Linda Goler Blount (Moderator)

As President and CEO, Linda oversees the strategic direction for the Imperative and is responsible for moving the organization forward in its mission to achieve health equity, reproductive and social justice for Black women across the lifespan.

Before joining the Imperative, Linda served as the Vice President of Programmatic Impact for the United Way of Greater Atlanta, where she leads a team focused on achieving transformation in health, income, education and housing stability through place- and population-based work.

Prior to that position, Linda was the first-ever National Vice President of Health Disparities at the American Cancer Society. There, she was responsible for providing strategic vision and leadership to the Society and its 12 geographic divisions for nationwide health equity policy and social determinants initiatives.

With more than 25 years of experience in the public, for-profit and nonprofit sectors, Linda has a distinguished career that includes successful tenures at The Coca-Cola Company leading strategic business initiatives and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as an Expert Scientist. She also has extensive international health expertise and has served as a consultant to government ministries in Germany, Barbados, Malawi and Trinidad and Tobago.

Linda is a sought-after speaker and is a member of several organizations, including the American Association of Cancer Research, American Public Health Association and National Association of Health Services Executives. She serves on the Emory University Center for Ethics Advisory Board, and Morehouse School of Medicine, Public Health Program Advisory Committee among other board service work.

A Michigan native, Linda holds a Master of Public Health, Epidemiology from the University of Michigan and Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering/Operations Research from Eastern Michigan University.