Women's History Month

To celebrate Women’s History Month, we asked members of Modivcare’s Female Empowerment Employee Resource Group their thoughts on leading other women, who inspires them, career advice and more.

Celeste Crocker, Provider Relations Director

1.?What do you do to empower and bring other women along in the leadership journey?

I have a non-profit in which I teach young ladies and women leadership skills and how to become better (www.nothingsimpossiblecc.org ). I have written a motivational journal that is now published on Amazon and host events to highlight women’s accomplishments and their journeys.

2.?What does Women’s History mean to you?

It means freedom and empowerment.

Katrina Hardy, Senior Counsel

1.?What’s one piece of advice you would give a woman starting out in their career?

I would tell women who are starting out in their careers to set healthy boundaries, as those boundaries are vital to preventing burnout. Women are natural nurturers, which tends to carry over into the workplace. Often, this nurturing mentality causes women to jump into “fixer mode” and do what needs to be done or solve problems they didn’t create, even if it’s to their detriment. These efforts can be overlooked, which leads to feelings of resentment and unworthiness. It’s important to be a team player, but it is also important to set boundaries.

2.?What are things you do to empower other women along in their leadership journey?

As an attorney, I’ve been trained to be a voice for the voiceless or those who are too afraid to speak up for themselves. When I encounter phenomenal women who are not highlighted or in leadership roles, I ask them, “what can I do to propel you?” This leads to a conversation where we discuss their strengths and readiness for the next level. After that, I go to work! I will find opportunities to include them in future projects or speak directly to their manager about their qualities. I truly believe that as a leader, it is important to uplift other women who are equally talented and deserving of recognition.

Kate Zerone, Communications Director

1.Who is the most influential woman you know?

?My mom. Of all the incredible women in my life, my mom stands out to me as the one person whose example helped shape me into the woman I am today. She embodies the qualities of love, empathy, perseverance, responsibility, duty and sacrifice that I strive to emulate every day, giving her all in everything she does. I am fortunate to have her in my life, and I'm grateful for the lessons she has taught me over the years and continues to teach to this day.

2. What’s one piece of advice you would give a woman starting out in their career?

Lately, I’ve really embraced the idea of “becoming comfortable with discomfort” to continue learning, growing and pushing myself beyond my limits. It’s something I would have liked to know earlier in life and would be one piece of advice I’d give to a woman starting out in her career to reach her full potential. In my younger years, I would often shy away from opportunities that put me outside of my comfort zone, mainly because pushing outside the safety net of what was familiar was uncomfortable. What I’ve learned, however, is that the most growth comes from those moments of being “uncomfortable:” doing difficult or unfamiliar things, as they expand our knowledge, experience and confidence to overcome future obstacles.

3. What qualities make a great female leader?

Many qualities make a great female leader; ultimately, I see women who leverage their unique strengths and experiences to create positive change as the most successful. Here are a few qualities that resonate most with me:

·???????Authenticity. Being true to who you are and your values and building trust and credibility with teams by being genuine, honest and transparent.

·???????Humility. Building trust by acknowledging mistakes, being open to feedback and being willing to listen, learn and grow.

·???????Grit. Persevering through challenges and setbacks and maintaining focus and determination to drive results.

·???????Elevating others. Being open to hiring someone with more experience and skills than you. Fostering a team’s well-being, growth, development and potential.

Constana Seals, Client Executive

1.What advice do you have for young women who want to be in leadership positions?

?Seek a mentor and surround yourself with people who want the best for you.

2.?What’s one piece of advice you would give a woman starting out in their career?

Define success on your own terms, and do not be afraid to go after goals in your own way, even if it seems unusual at the time.

3.?What are things you do to empower other women along in their leadership journey?

During my career, I’ve been fortunate for the opportunity to pour into so many amazing and talented women in the organization. From my experience, they all had the same question: “do you think I can do it?” I encourage women to focus on what they can do versus what they cannot do. It’s important to meet people where they are and focus on strength base leadership. I provide support by creating a plan to acquire skills, stretch projects, stretch promotions and mentorship.

Ryan Lipinski, Vice President, Compliance, Personal Care Services

1.What advice do you have for young women who want to be in leadership positions?

Bring value to every project, be responsive and make connections with your co-workers. Be the team member who can be depended on to deliver high-quality work in a timely fashion.?Practice leadership by leading positions in your community, volunteer organizations, professional organizations, schools, business resource groups, etc.?It can be scary at first, but with practice and experience, it becomes more natural.?

2.?Have you drawn professional inspiration from other women? Tell us about someone who has inspired you.

In my career, most of my bosses have been women! It’s fantastic to work for strong female role models; I have learned so many things about what it takes to earn the trust and confidence of your organization. My current Modivcare leader is Jody Kepler, Modivcare’s Chief Compliance Officer, and I couldn’t ask for a more supportive and astute boss. She’s an absolute joy, and I am very excited about the future at Modivcare. I’m grateful for all my leaders along the way.?Another role model includes my first female leader, Debby Hagan. She was the Division Chief of the Consumer Protection Division of the Illinois Attorney General’s Office. She oversaw the cases we handled against major pharmaceutical companies, PBMs, insurers, etc.?Debby took command of every room, by showing up the most prepared and confident in her convictions.?Debby devoted her time mentoring young lawyers and I’m so grateful that I was a recipient of her time.

3.?What female public figure, past or present, inspires you and why?

Brene Brown is my inspiration! She taught me to embrace vulnerability, my values and courage to drop the armor. It’s ok to say, “I don’t know” or even better, “Tell me more.” We can earn the trust and respect of our colleagues by being real, admitting to what we don’t know, and asking for help when we need it.

Nicole Hayes, Director of Legal Operations

1.?What advice do you have for young women who want to be in leadership positions?

You do not need to have direct reports or manage a team to be a leader; attitude and the ability to positively impact those around you can make you a leader. Your impact should be intentional and cultivated by listening, assuming positive intent and trusting in others.?Allow your authentic self to show at work. When I accepted myself fully, recognizing my strengths/weaknesses, I naturally began to speak up and become open for continued improvement.?

2.?Why do we need more women in leadership?

Women offer varied experiences and different perspectives. If you have a room filled with individuals who all look the same, you will likely come to the same outcome.?Diverse experiences and viewpoints bring innovation to companies which often result in more successful solutions. Representation does matter: seeing women in leadership positions provides validation and more opportunities, voices and journeys to be heard.?

3. What are things you do to empower other women along in their leadership journey?

I encourage women to raise their hands for new opportunities, be willing to take on new challenges and responsibilities and ask for what you want. Women should lift each other up, support one another and be kind to ourselves (and each other). Women need to know our stories with the ups and the downs because seeing and hearing the road you traveled creates the power of possibility for others with those dreams.