People at Progyny Spotlight: Annie Panatier

At Progyny, Inc. , we believe in celebrating the diverse voices and talents that drive our success. Today, I'm spotlighting Annie P. , a powerhouse in our recruitment team who embodies our culture and growth.

Since joining the Progyny family four years ago, Annie has been instrumental in shaping our team and recruiting top-tier talent that fuels our innovation and impact.

In our conversation, Annie shared insights into her career, the challenges, and her vision for talent acquisition. Her passion for what she does is contagious, and her contributions have elevated the company.

Can you share a bit about your career journey and the key milestones that have shaped it?

I jumped into the world of recruiting almost immediately and worked at a few different places. I found myself at a company I wasn’t passionate about and knew I needed to make some moves. I found Progyny and from the first interview I knew I had found exactly what I was looking for. During my time here, I’ve been promoted four times. The biggest milestone I have achieved is becoming a people manager. It's a huge transition from being an individual contributor and it has had a massive impact on my career growth.

What challenges have you encountered as a woman in your field, and how have you overcome them?

Early in my career, I lacked confidence in my ability to prove I was a subject matter expert in recruiting. I learned that preparedness is key. The more time I spent leading meetings allowed me to gain the confidence I needed and ultimately a better partner with hiring managers.

In what ways have you actively supported other women in their career development?

Giving employees an environment where they can have an open dialogue about their strengths and weaknesses has been critical. This has often led to conversations around growth and career development. To help create this environment, I’ve been intentional about providing feedback to my team. This enabled me to advocate for them and their career advancements. Additionally, Progyny has always been an organization where we encourage employees to explore new opportunities internally.

Reflecting on your own experiences, what advice would you give to young women aspiring to pursue a similar career path?

Don’t be too hard on yourself. I have often been my toughest critic. While I believe it’s important to be self-aware and recognize your areas for improvement, it’s also important to remember that you won't grow if you don’t experience failure. I would also encourage young women to be proactive about making strong professional connections with mentors and peers. Those connections can introduce you to new professional opportunities.

How important is mentorship to your professional growth, and have you had any significant mentors on your journey?

Mentorship is key! I have had the opportunity to work with, and for, many female leaders and have consistently relied on them for mentorship. We have so many successful women at Progyny, specifically within the HR Team. They've been instrumental in shaping my growth and career aspirations.

Can you share a memorable moment when you felt empowered or inspired by another woman's achievements or support?

A direct report of mine recently received public praise for her hard work. This recognition made me feel incredibly proud and energized. Not only did it inspire her to continue her success, but it also solidified that I could coach and manage my team successfully to achieve Progyny’s goals.

What concrete steps can individuals and organizations take to create more opportunities for women in traditionally male-dominated industries?

Organizations should prioritize building out learning and development programs that encourage female employees to think critically about their career development. They should also give them tools to expand their skillsets to guide them through career growth.

Additionally, organizations should prioritize senior female talent. Creating diverse talent pipelines takes time, and companies need to be willing to invest.

Looking ahead, what are your hopes and aspirations for the future of women in your field, and how do you plan to contribute to this progress?

Recruiting Teams have direct impact on the company’s culture through the talent they hire. My hope is that women can continue to influence their organization's culture by implementing inclusive recruitment practices. Additionally, I hope we can build and create actionable strategies to promote pay equity within organizations.