Consumer brands are digital health’s missing link

At the EWA, we enable C-suite women to mentor each other to achieve personal and professional success. I am honored to share insights from thought leaders who are part of our peer-to-peer community. This month I introduce Annie Bloomquist, a consumer and digital health executive who has spent her career at the intersection of consumer trust and emerging technology. She led transformations across retail, consumer products, and digital health. She serves on the board of a private equity-backed medical device company and advises growth-stage companies on strategy, commercial execution, and scaling. Segil: Consumers are buying health and wellness technology in record numbers, yet research shows only a fraction achieving their wellness goals. What’s the gap, and who is responsible for closing it? Bloomquist: Eighty-four percent of consumers in the U.S. say wellness is their priority. Consumers are wearing their devices and downloading apps. What is failing is the sustained connection that converts intention into behavior change over time. The technology has to work by being effortless, ambient, and acting on behalf of the consumer rather than demanding attention from them. Technology a…