Kobe Bryant once said, “The true challenge is finding what comes next (after basketball) and what you love to do every bit as much and with as much passion.” So, I wouldn’t even say that purpose was ever lost, it just continued to emerge. Basketball got me here.
Meet Dr. Oby Nwabuzor
Dr. Oby Nwabuzor is a first-generation Nigerian American leader working at the intersection of public health, real estate development, and systems innovation.
She is the founder and principal of Envision Growth, a public health–driven real estate development firm dedicated to building healthy people and communities through intentional investment in the built environment. Her work integrates data, design, and development to drive projects that strengthen neighborhoods, expand economic opportunity, and improve health outcomes. As an emerging developer, she has led more than $4 million in new development across Wisconsin.
Beyond her work with Envision Growth, Dr. Oby serves as Director of Social Drivers of Health Strategy at one of the nation’s largest nonprofit health systems, where she leads enterprise-wide initiatives in housing, food security, and economic opportunity. Through her dual expertise in the built environment and public health, she has guided over $1.7 million in community investment to expand SNAP access, support healthy food retail, and enhance walkability across Wisconsin.
Appointed in 2022 by the Governor of Wisconsin to the Public Health Council, she contributes to statewide health strategy and policy. She also serves on the boards of the Malaika Early Learning Center and the Neighborhood Improvement Development Corporation (NIDC) for the City of Milwaukee—reflecting her commitment to early childhood success and intentional neighborhood investment.
Her work has been recognized by the Milwaukee Business Journal (40 Under 40, Executives to Watch), Wisconsin Law Journal (Diversity in Business Award), UNCF (Milwaukee Mastermind), and the Medical College of Wisconsin (Underrepresented Scholar Award).
Dr. Oby holds a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) in Applied Public Health Practice and Leadership from the Medical College of Wisconsin, an MBA in Business Strategy from Cardinal Stritch University, and a Certificate in Commercial Real Estate from Cornell University’s SC Johnson College of Business. She is also an alumna of the ACRE Program, Harvard Business School’s Young American Leaders Program, and the Urban Land Institute’s Health Leaders Network.
More than a title or a role, she sees herself simply as a vessel.