In Honor of Women’s History Month: A Time to Reflect and Pay it Forward

Each year during Women’s History Month, we remember and celebrate the many influential women that have broken barriers, shattered ceilings, and paved a path for all of us.

This year’s theme is about challenging the status quo to create change for women. One of the ways we do that is by continuously thinking about how to foster an inclusive workplace culture that empowers all women. When we give women opportunities to amplify their voices and invite them into conversations, they play a key role in affecting meaningful change. 

Finding Role Models or Mentors

Growing up, I was very lucky to be surrounded by strong and independent women: my grandmother, and her sister. They were a great source of inspiration throughout my life. 

They were professional women during a time that did not cater to women in the workplace— my grandmother was a librarian, and her sister was a teacher. From an early age, they modeled what it meant to have a career that you truly cared about. They taught me to be independent, have a positive outlook and believe that anything is possible.

They grew up during a time when women in the workplace had to navigate extraordinary challenges, and I find myself as a parent retelling those stories. They didn’t have the same opportunities that we have today, and it is a reminder of how far we have come. But also, it’s a reminder of how much more work we have ahead of us to create equity for everyone in the workplace. 

What they were able to achieve left a significant impression on me and fueled my passion for continuing their legacy. 

Paying it Forward

When I entered healthcare 20 years ago, while it was largely full of women professionals, it was still led predominantly by men. I worked for a not-for-profit organization that was focused on the disenfranchised and their right to healthcare.

 Many women held important seats on the Board and they were a strong influence for how the industry should think about and lead in the healthcare space. Coming in with the invitation to develop and to train their workforce gave me a seat at the table to ask questions and have my voice be heard.

I’ve learned a lot from my mentors and from my own challenges that I’ve faced along my career path. Like most working mothers, I try to offer some of what I’ve learned to my three children (pictured above when they were younger) who are now beginning to enter the workforce. Just last month, my daughter accepted an offer for her very first professional job. As a mother, I’m extremely proud. Here are a few thoughts I’ve shared with her about managing her career: 

• Always come prepared to a meeting knowing exactly what you want to get out of it. Come ready to ask a question. This doesn’t just mean tactical questions, but something that provokes thinking and leads to discussion. 
• You are not on your own. Your colleagues, managers, and leaders are all invested in the same vision and outcome for the company. Remember, there’s no expectation that you need to know everything—your willingness and ability to ask for help is a strength not a weakness!
• Do not overcomplicate things. At a certain point in your career, you realize that the answers to some of a business’s most complicated issues are really quite simple. Don’t overthink things, look at what aligns with your company’s vision and values and do the right thing.  
• It all gets back to something we’ve been doing for 200,000 years: Storytelling. The most successful people in business are those that make their ideas accessible and engaging— storytelling is incredibly powerful. As you think on new ideas, or are leading others through change, or want funding for a critical project—what is the story you’re going to tell and how are you going to tell it?
• Remember to check in on your priorities. If I have a question about what I need to prioritize, I always fast forward to my 95-year-old self and ask, “what would she do?” That has helped me remember what’s important and find balance in my career and personal life.

Amplifying Women’s Voices and Stories 

This past year has been remarkable, and healthcare has played a central role. Frontline healthcare workers have fought tirelessly to help treat and prevent the spread of Covid-19, putting themselves at risk to save our families, friends and communities. 

Around the world, women continue to be at the center of our fight against the pandemic. In the United States, women account for 60 percent of the healthcare industry, meaning that many of our healthcare heroes are women; they are our mothers, daughters, sisters and loved ones. This year at Delta Dental, we celebrate their incredible displays of resilience, compassion, and unending fight to keep us all healthy and safe. 

At Delta Dental, I’m proud to share that women employees account for over 68 percent of our workforce and many hold key leadership roles, which is nearly double the benchmark for the healthcare industry. This stems from our dedication to making our company culture a focal point and implementing operational initiatives that help us grow by offering development and mentorship programs and meeting targeted talent acquisition goals. 

I’m personally proud and inspired by our efforts to highlight women excellence at our company and create a place to share our stories with the launch of our Women@ Inclusion Community. To celebrate this year’s Women’s History Month, the committee developed events, workshops and opportunities for bringing the group and its allies together. Conversations focused around how to become an ally to women in the workplace and improving our emotional, professional and social wellbeing.

Seeing the continued effort to build and ignite an inclusive, productive and exciting community for our women employees and allies makes me proud to be part of such a forward-thinking organization. The idea is simple, yet powerful: we are all better when we come together to support each other.