In late April 2025, E. Cartier Esham, PhD, found herself testifying in front of the U. S. Senate Committee on Appropriations on behalf of the Alliance for a Stronger FDA. Her message was clear: a robust, forward-thinking regulatory landscape is essential for American security and public health.
“We all share a common goal and understanding that a strong, well-functioning and innovative FDA is essential to the well-being of millions of Americans,” she told Congress.
Though today Esham influences healthcare policy for the nation, that wasn’t always the case. In an exclusive interview with Cure, she spoke about her career working with entrepreneurs and her recent decision to launch her own firm dedicated to helping companies reach their legislative goals.
From Academic Lab Bench to Health Policy Advocacy
Esham wasn’t always planning to go into healthcare policy. In the late 1990s she was a bench scientist working on her PhD in microbiology at the University of Georgia. During her PhD studies, however, her interests began to shift.
“I realized I was more interested in how to think about advancing the application of science, rather than actually doing the science,” she said.
That a-ha led to a decision to move to the center of healthcare policy action: Washington, D.C., where she started working at the ground level.
Her career path steered her to joined the team at the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO). From serving as Senior Director of Chief and Regulatory Affairs of Emerging Companies, Esham became Chief Scientific Officer of the world’s largest biotech trade association.
While at BIO, she particularly enjoyed working with the leaders of companies that were trying to bring cutting-edge health technologies to reality for patients, often against the odds.
“I just fell in love with the entrepreneurial spirit,” she said.
She also focused on shaping and implementing policies to accelerate adoption of the next generation of healthcare technologies, like machine learning and artificial intelligence.
“I really enjoyed always trying to think over the horizon,” she said.
The Leap to Founder
Last year, Esham took a leap and left BIO to found her own company, Esham Strategies, LLC, to work more closely with entrepreneurs and organizations seeking strategic guidance at the intersection of innovation and policy.
“It just seemed like an opportune time to go out on my own and see how I can be helpful,” she said, “maybe focus on some projects that are really passionate for me.”
While she’s still building her company, her firm currently offers services including health policy evaluation and strategy development, policy implementation and management, board and leadership maximization and more.
“I'm very adept at helping people think about their vision,” she said, “then helping them establish a game plan for achieving that goal.”
One of her first clients is the Alliance for a Stronger FDA, a multi-stakeholder organization that advocates for the FDA’s budget and mission. Esham is now the executive director of the Alliance.
“They brought me on to help lead and set the strategic vision for the organization,” she said.
Though Esham plans to keep growing her firm and taking on new clients, she wants to make sure that she’s doing so at an appropriate pace.
“I will never get to the point that I can't actually be impactful to each individual client and give them the attention that they deserve,” she said. “So I'm not going for quantity as much as quality.”
Lessons Learned for Entrepreneurs: Always be Helpful
Over the course of her career, Esham has learned a variety of lessons. One of the most important, she said, is the power of intentional listening and trying to understand different perspectives to help find common ground, a powerful tool especially in Washington.
“Often, if you're listening very carefully, you understand that more people agree than disagree,” she said.
Finding these points of agreement can allow you to build consensus between stakeholder groups, which then leads to momentum.
Another piece of advice she has for younger entrepreneurs: “be helpful whenever you can.” Not only does it make your own life happier, according to Esham, but it can be very helpful in building trusting relationships throughout your career.
And finally, follow your passions. “I’m just a passionate person,” she said. “I want to help make a difference. That's always what has driven me.”
Read more about Esham’s take on advocating for biomedical research.