Finding the place she belongs: Amber Dicks’ career at Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island

For Amber Dicks, the road to her current position as senior corporate board assistant and executive assistant at Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island (BCBSRI) has been an interesting one for sure, and not a straight line. In that role, which she’s been in since October 2020, Amber supports Michele Lederberg, Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, and Chief Legal Officer, as well as our board of directors. She is the liaison between the board and the BCBSRI executive leadership team, scheduling and handling all logistics for board meetings, and sharing materials with board members.

Amber’s journey at BCBSRI began in 2015, when she joined the customer service call center, eventually moving to the provider call center. When organizational changes were made at the company, Amber briefly left to work for a radiology company.

While she was away, Amber knew she needed to somehow find her way back where she belonged.

“This is such an amazing company to work for. The type of support associates have from leadership is unmatched,” Amber says. She stayed connected with former coworkers during her time away and kept aware of open positions. One of those coworkers worked in the grievance and appeals unit (GAU), and when there was an opening, Amber applied and was rehired to BCBSRI in 2019.

She started in GAU as a support specialist, working with GAU nurses, then moved to a position as a case specialist. She loved working with members to research and resolve their issues. “My customer service training and experience early on really prepared me for that role,” Amber recalls.

From GAU, Amber applied for and was hired into her current position and is thankful to Michele for her “unofficial” mentoring over the last few years while in her current role. “Michele saw so much in me that I didn’t see in myself, and has helped me grow, learn, and step outside my comfort zone in so many ways,” she says. “She’s given me such great professional and personal advice, and I’m so thankful for the opportunity to work for and learn from her.”

We asked Amber which opportunities at BCBSRI she’s taken advantage of and what those have meant to her career path and success.?“I used to prefer being in the background, to blend in and go unnoticed,” Amber admits. She credits two opportunities with having the most impact on her, ones that have taken her far out of her comfort zone. The first is her role on the leadership team of the Black Council @ Blue Employee Business Resource Group (EBRG), which has helped her express her opinions and have her voice heard, giving her added motivation to succeed in her role.

The other opportunity Amber mentions is completing the Choose In leadership development program led by @AWE (Advancing Workplace Excellence), which she also counts as her proudest accomplishment at BCBSRI. “One of the guest speakers during the program told us we needed to ‘become comfortable with feeling uncomfortable.’ That advice has stuck with me, and I remind myself of it all the time now.”

We asked Amber about the company’s culture and how it has helped shape her journey.?“I’ve been so proud of our culture and being able to be a part of it. Everyone is so helpful, supportive, and willing to step up, which I think has contributed to our success as a company,” Amber says. She has made a point to reach out to several associates she hasn’t met to learn more about different parts of the company and says everyone has been willing to share their knowledge and expertise. “It’s been inspiring and a great way to expand my network too. I’m a big believer in being willing to learn and be helpful. There are people here who recognize hard work and want associates to succeed by giving them a chance to explore an opportunity they might not recognize is a?good fit.”

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We asked Amber what she’s most looking forward to at BCBSRI.?She says she’s very excited about where our corporate strategies will continue to take us. “I love the direction we’re headed in, and how our strategy will help us realize our vision to improve?health and well-being by leading access to high quality, affordable, and equitable care for our members and Rhode Islanders. I’m proud to be a part of it!” Amber’s also excited about our new Your Blue Store in Narragansett, and how successful our retail presence has been.

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We asked Amber what advice she has for others who are interested in expanding their careers.?“Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Learn everything you can. Network and reach out to other areas. Attend all the webinars and presentations you have access to. Believe in yourself. Don’t give up…keep an open mind, and you can get to where you want to go!”