Inspiring Women with Laurie McGraw

Sophia Kim has spent her career breaking molds, and building better models for leadership and care delivery. From her early start navigating journalism and consulting to leading high-growth teams in healthcare, Sophia’s path has been shaped by adaptability, ambition, and a commitment to creating change that matters. In this episode of Inspiring Women with Laurie McGraw, Sophia shares her journey from balancing a demanding consulting career with raising two young children to finding her footing in healthcare leadership - without a clinical background, but with a deep understanding of people, systems, and what real innovation requires. She talks about: How she’s helping rethink access to heart care through virtual-first models — and why bold ideas are needed to meet today’s healthcare challenges. The leadership lessons she’s carried from consulting rooms to executive suites — including why being able to “be like water” has been essential to growth. How women leaders can create space not just for themselves, but for the next generation. Why technology must always serve people first — and how to balance innovation with the human experience. Sophia’s story is about more than business growth. It’s about resilience, reinvention, and the power of leading with both strategy and heart. Chapters 00:01:27 Sophia’s Immigrant Story & Early Career Background 00:08:32 Leading Through the Pandemic 00:11:28 Complexity of Cardiovascular Health 00:12:39 Cardiologist Shortage & Access Issues 00:15:06 Role of AI in Cardiology & Patient Engagement 00:19:54 Sophia’s Leadership Style Guest & Host Links Connect with Laurie McGraw on LinkedIn Connect with Sophia Kim on LinkedIn Connect with Inspiring Women Browse Episodes | LinkedIn | Instagram | Apple | Spotify This episode of Inspiring Women with Laurie McGraw was recorded at the WBL Summit, a leadership, networking, and professional development conference for WBL members that takes place each spring. WBL is a network of 1500+ senior executive women in healthcare who convene to share ideas, make valuable connections, and solve business challenges. WBL’s mission is to connect and support our members in advancing their careers and impact on our industry.

What happens when the system meant to care for everyone, doesn’t? Healthcare equity isn’t theoretical. It’s about who lives, who dies, and who gets a chance. For Rita Johnson-Mills, this isn’t abstract. It’s the work of a lifetime. As a former Medicaid executive, CEO, and now board leader, she has spent decades fighting to ensure Black and Brown communities receive the care, dignity, and leadership they deserve. Rita’s not just breaking glass ceilings. She’s questioning who built the ceiling in the first place. Her leadership spans public health, corporate boardrooms, and the lives of the women she’s mentored into executive roles. Her impact is structural. Her mission is urgent. In this episode of Inspiring Women with Laurie McGraw, Rita speaks about: In this episode of Inspiring Women with Laurie McGraw, Rita speaks about: What happens when DEI becomes too controversial to talk about in healthcare? What does it take to succeed when the systems were never designed for you? How can we protect the lives of Black mothers and babies when health equity is under threat? How can leaders build a legacy by mentoring the next generation of women executives? Why does boardroom diversity matter, and how do we make sure it’s more than lip service? Rita’s leadership isn’t just impressive. It’s necessary. She’s not just creating space—she’s changing the system itself. Guest & Host Links Connect with Laurie McGraw on LinkedIn Connect with Rita Johnson-Mills on LinkedIn Connect with Inspiring Women Browse Episodes | LinkedIn | Instagram | Apple | Spotify This episode of Inspiring Women was recorded at the WBL Summit, a leadership, networking, and professional development conference for WBL members that takes place each spring. WBL is a network of 1500+ senior executive women in healthcare who convene to share ideas, make valuable connections, and solve business challenges. WBL’s mission is to connect and support our members in advancing their careers and impact on our industry.

When a diagnosis is shared, the questions come fast: What happened? How can I help? For families in crisis, support is critical—but often chaotic. Without a structure to manage communication or coordinate care, caregivers are left to navigate emotional overwhelm and logistical complexity at the same time. That’s where CaringBridge steps in. In this episode of Inspiring Women, CEO Tia Newcomer joins Laurie McGraw to talk about what it takes to bring real support into the healthcare experience—not as a nice-to-have, but as essential infrastructure. Under her leadership, CaringBridge is expanding its reach, embedding into points of diagnosis and discharge, and protecting trust in a space where many would trade it for scale. With two decades of executive leadership across Fortune 100, VC, and private equity–backed health tech and consumer brands, Tia brings a sharp operational lens to deeply human problems and a clear vision for what care can look like when support is treated as essential, not optional. Key themes explored: How can caregiver support become a standard part of the care journey? What does it take to grow a mission without compromising its core? Why is trust a strategic choice and how do you protect it? What can cross-sector leadership unlock in healthcare innovation? Guest & Host Links Connect with Laurie McGraw on LinkedIn Connect with Tia Newcomer on LinkedIn About CaringBridge Connect with Inspiring Women Browse Episodes | LinkedIn | Instagram | Apple | Spotify This episode of Inspiring Women was recorded at the WBL Summit, a leadership, networking, and professional development conference for WBL members that takes place each spring. WBL is a network of 1500+ senior executive women in healthcare who convene to share ideas, make valuable connections, and solve business challenges. WBL’s mission is to connect and support our members in advancing their careers and impact on our industry.

Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice, the sixth president of Morehouse School of Medicine and first woman to lead as president and CEO, cuts through the noise with her refreshingly direct approach to diversifying healthcare. "If Morehouse School of Medicine is not part of the DEI story, I don't know what the DEI story is," Dr. Rice says, refusing to back down from her mission despite today's challenging climate. She brings receipts too—showing exactly how diversity in medicine delivers measurable benefits in economic impact, patient satisfaction, and health outcomes. Dr. Rice shares her practical wisdom for staying focused when leadership gets tough: "Sometimes you have to put on blinders so you don't become distracted and put earplugs in and only turn up the volume for things that are gonna keep you moving forward." She emphasizes the importance of regular connection with those she serves, keeping her calendar open on Friday afternoons for 15-minute conversations with anyone who needs to speak with her. Her journey from rural Georgia to the pinnacle of medical leadership is remarkable—transitioning from a degree in chemical engineering to attending Harvard Medical School after realizing she needed to follow her own path rather than others' expectations. This willingness to pivot and trust herself has defined her leadership style, as she's moved through numerous academic and clinical roles to her current position. Dr. Rice discusses the critical importance of trust in medicine and how physician diversity directly improves health outcomes: "The foundation of any relationship is trust." She explains how physicians who understand their patients' backgrounds can "meet them where they are" to create more effective care plans. From tackling physician representation to building patient trust through cultural concordance, Dr. Rice offers a masterclass in purposeful leadership. She reminds us why this work matters now more than ever, summing up her philosophy with the powerful question she asks herself daily: "What would you do if you could not fail?" This conversation isn't just about healthcare—it's about leading with conviction when the path gets rocky and remembering your "why" when challenges mount. Guest & Host Links Connect with Laurie McGraw on LinkedIn Connect with Dr Valerie Montgomery Rice on LinkedIn Learn more about Valerie Montgomery Rice, MD, FACOG About Morehouse School of Medicine Connect with Inspiring Women Browse Episodes | LinkedIn | Instagram | Apple | Spotify This episode of Inspiring Women was recorded at the WBL Summit, a leadership, networking, and professional development conference for WBL members that takes place each spring. WBL is a network of 1500+ senior executive women in healthcare who convene to share ideas, make valuable connections, and solve business challenges. WBL’s mission is to connect and support our members in advancing their careers and impact on our industry.

Art school isn’t the typical starting point for a tech industry leader, but for Jessica Neal, former Chief Talent Officer at Netflix, it was the first step in an extraordinary career. In this episode, Jessica shares how she transitioned from an aspiring artist to headhunter to leading Netflix’s talent strategy during its explosive growth. Jessica emphasizes the critical importance of providing clear direction and context when it comes to leadership. “If you don’t give the right context and your team isn’t doing well, guess whose fault it is? Yours.” Jessica doesn’t sugar coat the reality of what it takes to lead well and effectively today. Empower your teams? What does empower mean? How about let people do their work and get rid of bureaucracy? Jessica provides a masterclass in adaptability and strategic thinking. She reveals how Netflix’s unique culture of “freedom and responsibility” shaped its success and how she implemented the “context, not control” philosophy to empower teams. As a current venture partner at TCV, board member for cutting-edge companies, and co-host of the TruthWorks podcast, Jessica offers invaluable insights on: Identifying and nurturing top talent in high-growth environments Creating a culture of clarity and context to drive business success Evolving HR practices to meet the demands of modern, global workforces Navigating the complexities of DEI initiatives in today's political climate The future of work and how leaders can prepare for ongoing changes Guest Resources: TCV TruthWorks Podcast LinkedIn Instagram About Jessica: Jessica Neal is a seasoned talent and human resources executive who has made significant contributions to some of the most innovative companies in the tech industry. Currently serving as a Venture Partner at TCV (Technology Crossover Ventures), a leading growth equity firm, Jessica brings her extensive experience in talent management and organizational culture to help scale high-growth companies. Jessica’s career journey is as unconventional as it is impressive. She began her professional life as an artist, earning a BFA in Fine Arts from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Her path took an unexpected turn when she discovered her talent for identifying and nurturing top- tier talent in the tech industry. Jessica is perhaps best known for her transformative work at Netflix, where she spent over 11 years across two tenures. As Chief Talent Officer (CHRO), she played a pivotal role in shaping Netflix’s renowned culture during its explosive growth from a DVD-by-mail service to the world’s leading streaming entertainment company. Under her leadership, Netflix’s workforce expanded from 250 to over 10,000 employees globally. Between her stints at Netflix, Jessica held key leadership positions at other innovative companies. She served as Chief People Officer at Scopely, a mobile gaming company, and as Vice President of Talent at Coursera, an online education platform. These experiences further honed her skills in building and scaling teams in fast-paced, high-growth environments. Today, Jessica leverages her expertise as a board member for several companies, including JFrog, a DevOps platform, and Public.com, a social investing platform. Her board service allows her to share her insights on talent strategy, organizational culture, and scaling operations with the next generation of tech leaders. Jessica is also passionate about sharing her knowledge and experiences with a broader audience. She co-hosts the “TruthWorks” podcast with Patty McCord, where they explore pressing issues affecting the modern workplace, from AI and mental health to layoffs and toxic cultures. Known for her candid approach and deep understanding of what makes great companies tick, Jessica Neal continues to be a influential voice in reshaping how we think about work, talent, and organizational culture in the 21st century. Connect with Laurie McGraw – Inspiring Women: Podcast YouTube Instagram Linkedin

