Thinking Strategically

At Merit, strategy is where curiosity meets intention.

It’s about discovering the deeper truths behind human behavior, sparking ideas that drive real change, and building pathways to greater health, equity, and hope.

Here are five best practices that guide us — and can guide anyone aiming to create meaningful impact:

01. Lead with Empathy, Not Assumptions

Data tells you what’s happening, and people’s stories point to why. Dig deeper than surface-level insights. Listen openly, ask what’s missing, and remember: trust is built by meeting people where they are, not where you think they should be.

02. Seek Tension, Not Comfort

The biggest opportunities often hide in the hardest questions. Challenge the status quo. Get uncomfortable. Explore the gap between “how it is” and “how it could be.” Growth lives in that space.

03. Innovate Around Needs, Not Noise

Shiny ideas fade. Necessary ones endure. Focus on solving real pain points, especially the ones that are overlooked. Innovation rooted in genuine needs has staying power — and purpose.

04. Keep Iterating, Always

Even the best solutions aren’t final. They’re living, breathing ideas that need room to grow. Measure what matters, learn from failure, and stay open to adaptation. Progress is a practice, not a destination.

05. Look to the norms—and the extremes

Yeah, the typical everyday experience tells us a lot. But the edges? They help us understand in a deeper way. By paying attention to the outliers — the extremes, the exceptions, the workarounds — we uncover overlooked problems and reimagine solutions that resonate far beyond the status quo.

Good strategy doesn’t just solve problems — it creates movements that make the world better