The Power of Local Podcast: Meet Heidi from Philippines Flying Labs

An essential part of amplifying the power of local is passing the mic to local experts and letting them share, in their own words, the work they do and why it matters. That’s what we are doing through The Power of Local Podcast. From personal journeys to impact stories, discover how local technology experts in Africa, Asia/Pacific, Latin America, and the Caribbean are using drones, data, and AI to tackle real challenges in their communities and shape the future.

After practicing pediatric medicine in the US for 15 years, Heidi returned to the Philippines to take on a new challenge: using drones, machine learning, and other technologies for social good. Underneath her passion for innovation is a strong desire to improve access to essential medical services in the communities that are hardest to reach. 

Since founding Philippines Flying Labs in 2018, she has focused on using drones for mapping, disaster planning, and, more recently, cargo transport. In this episode, she shares some of the challenges in the delivery of medical supplies to remote areas in the Philippines and how she and her team are helping to address these challenges. 

Watch the podcast episode below or listen to it here.