“We need to be more ambitious….” Margaret “Peggy” O’Kane transformed healthcare quality measurement in America when she created NCQA 35 years ago. As she reflects on what it has meant to create the foundations for quality measurement, she is also clear that the complex state of healthcare requires leaders across payers, health systems, employers, and providers to do more. Disruption is required. In this revealing conversation with Laurie McGraw, O’Kane reflects on her journey from respiratory therapist to healthcare quality pioneer, the development of HEDIS® as the nation’s most widely used quality measurement tool, and her passionate advocacy for addressing racial disparities in healthcare outcomes. As she prepares to retire at the end of 2025, O’Kane shares candid insights on the challenges facing healthcare quality improvement and her vision for the industry’s future. Discover why this legendary leader believes that despite progress, “so much work that’s undone” in creating a trusted, quality healthcare system. O’Kane’s unwavering commitment to health equity shines through when she addresses recent pushback on measuring disparities: “There are undeniable differences in health outcomes among different population groups… I think people need to be determined to push through, to learn about how to approach this.” Her call for persistence resonates powerfully as she urges healthcare leaders to “follow the data, avoid the noise… and stay ambitious and courageous” in addressing healthcare disparities. Key Takeaways: 1. Quality Measurement Evolution: O’Kane’s journey with NCQA began by addressing the disorganized state of healthcare, evolving from basic preventive measures to comprehensive digital quality metrics that can transform population health management. 2. Digital Transformation: The future of healthcare quality lies in digital reporting and enablement, moving beyond traditional HEDIS® measures toward more ambitious, customized approaches that can better serve diverse patient populations. 3. Health Equity Imperative: Despite political pushbacks, O’Kane emphasizes the critical importance of continuing to measure and address healthcare disparities through data-driven approaches, including innovative methods like using zip codes when direct demographic data collection faces challenges. 4. System Transformation Challenges: O’Kane acknowledges that transforming healthcare requires changing deeply ingrained practices, noting that “everybody’s been trained to work in the current model” and meaningful change requires persistence, curiosity, and willingness to adapt when approaches aren’t working. Guest Resources: National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS®) LinkedIn About Margaret (Peggy) O’Kane: Margaret “Peggy” O’Kane is the founder and president of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), an organization she established in 1990 to transform healthcare quality measurement and improvement in America. After recognizing the disorganized state of healthcare during her early career as a respiratory therapist, O’Kane pursued a master’s degree in public health and health policy from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, which equipped her with the knowledge to revolutionize healthcare quality standards. Under her visionary leadership spanning 35 years, NCQA developed the Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS®), now the nation’s most widely used quality measurement tool. Today, more than 216 million people—approximately 65% of the U.S. population—are enrolled in NCQA-Accredited plans that use HEDIS to assess and benchmark care quality. O’Kane has been a passionate advocate for addressing racial inequities in healthcare outcomes, emphasizing the importance of data collection and measurement to identify and reduce disparities. Her pioneering work has established NCQA as the foremost authority in healthcare quality assessment, with more than 10,000 entities—including health plans, health systems, primary care practices, and technology vendors—accredited or recognized through NCQA’s evaluation programs. After more than three decades of dedicated service, O’Kane has announced her retirement at the end of 2025, which coincides with NCQA’s 35th anniversary. As she prepares for this transition, she remains committed to advancing digital quality measurement and expanding NCQA’s focus to more ambitious goals in population health management and health equity. Connect with Laurie McGraw – Inspiring Women: Podcast YouTube Instagram Linkedin

