This month we had the pleasure of speaking with Gretchen Stoddard. Not only has Gretchen served as Managing Director of the IZUMI Foundation for more than a decade, she also holds a Doctorate in Public Health from Harvard University, where she focused on advancing locally led development in public health. Gretchen spoke about both her academic work and her own experience as a funder, bridging the gap between theory and practice, and her hopes for the future of our field.