real progress depends on collaboration across sectors.