ABOUT GRIT & SPUNK IMPACT LAB

Who We Are

The Grit & Spunk Impact Lab is a social impact organization that champions gender equity, girls’ education, and a healthier world. We stand with bold leaders and organizations who push boundaries by using storytelling and big ideas to spark action, shift power, and drive equitable change.

A hand holds a black card with the words OUR MISSION written in white, with a blurred outdoor background featuring autumn trees and fallen leaves.

Our Mission

At the Grit & Spunk Impact Lab, we work at the intersection of storytelling and science to accelerate gender equity and strengthen health for all.

Two women hiking on a rocky hill, one reaching down to help the other up. They both wear backpacks and casual outdoor clothing, with a scenic landscape and clear sky in the background.

Our Vision

At the Grit & Spunk Impact Lab, we are creating a world built on bold ideas and stories that empower us to rise.

Our Philosophy

At the Grit & Spunk Impact Lab, we embrace the CREED Principle.

Creativity: Ignite imagination to shape new possibilities

Resilience: Transform obstacles into opportunities for success

Equity: Empower every voice and unlock opportunities

Evidence: Use proven insights to get lasting results

Develop Partnerships: Achieve success through collaborations

What Sets Grit & Spunk Apart?

We embrace ‘grit’ as a core value because life happens but therein lies many opportunities that we can harness. So, hitting rock bottom can be a springboard for innovation and growth.

“And so rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.”

— J.K. Rowling (The Harvard Gazette June 5.2008)

We celebrate creativity and thinking outside the box.

We hold ourselves to high standards, so excellence is not optional.

Our Team

Meet the forces behind Grit & Spunk Impact Lab’s bold ideas, fresh strategies, and powerful stories that are promoting resilience, championing equity and transforming the future.

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Bernadette Okwu-Gage

Founder & President

As a young girl growing up in a middle-income home in Nigeria, I had lots of dreams. I wanted to be a journalist, stewardess and a doctor in the Air Force. Above all, I wanted to make the world a better place. Gratefully, I have achieved part of that dream. I became a doctor. When I immigrated to the US, I pursued graduate public health training, and this led to exciting research and non-profit roles. Currently, I am transitioning to consulting for social impact as the landscape has changed, but my passion has not. As such, I am repositioning myself to lead the Grit & Spunk Impact Lab. Girls and women need access to resources and opportunities to achieve their potential, but more importantly they need to embrace ‘Grit and Spunk’ to finish strong!

My educational background includes a medical degree from the University of Jos, Nigeria, and a master’s in public health from the George Washington University with a focus in maternal and child health. Additionally, I completed a PhD in Public Health from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where my dissertation explored women’s sexual and reproductive health. Recently, I earned a certificate in Media and Medicine from Harvard University, and I am now part of the Stanford LEAD executive business leadership program.

A middle-aged man with short light brown hair and a mustache, wearing a white dress shirt and a purple sweater vest, poses in front of a plain light background.

Steve Gage

Business Development Director

I am a seasoned, high-performing Business Development/Sales professional with more than 25 years of building relationships that drive real results. My career has been shaped by an electrical engineering and MBA degrees and also defined by my ability to solve complex challenges and align partners around shared goals to deliver outcomes that matter.

Today, I’m channeling that same passion and expertise into my work at Grit & Spunk Impact Lab — and I absolutely love it. If your organization is ready to rethink what’s possible in social impact, gender equity, health, or strategic communication, you’re in the right place. We’re the team you hire when you want bold ideas, fresh strategies, and stories that spark change. G & S Impact Lab was founded to provide services that help organizations:

  • Craft narratives that elevate brands and movements
  • Uplift girls and women through powerful, equity centered storytelling, educational and training activities
  • Strengthen public and global health communication and programs
  • Build compelling health content and deliver transformative training

We bring grit. We bring spunk. And we bring a relentless belief that resilience and hard work can transform futures. I live by one simple mantra: Be Good. Do Good. Win. If that resonates with you, let’s talk about what we can build together.