At a time of rapid change and evolving community needs, who is advancing the vanguard of economic and social progress to bolster under-served communities? Whose work is fostering the inclusive growth that ensures every individual thrives? Who will set the ambitious standards that mobilize whole industries, challenging their peers to reach new altitudes of social impact? 

In 2026, Impact Next — an editorial flagship series from NationSwell — will spotlight the standard-bearing corporate social responsibility and impact leaders, entrepreneurs, experts, and philanthropists whose catalytic work has the potential to shape the landscape of progress amid urgent need for social and economic action.

For this installment, NationSwell interviewed Allison Goldberg — President of the Merck Foundation and Executive Director of Social Impact & Sustainability at Merck (known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada) — on the experiences that shaped her approach to leadership, the power of long-term partnership to expand access to health, and how corporate philanthropy can adapt without losing sight of its purpose.. Here’s what she had to say:

Greg Behrman, founder and CEO of NationSwell: What brought you to the field that you’re in right now? Was there an early moment, a relationship, or an experience that galvanized your commitment to driving bold action?

Allison Goldberg, president, the Merck Foundation: I grew up in Ohio’s Rust Belt, where the collapse of the steel industry upended families and communities. That experience shaped my purpose – to help ease suffering and take on hard problems.

As an undergraduate at the University of Michigan, I experienced an “aha” moment in a public health course that set me on the path I follow today. I realized that pursuing a PhD that combined my passion for political science with public health could be a framework for how to close inequities and improve lives. That path took me from consulting to academia to the private sector, where I worked at Anheuser-Busch InBev at the intersection of public policy and social impact. Along the way I learned that companies can be powerful forces for good. That’s what drew me to Merck — a company with a deep legacy of social responsibility and a real commitment to making a difference.

Behrman, NationSwell: What is the “North Star” of your leadership style? What is it about the way that you lead in the space that makes you an effective leader?

Goldberg, Merck: Early in my career, I thought leadership meant taking charge and seeking out every opportunity. At Merck, I have learned that some of the best leaders create space for others to lead. My role is to set direction and to support my team to bring forward their own leadership and ideas and to drive impact.

I like to ask people about their own goals and marry that with the potential they may not yet see in themselves. I believe in stretch assignments, shared decision-making, asking hard questions, and bringing different perspectives into the room. When people feel valued and heard, trust grows, and that’s when greater impact is made possible.

Behrman, NationSwell: When did you know you wanted to be a leader? Was it something you always aspired to, or did it emerge naturally as your career progressed?

Goldberg, Merck: Leadership was instilled in me early. Starting at age eight, I attended a peer-led summer camp rooted in leadership, strong values, and social action. I also grew up in a family deeply committed to service and showing up when it counted. The message was clear: if you want to create change, step in and do your part.

I am sending my sons to this same summer camp because I believe in the value of challenging young people to think critically, solve problems, and lead. This is what helps to build confidence, character, and a sense of purpose.

This shaped how I think about leadership today. The most complex challenges won’t change unless we all find a role in the solution.  Everyone on my team is a leader and real progress happens when each of us uses that leadership to drive change.

Behrman, NationSwell: Is there a particular program, signature initiative, or some facet of the work that you would like to spotlight for us that is driving outcomes for the work?

Goldberg, Merck: When I joined Merck’s Social Impact & Sustainability team, we asked a simple question: what is our North Star and how can we move toward it? Our answer was clear: unlocking sustainable access to health. 

Lasting progress takes more than innovation. It takes understanding the persistent barriers people face, building trust, and making partnerships. These insights shaped the way we invest, putting communities at the center.

A strong example is the Merck Foundation’s recent launch of the Community Collaborative for Reimagining HIV Care, a new national initiative designed to advance access to holistic, person-centered care for people living with HIV in underserved U.S. communities. This five-year, $20 million initiative will pair systems-level change with lasting community partnerships to help overcome barriers to care.

I am also incredibly proud of the Mectizan Donation Program. Almost 40 years ago, Merck made a commitment to donate Mectizan as much as needed, for as long as needed to eliminate river blindness. Today, this program reaches more than 300 million people each year across 64 countries and expanded to include the elimination of lymphatic filariasis.  Last year, we marked the delivery of the five-billionth treatment – a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when we work together towards a shared goal.

Behrman, NationSwell: I’d love to invite you to reflect on former Merck CEO Ken Frazier a little bit. He’s one of my heroes, and I know he’s had a massive impact on the company. What are some enduring lessons you learned from him as this CEO?

Goldberg, Merck: Our former and current CEOs have consistently reminded us to keep Merck’s purpose at the center, even as the world changes around us. Our purpose is to use leading edge science to save and improve lives around the world. The work we do through the company’s Social Impact & Sustainability team is fully aligned with this. 

CEO-led initiatives like the Mectizan Donation Program and Merck for Mothers are powerful examples of what happens when purpose guides action.  I tell my team that we must always lead with purpose. I am proud to work for a company where this principle is firmly embedded.

Behrman, NationSwell: Merck has a long history of pioneering programs and sustained commitments, but this is also an evolving field shaped by external forces. How do you stay rooted in the company’s purpose while helping yourself and your team remain adaptable?

Goldberg, Merck: Change is constant, and this moment is marked by especially rapid transition — from technological growth and economic pressure to more fragmented geopolitical and social environments. 

Yet moments like these can also spark creativity, resilience, collaboration, and the courage to rethink long-held assumptions. We have an opportunity to ask ourselves how we can adapt in ways that sustain and even expand our impact.

We begin by listening closely to our partners – understanding how they are being affected and what they need. In response, we are evolving the ways we invest so we can continue to make a meaningful difference.

We are also listening to our employees, who are making a difference in their local communities. We are helping them transform their passion and energy into action by offering meaningful opportunities to make a difference

In the end, adaptability begins with listening, and progress is proven by the actions that follow.

Behrman, NationSwell: Are there any resources you’d recommend — books, podcasts, Ted talks — that have influenced your thinking that might influence others as well?

Goldberg, Merck: One is Tom Frieden’s The Formula for Better Health. His central argument — that the greatest health gains come from changing systems so individuals can make healthier choices within them — reflects the way I think about community-led systems change.

Another is Dr. Frank Luntz’s Words That Work. Its premise is, “It’s not what you say, it’s what people hear.” In any effort to drive change, how we frame an idea can shape whether it resonates and inspires action.

Finally, Nelson Mandela’s Long Walk to Freedom remains a North Star. For those of us in global public health, it is a powerful reminder that determination is key to moving forward, even when progress is hard-won.