Human Resources is NOT the next obvious step if you began your career as a nutritionist. Yet for Colleen Bowman, VP of HR at IAC, her unconventional path took her exactly there. And when you hear Colleen’s story, it really does all make sense. Colleen started as an athlete. So being competitive and working as a team came naturally. She always had high expectations – of herself and of others. Key skills needed for leadership – building trust, having empathy, having confidence in yourself – these are core to who Colleen is. Nutrition is where she started but then she loved the complexity of what she started learning in the world of Human Resources. Complex benefits design, needing to work across functions like finance and legal and senior management. Colleen also goes back to those first times when she was making the big leap to a management role. Even for her, confidence was not as strong as she wanted. So “Faking it” until she made it became her mantra, and for Colleen, it worked. Colleen has a lot of responsibility in her leadership role today, but it’s really quite likely that she has only just begun!!! Key Leadership Takeaways from Colleen Bowman: Lead with Empathy: Understand your team’s perspective while setting clear expectations. Build Relationships: Foster strong partnerships to navigate complex challenges and gain support. Embrace Continuous Learning: Stay curious, seek knowledge, and adapt to evolving industry trends. Fake It Til You Make It: Project confidence, even when nervous, to build self-assurance and inspire trust. Proactively Seek Opportunities: Advocate for your needs and take initiative to advance your career. Guest Resources: LinkedIn IAC Related Companies About Colleen: Colleen Bowman is the Vice President of Human Resources at IAC, a diverse holding company with brands spanning media, publishing, and technology. In this role, she partners with IAC’s portfolio of companies to provide HR, benefits, and talent acquisition support, with a particular focus on navigating the complexities of healthcare benefits and ensuring employee well-being. Colleen is dedicated to simplifying complex information, fostering employee engagement, and optimizing HR practices to drive business success. Prior to joining IAC in July of 2024, Colleen served as Vice President of Human Resources at Related Companies, a leading real estate and lifestyle company, where she oversaw total rewards, HR technology, and HR operations. Her extensive career also includes leadership roles at Revlon and Tiffany & Co., where she honed her expertise in benefits and wellness. Colleen’s career began in the nutrition and corporate wellness space, reflecting her long- standing commitment to promoting health and well-being. Colleen holds a Masters of Public Health in Public Health Nutrition from the City University of New York-Hunter College and a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics from Boston University. Her unique background and diverse experience have shaped her empathetic and strategic approach to HR leadership. Colleen is passionate about building trust, fostering transparency, and inspiring the next generation of women leaders in the HR field. Connect with Laurie McGraw – Inspiring Women: Podcast YouTube Instagram Linkedin x6bOYM781yPqQ56CPN5A

Spoiler alert: trust is declining – in government, established institutions, and in media. For 25 years Edelman has been studying trust given its importance as the ultimate currency of a business with its stakeholders. In this Inspiring Women episode, Laurie is speaking with Courtney Gray Haupt, the Global Health Chair and US Co-Chair of Health from Edelman. In discussing the Edelman Trust Barometer, Courtney underscores several key issues impacting women. Key among them are heightened concerns about healthcare affordability (20 points higher than men) which makes sense when you consider the critical role women play in family health decisions (80% made by women). The polarized world we live in also described as a growing “crisis of grievance” can be exhausting. Yet, Courtney offers solutions. Learn how employers can better support women’s healthcare needs, and how women leaders in particular can foster trust with their stakeholders. Share this episode to elevate the conversation! Key Takeaways: Women are significantly more concerned about healthcare affordability than men. Employers are trusted sources of health information, especially for women. A “crisis of grievance” is impacting trust in institutions, leading to a “zero-sum” mentality. Building trust requires understanding audience needs, acting collaboratively, and recognizing the special role women play in healthcare decisions. #InspiringWomen #HealthcareAffordability #WomenInHealthcare #Leadership #EdelmanTrustBarometer Guest Resources: LinkedIn Edelman Trust Barometer Edelman Health About Courtney Gray Haupt: Courtney Gray Haupt is a dynamic leader at Edelman, where she serves as the Global Health Co-Chair and US Chair, Health. In this role, she leads Edelman’s US Health team, specializing in corporate positioning, thought leadership, public affairs, and reputation campaigns. Courtney brings deep expertise in biomedical innovation, health policy, and consumer health and wellness to her work, guiding organizations through the complex and ever-evolving healthcare landscape. Courtney oversees a team of over 400 health specialists, fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration, and solutions-focused thinking. Her passion extends to mentoring and growth opportunities for her team, ensuring they are equipped to tackle the challenges and opportunities within the healthcare sector. Her dedication to cultivating talent and driving innovation has made her a respected figure in the industry. Throughout her career, Courtney has partnered with a diverse range of organizations, including global biopharmaceutical companies, trade associations, schools of public health, foundations, and advocacy groups. She has spearheaded highly successful campaigns that bridge the public and private sectors, engaging policymakers, healthcare professionals, patients, and other key audiences. Her work has driven action and informed stakeholders on critical health issues such as vaccine policy, drug pricing, and mental health. Courtney’s extensive experience includes supporting prominent organizations across the health community, such as Johnson & Johnson, Amgen, Merck, the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. With specialties in biopharma innovation, public affairs, health coalition building, and corporate storytelling, Courtney Gray Haupt is a driving force in shaping the future of healthcare communications and advocacy. Connect with Laurie McGraw – Inspiring Women: Podcast YouTube Instagram Linkedin

