Why Zus: I’m here to save the (healthcare) world!

In this next iteration of the Why Zus blog, our Head of Partnerships, Nadine Peever, weighs in on why she joined the team.

Who are you?

I’m Nadine — connection-maker, adventure-seeker, and extrovert by trade. I currently live in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta, Georgia. Last year I rescued a 30lb mutt named Charlie — she’s my best friend and the sweetest girl. I have a “save the world” mentality which, in combination with coming from a long line of nurses, landed me in healthtech. In my spare time, I serve on the Board of Directors for Free Bikes 4 Kidz Atlanta, an organization committed to getting more kids on bikes. Outside of work and FB4K, I can usually be found planning my next adventure (France this fall), hiking with Charlie, or trying out a new recipe in the kitchen (I think I finally have macarons figured out).

Why’d you join Zus?

Zus wasn’t something I had planned. My personal 2021 roadmap was simple: just get through the year in one piece. One day a former colleague approached me with a problem Zus was trying to solve, and asked if that was something that interested me. A lot of self-reflection and a few conversations later, I was eager to be a part of a new challenge. My former roles had me cultivating relationships that had already existed. At Zus, I’m challenged with building them from the ground up, which is both daunting and exciting.

There are a million things about healthcare that I’d love to have an impact on, like improving diabetes management, lab interoperability and caring for underserved populations. Working at Zus allows me to touch each of these spaces every day as we continue to reduce friction for the builders who are transforming them.

In college, I dabbled in city planning and would dream of the day I would get to write a grant for a sidewalk. A sidewalk: maybe one of the least glamorous pieces of infrastructure. But sidewalks are such a big part of so many peoples’ day-to-day lives, whether they notice they’re there or not. That’s kind of what I like about working on the tech side of healthcare. I like the idea of contributing to these unglamorous foundations that help people get through their days.

What are you looking forward to working on over the next year?

I joined Zus to lead partnerships with our external vendors. I see these connections like Venn diagrams — we’re all working to solve different problems, but where do our worlds intersect? Intersections are what get me excited. It’s like when you’re at a party and you meet someone who’s into the same obscure band as you. There’s this layer of humanity added when you find a common ground. Building on this common ground to create true, complex partnerships that serve our builders in the best way is a fun objective that I’m eager to take on.

Why should others join Zus?

If the idea of building something from the ground up excites you, scares you, and even makes you nervous — this is your place. I used to tell a former boss that I knew I was on the right track when I was a little terrified. The people I get to work with every day are passionate about what they do, and I love that. I love having the freedom to take a problem and figure out how to solve it. It’s not about seeing two paths and taking the road less traveled by — it’s about seeing an open field and creating the first path.

Last question– if you could have dinner with three people (dead or alive), who would they be?

I would have dinner with my mom, John Lewis, and probably my dog Charlie (do dogs count?). My mom, because she’s one of my heroes and I haven’t had a chance to see her since the start of the pandemic since she lives in Canada. John Lewis, because he has a way of deeply inspiring people (not in a “I just watched this moving YouTube video” kind of way, but in a “let me stir your soul and get you on your feet and into the community” way). And lastly, Charlie the dog, because she’s a pretty good listener.