Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1465061
63 WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP Quita Highsmith. Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer, Genentech (South San Francisco, Calif.). My very presence as a VP at Genentech creates possibilities, and I take that responsibility seriously by showing up every day as my authentic self. We need more women and people of color seeing diverse leadership, especially in the C-suite, that don't modify their personality to fit in with what is believed to be acceptable. is gives women and people of color the confidence to bring their authentic self to work every day. Alexa Kimball, MD. President and CEO of Harvard Medical Fac- ulty Physicians at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (Boston). Be intensely proactive about giving women opportunities in medicine. For organizations, having an institutional agenda to propel women means to pay, sponsor, promote, nominate, elect, invite, cite, creden- tial and recognize women every chance possible during every phase of their career, keeping in mind that one woman's sequence may be different than her predecessors, or the later part of her career might be her most powerful one. Leaders should actively solicit new nomi- nations of women for every job search, make sure women are part of job search committees, reduce the need to demonstrate impact that requires travel and eliminate meetings that occur before 8 a.m. or aer 6 p.m., when it's particularly hard to manage child care. In sum, we must meet women where they are now — which is a different place than where they were before the start of the pandemic. Andrea Mazzoccoli, RN, PhD. Chief Nurse and Quality Officer for Bon Secours Mercy Health (Cincinnati). In some cases, women leaders may find it difficult to earn a place at the leadership table, even as a nurse executive with a business and clinical education and extensive patient care experience. As our healthcare industry continues to transform, the voices of female executives will be needed more than ever. One of the hallmarks of a great leader is to go where it is difficult and challenging, and then lead with grace and grit. As a nurse and quality executive leader, my respon- sibility is to represent the voice of the major segment of our workforce in this challenging time. I strive every day to make our leadership team stronger by valuing the unique contributions and differences of each indi- vidual. By combining the business and operational acumen with clinical experience, we will inspire people — regardless of gender, ethnicity, age or creed — to create, innovate and grow. Cindy Miller. President and CEO, Stericycle (Bannockburn, Ill.). e leaders that have always inspired me were the ones who put the safety and well-being of their employees first. e past two years have taken a profound toll on us all. As healthcare leaders, we'll need to continue to foster an environment and culture that supports the over- all health of our teams. Every step we can take toward getting back to the basics is key. And safety is one of those important building blocks leaders must recommit to regularly to help employees, patients and communities be stronger and healthier. Nerissa Morris. Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources and Diversity Officer, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. As a young woman, I was blessed with female role models in my family from all walks of life, from domestic work to educators. ey all instilled in me the values of a strong work ethic and preparation, determination and belief in my potential to succeed and a commitment of service to others. ey believed in me. As leaders we have the responsibility to shine a light on the potential in people who are waiting for the opportunity to be discovered, cultivated and advanced, especially for people of color and women. Being a role model shows them it's possible. Being a leader calls us to break the barriers of bias to unleash the potential in others. Sammie Mosier. Chief Nurse Executive, HCA Healthcare (Nashville, Tenn.). As Chief Nurse Executive for HCA Healthcare, it is my respon- sibility and privilege to be an advocate for 93,000 nurses. Leadership in healthcare requires educating hospital operators on the realities and needs of the nursing environment. I emphasize strong advocacy skills and establishing key partnerships as important leadership abilities for all female leaders — whether new to leadership or seasoned in their careers. We aren't alone in healthcare; it requires a resilient and caring team. Authentic female leaders can help others connect to the mission of patient care and inspire others to be part of the journey. Margaret Norton. Chief of Staff, Mass General Brigham (Boston). We are at a pivotal time for shaping the future of healthcare, and my advice for women is that now is the time to be bold. Be a driver of change. Lead in rethinking how we deliver care. Aspire to do better for our communities. Speak up when you see something you want to fix. If the past two years have taught us anything, it's that we need to be nimble, empathetic and we need to move fast. Laura Pickett. Vice President and Chief Patient and Family Engage- ment Officer, Indiana University Health (Indianapolis). In a multi- generational workplace, the resolve and confidence to be fully focused on others, to champion and upli other women, are indispensable. Practicing the elusive art of deep listening and then acting in a way which inspires clarity, vulnerability and compassion builds strong cul- ture: It is culture which drives performance. It's my privilege to walk a path of opportunity because other women before me paved the way. Reciprocally, it's my responsibility to smooth the road for future gener- ations focused on equitably delivering exceptional care experiences for patients, families and communities. Carol Porter, DNP, RN. Senior Vice President and Chief Nurs- ing Officer, e University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston). Healthcare gives leaders opportunities to care for patients and to make a difference in the lives of those we serve, both in good times and in challenging times. roughout the crises I have experi- enced as a leader, I have embraced challenges with a focus on safe- ty, health and humanity. As a woman and a mother, I applied those lessons to shape my life and my children's lives. I have grown stron- ger with each challenge, only increasing my dedication as a healthcare leader. I am proud to be a female leader in nursing and in healthcare, and aer a lifetime of service I thank all the patients and families I have served for making me who I am today. Tami Reller. President, Duly Health and Care (Downers Grove, Ill.). Now more than ever, it's critical we empower women in the healthcare workforce and to lead by example with integrity, compassion and hu- mility in everything we do. ese past two years have shed light on the incredible work we do and the sacrifices women — in the healthcare industry and beyond — oen make. I am grateful to the women who paved the way for me and always look for opportunities to support, champion and mentor our new generations of female colleagues so they can find balance and flourish in all the roles they play — professionally and personally. On this International Women's Day, I express my appre- ciation to all those across the industry who are providing such person- alized, purposeful, compassionate care to their patients and each other every day. Nadia Rosenthal, PhD. Scientific Director and Professor, e Jackson Laboratory for Mammalian Genetics (Bar Harbor, Maine). As a sci- entist, I foster a stubborn intolerance of personal compromise when it comes to pursuing ideas, and I tell my team of researchers and students to do the same when they enter the laboratory. Maintaining a sense of free- dom to pursue my fascination with a scientific question has helped me cra my leadership philosophy and practice. Despite any of the difficulties or pitfalls that have come my way as a female leader in research, holding true to my intellectual curiosity has empowered me, and also paid off over and over again for those I've been lucky enough to mentor. Lisa Shannon. President and CEO, Allina Health (Minneapolis). As a leader in the healthcare industry, we must be mindful of the jour-