She is a Latina. She is a leader. She is a visible member of her community. She is a daughter. She is a servant leader. And Brenda Munoz is also, so much more than all of that. As we celebrate Women’s History Month, Laurie McGraw speaks with Brenda Munoz, Associate Benefits Director at the Laborers Funds Administrative Office of Northern California, Inc. From a temporary administrative analyst to a key leadership role, Brenda’s journey is nothing short of remarkable. Brenda’s story reminds us of the progress made and the work still needed to achieve gender equity in leadership. The weight of her position, representing her family, her community, and the hopes of future Latina leaders, fuels her dedication to serving the laborers and transforming the lives of her team. Did you know that while women make up nearly half of the U.S. workforce, Latina women hold only about 2% of management or executive positions? This stark reality underscores the weight Brenda feels to lead and represent her community. Brenda shares the pivotal “wake-up call” that shifted her focus to servant leadership and her deep connection to her Hispanic heritage, which fuels her passion for empowering women and ensuring access to vital benefits. Brenda’s story is a powerful reminder that leadership isn’t about titles, but about impact. She reveals how she fosters self-reliance within her team, champions open communication and strives to create a better experience for both employees and the union members they serve. Discover how Brenda’s vision is shaping the future of benefits administration and empowering the next generation of leaders. Key Takeaways: The power of a personal “wake-up call” to redefine your purpose. How servant leadership can transform organizations. The importance of empowering women and fostering self-reliance. Creating a vision for improved member and employee experiences. Believing in your own power and potential to lead. Guest Resources: Laborers Funds Administrative Office of Northern California, Inc. LinkedIn About Brenda: Brenda Munoz serves as the Associate Benefits Director at the Labor's Fund of Northern California, where she plays a pivotal role in overseeing the benefits administration for approximately 30,000 laborers. With over a decade of experience in the organization, Brenda’s journey began as a temporary administrative analyst, where her dedication and passion for service quickly set her apart. Her rise through the ranks exemplifies her commitment to making a meaningful impact in the lives of workers and their families. Brenda is a firm believer in the principles of servant leadership, which guide her approach to management and team development. She emphasizes the importance of open communication and empowers her team by providing them with the tools they need to succeed. Her focus on creating a supportive environment fosters not only individual growth but also enhances the overall member experience. A proud daughter of immigrant parents, Brenda is deeply connected to her Hispanic heritage, which inspires her advocacy for equitable access to benefits and resources. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Art/Art Studies from Colgate University, blending creativity with analytical skills to drive innovative solutions in benefits administration. Through her work, Brenda continues to inspire others, championing women in leadership and striving to create positive change within her community. Connect with Laurie McGraw – Inspiring Women: Podcast YouTube Instagram Linkedin

