New year, new opportunities for HBA’s Gender Equity Think Tank

It’s a new year, which means new opportunities to make a difference when it comes to growing gender equity and advancing women in healthcare, with an eye not only on women’s professional success but also, more broadly, their wellbeing. As the Global Head of the Gender Equity Think Tank, or GETT (formerly known as the Gender Parity Collaborative) —?a data-driven think tank convened by the HBA that connects healthcare industry leaders to accelerate gender equity — I want to share some of the specific opportunities for impact that we see on the horizon in 2024.

Driving accountability

The executives who comprise our think tank have never been content to just “talk the talk,” and thanks to our new data partner, BCT Partners , we’re positioned to “walk the walk” in a brand new way in 2024. Our member organizations are already industry leaders when it comes to policies and practices around issues like advancing all women, to include a focus on the intersectionality of women’s identities (i.e. women of color); engaging men as allies, not only in name, but in deed; solving for the “broken rung,” that first-level promotion that still has the greatest impact on women’s advancement within an organization; and microaggressions, which continue to harm women and hold them back on a regular, if not daily, basis.?

In 2024 we will double down on using data to drive our commitments on the issues and measure impact, holding ourselves accountable for progress not just as individual organizations, but also as a collective.

Thought leadership

In this complex, fast-changing world, we know it’s more important than ever for leaders to be able to anticipate and follow key trends and have a safe space to discuss and debate best practices in response to the issues of the day. In 2024 GETT will ramp up the degree to which we monitor public and industry policy and trends and provide resources (to include white papers) that keep leaders of member organizations informed and prepared.

We will also continue to convene our members for important and sometimes difficult conversation and debate on timely issues. And, as the voice of the healthcare industry on gender equity, we will amplify our members’ insights and industry-leading best practices.?

The time is now

Looking out at the state of the world, I see that GETT’s work has never been more urgently needed. As I write this, our industry faces a workforce shortage when it comes to women, who continue to report unprecedented levels of burnout. The work our members do together this year will make a critical difference for the women who remain at our organizations, and for our ability to attract new top talent.?

Because no matter a woman’s race, ethnicity, age, sexual identity, or any other aspect of who she is, she deserves equitable opportunities to contribute, and to thrive. And when women thrive, the benefits are felt not just by individual women, their families, or their workplaces, but also, the communities that we collectively serve.

Authored by Marsha Anderson, MBA , Senior Director, Global Head, Gender Equity Think Tank.

She brings 30 years of experience in the business of healthcare in biopharmaceuticals, health insurance, and an integrated delivery network.? ?

Marsha’s background is in sales leadership, sales operations, marketing, training, and market value and access. She is a graduate of the University of Albany (Albany, NY) with a B.S. in Business Administration, and she is also a graduate of St. John’s University with an M.B.A. in Marketing.? She is currently completing a certificate program in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion through Cornell University.