Influential Women in STEM: Rafat Fields

Rafat Fields
CEO & Founder of Powered to Rise

Rafat Fields is a strategist, advocate, and founder of Powered to Rise,

an organization dedicated to building digital advocacy platforms that empower mission-driven healthcare leaders and changemakers. By integrating digital marketing strategy software with proven brand-building frameworks, she helps leaders amplify their voices, grow their influence, and drive systemic change. With a focus on advocacy, brand strategy, and health policy education, Rafat ensures that grassroots innovators gain visibility in the rooms where policies are shaped and resources are distributed. Her work bridges the gap between frontline impact and decision-making power—because advocacy isn’t just about being heard; it’s about creating access, influence, and sustainability.

How did you get into healthcare?

I grew up in a hardworking, blue-collar family where access to healthcare wasn’t always guaranteed. I saw firsthand how the lack of medical resources shaped the health of my extended family. At the same time, my father was a nurse, giving me a unique window into both the challenges of healthcare access and the people working within the system.

When I went to college, I had a pivotal moment of decision: would I use my skills to sell Coca-Cola, or could I use them to impact healthcare? That question led me to pharmaceutical sales, where I found my passion—not in the corporate offices, but in the community, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with providers to bridge the gap between resources and patient care.

What inspired you to start Powered to Rise?

I kept seeing it—brilliant, accomplished women of color, especially Black women, hitting an invisible ceiling. It wasn’t about talent or credentials. It was about access—access to the rooms where decisions were made, to networks that shaped leadership trajectories, to visibility within the organization.

For a decade, I worked within corporate spaces without realizing the unspoken rules guiding career advancement. The “hidden figures” problem became clear: too many of us were doing the work but remaining unseen when it came time for promotions, funding, and leadership opportunities.

So, I built Powered to Rise to change that. My mission is to equip high-impact professionals—especially women of color—with the personal brand strategies, digital tools, and advocacy frameworks they need to be seen, heard, and elevated.

Which areas of healthcare are you most passionate about?

Community health. We now have the data to confirm what we’ve long known—your zip code is a more powerful predictor of health outcomes than your income. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the deep cracks in our public health system, showing us that those without access to care weren’t just impacted in isolation; their health shaped the well-being of entire communities.

I care deeply about safety net programs like Medicaid and public health initiatives because they support the workers who keep this country running—the factory workers, delivery drivers, essential employees—people who work hard but remain one medical emergency away from financial ruin.

What inspires you?

The changemakers who refuse to let injustice stand. I believe in the power of advocacy, in the people who fight not just for their own survival but for a system that serves us all. Wealthy corporations have lobbyists working full-time to ensure their interests are protected—who’s doing that for the everyday person? That’s why I’m passionate about equipping community leaders with digital advocacy tools, making their voices louder in the rooms where resources are allocated.

What was your favorite subject in school?

Reading. Books were my first passport to new worlds, new ideas, new possibilities. I was the kid who read everything—novels, newspapers, instruction manuals, you name it.

Who is your favorite scientist?

Dr. George Washington Carver. His work extended far beyond peanuts; he revolutionized agricultural sustainability at a time when Black scientists had few opportunities to make an impact. He didn’t just grow crops—he cultivated systems that nurtured both the land and the people relying on it.

What is your favorite book?

Where You Are Is Not Who You Are by Ursula Burns. She went from growing up in public housing to becoming the first Black woman to lead a Fortune 500 company as the CEO of Xerox. Her story speaks to the resilience, grit, and intelligence that Black women bring to the corporate world—often while navigating immense pushback.

Describe your leadership style.

Empathetic, community-centered, and justice-driven. I reject outdated command-and-control leadership models. Instead, I believe in providing access, resources, and opportunities—because talent flourishes when it’s nurtured, not micromanaged.

What advice would you give to women considering a career in healthcare?

Know your values, own your brilliance, and never shrink yourself for the comfort of others. Healthcare is an industry that desperately needs more women—especially women of color—in leadership. Build your network, leverage mentors, and don’t be afraid to position yourself for the opportunities you deserve.

What are you most excited about for 2025?

The rooms I’ll step into. The conversations I’ll spark. The leaders I’ll amplify. Whether it’s through technology, policy, or personal brand-building, I’m excited to continue breaking barriers and creating pathways for others to rise.

Thank you, Rafat, for your time. We look forward to following your journey with Powered to Rise.