Growing up, Rae McMahan’s parents had plans for their daughter on what it meant to be a good girl. But then, life took a different turn. Facing a life-threatening illness, receiving great care, and even then realizing that not everyone had the same access that she did, Rae decided she wanted a different path. She changed the definition of what it meant to be a good girl. Rae McMahan, a senior executive at Prescryptive, shares her inspiring journey, from battling Hodgkin’s disease as a teen to revolutionizing medication access. She describes how Prescryptive empowers patients with transparent, individualized prescription information. What can women learn from Rae’s career path? Key Takeaways: How Rae’s health challenges fueled her passion for accessible healthcare. Why transparent medication pricing empowers patients. The future of personalized medicine: connecting diagnostics with prescriptions. Rae’s advice for women navigating leadership and prioritizing self-care. Guest Resources: Transcarent Partnership with Prescryptive LinkedIn Prescryptive About Rae: Rae McMahan is a strategic and accomplished executive in the healthcare industry, currently serving as Senior Vice President of Payer Solutions at Prescriptive. Driven by a deep commitment to improving patient access and affordability, Rae is a recognized leader in developing and implementing innovative solutions that address the complexities of the pharmacy benefits landscape. Rae’s extensive experience spans pharmacy, PBM, health plan, health system, and pharmaceutical manufacturing environments. She is adept at starting up and turning around organizations, integrating acquisitions, and positioning businesses for growth. Known for her collaborative approach, Rae effectively partners across companies and business units to implement cost-effective solutions that meet critical business challenges. Throughout her career, Rae has consistently demonstrated a talent for generating and executing innovative programs that reduce costs, expand market share, extend lines of business, and drive revenue. She excels at commercializing medical and pharmacy management products and is skilled at reorganizing and reinvigorating underperforming units, leveraging technology, and creating efficiencies to achieve significant savings and revenue growth. As a transformational leader, Rae oversees both small and large teams, from strategic and operational roles to customer service and executive leadership. She is committed to building and leading diverse teams, fostering a culture of openness and transparency through clear and consistent communication. As a valued member of any senior team, Rae is known for her direct, open, and collaborative style. Connect with Laurie McGraw – Inspiring Women: Podcast YouTube Instagram Linkedin

Discover how Gina Jacobson, a stage 4 cancer survivor, is revolutionizing workplace support for cancer patients. In this powerful episode of Inspiring Women, Gina shares her personal battle with colon cancer while managing a high-stakes career. Learn about the Working With Cancer initiative and how its breaking down stigmas, fostering organizational empathy, and creating supportive work environments. Gain valuable insights on: Navigating a cancer diagnosis in a professional setting The surprising desire of many cancer patients to continue working Practical steps for companies to support employees with cancer Building organizational empathy that extends beyond cancer support Whether you’re a cancer survivor, caregiver, or business leader, this episode offers essential perspectives on transforming workplace culture. Join host Laurie McGraw for an inspiring conversation that will change how you think about cancer in the workplace. Consider signing up for, sharing or making your workplace a part of the Working With Cancer Pledge. The Working With Cancer initiative is transforming company cultures, creating safe spaces for difficult conversations, and positively impacting health outcomes for employees facing cancer. Learn how you can join this global movement and make a difference in your workplace. Resources: Gina on Instagram Linkedin Gina on Substack Working With Cancer Pledge About Gina: As one of the founding forces behind Publicis Groupe’s Working with Cancer initiative, Gina creates and oversees the programs associated with delivering against the WWC Pledge internally. She’s committed to creating a multi-faceted, best-in-class example of supporting employees impacted by cancer—whether directly or as caregivers—through individual and group coaching, training, and community engagement. Using this foundation, she also recruits and guides other companies to take and activate the pledge. Gina’s previous title at Starcom was Chief Growth Officer, but she always preferred to think of herself as more of a “Chief Potential Officer.” In that role, she oversaw both new business and organic growth, uncovering new opportunities and inspiring companies and colleagues to pursue what’s possible—an experience that prepared her perfectly for her current role. Over the past (nearly) three decades, Gina has thrived in a broad range of roles within Publicis Group—including overseeing media at Starcom and creative development at Leo Burnett. She is known for her critical strategic thinking, digging into her clients’ business, and having a passion for building and nurturing teams who deliver engaging, strategic work. During her tenure, she has led results-driving and award-winning work across categories as diverse as hospitality, insurance, CPG, tech, toys, retail, and mobile—and across clients including Four Seasons, Beam Suntory, Esurance, Kraft Heinz, Kellogg, and Nintendo—among many others. In the Fall of 2018, Gina was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer. She’s outlived her initial prognosis by several years and intends to keep living a joyful and purposeful life, while helping others recognize and realize their full potential. You can read about what she’s learning from the best-worst thing that ever happened to her through her blog, weareallmadeofstars.net, and via her Strive for Five Substack, a look back at her 4+ year journey as she approaches the 5-year survival milestone. Connect with Laurie McGraw – Inspiring Women: Podcast YouTube Instagram Linkedin

Can a million peer supporters transform mental health care for children and adolescents in America? Obi Felten, CEO and founder of Flourish Labs, believes it’s possible. In this eye-opening episode of Inspiring Women, host Laurie McGraw delves into Felton’s groundbreaking approach to solving the mental health crisis for youth. Felten, a former Google X executive, shares her journey from developing moonshot technologies to tackling one of healthcare’s most pressing challenges. Learn how Flourish Labs is revolutionizing mental health support by training young adults with lived experiences to become peer supporters, creating a more diverse and relatable workforce. Key takeaways: The staggering gap in mental health care: 20 million teens and young adults with mental health issues, but only half receive care How Flourish Labs is breaking barriers by securing contracts with Medicaid plans The power of peer support in addressing critical issues like post-ER care for suicidal youth Felten’s vision for scaling peer support to help millions of underserved individuals Discover how Felten’s unique blend of tech innovation, healthcare expertise, and peer support culture is reshaping the future of mental health care. This episode is a must- listen for anyone interested in mental health, healthcare innovation, or inspiring entrepreneurial journeys. Visit Obi Felten’s website Learn more about Flourish Labs Visit Peers.net About Obi: Obi Felten is the founder and CEO of Flourish Labs, a healthcare company on a mission to scale professional peer support with telehealth and AI to address the mental health crisis. Flourish Labs provides telehealth peer support for teenagers and young adults at Peers.net and expands the mental health workforce with accredited peer supporter training. Obi serves on the board of Springer Nature, a global academic publisher, and is an advisor on youth mental health for the Chelsea & Westminster NHS trust. She previously served on the board of Marathon Health, a primary and behavioral health provider group, and various mental health nonprofits. Before founding Flourish Labs, Obi led technology moonshot projects at Google X, was Director of Consumer marketing for Google in Europe, Middle East and Africa, and set up ecommerce businesses. Obi grew up in Berlin, has a BA in Philosophy and Psychology from Oxford University and lives in California with her family.

Discover how AI is revolutionizing hospital operations with Bree Bush, GM of Command Center at GE HealthCare. In this eye-opening episode, Bree shares her journey from mechanical engineer to healthcare innovator, revealing how GE HealthCare’s AI-driven command centers are transforming patient care and hospital efficiency. Key takeaways: Learn about GE HealthCare’s groundbreaking command center technology and its impact on healthcare operations Understand how AI is being used to optimize resource allocation and improve patient experiences Gain insights into the challenges of managing complex hospital systems and the role of data-driven decision making Hear about Bree’s career path and her advice for aspiring healthcare leaders From reducing wait times to predicting bottlenecks, Bree Bush explains how GE HealthCare’s command centers are tackling healthcare’s most pressing operational challenges. Don’t miss this fascinating look into the future of hospital management and the power of AI to transform healthcare delivery. About Bree: Bree Bush is a founding member of the GE HealthCare Command Center Platform and is now the General Manager. Bree and the Command Center team help top-performing healthcare organizations level up their operations by streamlining patient flow, optimizing capacity, eliminating inefficiencies, and improving access to care. Bree is also General Manager of GE HealthCare’s Digital Pharma Solutions business where she leads a team specifically focused on partnerships with Life Sciences companies around the development and deployment of digital solutions to improve precision health. Since 2006, Bree has led healthcare organizations through operational transformation initiatives with GE HealthCare. Whether her efforts were focused on improving the OR block schedule or reducing LOS for inpatient or streamlined OP clinic scheduling, she has leveraged simulation modeling and systems engineering methodology to drive measurable results and create a culture of continuous improvement. Bree earned her Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA. She joined GE HealthCare through the Edison Engineering Development Program, a highly selective program designed to grow future engineering leaders.

No issue unified women across the U.S. more than what was at stake in the 2024 election – that is, whether the freedom to manage our own bodies and health continue to be stripped away. Women were on the ballot and women healthcare executives aimed to do something about it. In the fall of 2024, during a heated presidential election cycle… Six women healthcare leaders came together around three key issues. The preservation of reproductive freedom, Medicare & Medicaid preservation, and having affordable health insurance. From there another 550 women executives signed their names openly to support the protection of these issues. Many of these leaders have worked across the aisle on deep healthcare issues and many are either currently or have in the past worked in the political sphere at the state and federal level. And now it is 2025 with a new administration in the White House. Hear from the Women Healthcare Leaders for Progress (WHLP) founding members to understand the issues and why they remain important to Women and to Americans. Our hearts may be broken, but our resolve is not. As we celebrate Martin Luther King Day on the same day of the Inauguration, we wish to thank our departing President and Vice President for their service. A great way to honor the legacy of Dr. King is to also wish for our incoming President great success in building a better country and a better world. That world includes the enduring support and preservation of the WHLP issues we care most about. Founding Members of Women Healthcare Leaders for Progress:  Miriam Paramore, Founder & CEO, RXUtility & Health Tech Investor  Missy Krasner, Digital Health Investor, Former Amazon, Google, Box & Senior Advisor ONC/HHS, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS)  Molly Coye, MD, Former Board Member, Aetna, AHA, Former Chief Innovation Officer, UCLA Health, Commissioner of Health NJ & CA State Department of Health Services  Audrey Mann Cronin, Advisor & Communications Expert to CEOs, Creator of Voice-Driven App, LikeSo: Your Personal Speech Coach  Laurie McGraw, EVP, Transcarent, Founder & Host Inspiring Women Pod, Former American Medical Association, Allscripts & IDX  Lori Evans Bernstein, 3X, VC-backed Founder in Women’s Health & Tech, Former Aetna Exec, Deputy Commissioner NYS Dept of Health & Senior Advisor, U.S. DHHS

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman Ellen DaSilva, CEO and Founder of Summer Health which aims to increase the supply of pediatric care to care for the 75M children in the United States who need healthcare. Laurie and Ellen spoke at the HLTH 2024 conference. Ellen lives, eats and breathes Summer Health ever since she, someone with access and means – was UNABLE to get the care she needed for her child. Ellen quickly understood the magnitude of the problem – a decreasing supply of pediatricians to support the 75M kids in this country. A third of children who live in places without any access to a pediatrician. Nearly 40% of children who have chronic conditions. And then there’s the wait….days, weeks, months to get care for your child to a pediatrician. It may be a classic supply and demand conundrum, but Ellen was clear – there must be a better way. And so…Summer Health. On demand, asynchronous, text first, and always on, always open. Ellen is rapidly growing the company with many lessons learned from her work at other large enterprises. And, it may be hard to build a company, but Ellen is no stranger to this hard work. What’s new with this time around of Summer Health? The market is moving fast, perhaps faster than ever. She is also impressed with the caliber of talent she is able to bring to Summer Health – based on their mission and innovative approach to the problem. Ellen closes this conversation with advice for other women entrepreneurs and CEOs which is doubling down on your conviction that the hard problems are worth solving. And while it may not feel like it today – the hard journey of innovation, leadership, and vision…. well, it is indeed worth it. About Ellen: Ellen is the Founder and CEO of Summer Health, a company with a mission to raise the healthiest generation of children. Summer Health offers message-based pediatric services within 15 minutes. Learn more at www.summerhealth.com. Previously, Ellen served as the Head of Business Development at hims&hers, where she focused on strategic partnerships and business growth. She's also an active angel investor, serving as a Sequoia Scout for Seed and Series A consumer tech companies. Ellen earned her MBA with Distinction from Harvard Business School. While at HBS, she was a Partner at Rough Draft Ventures, General Catalyst’s pre-seed fund. Before business school, she managed a unit of the Business Operations team at Twitter, and prior to that, she worked at Barclays Capital. Ellen co-authored "Pitching & Closing: Everything You Need To Know About Business Development, Partnerships, and Making Deals that Matter"—a guidebook for business development and revenue-generating partnerships at tech startups.

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman Dr. Jenny Schneider and her Home[ward] Grown mentee, Nathalie Gouailhardou, co-founder of Neurode — a wearable headband that can track and treat ADHD symptoms. This episode rounds out a full year of the Home[ward] Grown Mentorship series where every quarter, Dr. Jenny Schneider selects a CEO/Founder into this mentorship program. Now if you are in healthcare, and as long as you haven’t been living under a rock, then you know Jenny – mom, physician, athlete, and accomplished serial entrepreneur and leader. And busy!!! So very busy. AND STILL, Jenny created Home[ward] Grown to support women CEOs, mentoring someone new every quarter. Because that job is hard. And Jenny knows a thing or two. So she makes the time. Its just that important. Key Takeaways: 1. Neurode’s Mission: Nathalie, a neuroscientist with ADHD, founded Neurode to provide a drug-free, side-effect- free solution for ADHD. The device combines non-invasive brain stimulation and brain activity tracking to improve focus and executive function. 2. ADHD Awareness: ADHD affects both children and adults, especially women, yet existing treatments were developed primarily for young boys. Neurode fills a critical gap in personalized ADHD treatment. 3. The Mentorship Experience: Nathalie shared how Dr. Schneider’s guidance during critical stages of Neurode’s beta launch provided actionable insights, including strategies for user acquisition, team leadership, and scaling the business. 4. Home[ward] Grown Program Impact: Dr. Schneider emphasized the importance of mentorship as a tool to help women advance faster and tackle challenges in leadership roles. There is no problem that Nathalie could not figure out on her own, providing mentorship coupled with experience can lead to solving things faster. And speed matters. 5. Nathalie’s Key Take Aways: The value of storytelling in engaging investors, users, and team members; Leaning into speed and progress, even when the pace feels daunting. (“There will be time to slow down later”) 2025 Home[ward] Grown Applications: Applications for the 2025 Home[ward] Grown mentorship program are STILL open. Details here → https://lnkd.in/g2KGf6Er About Nathalie: Nathalie is the CEO and co-founder of Neurode, a company pioneering a wearable headband that treats and tracks ADHD. As a neuroscientist with ADHD herself, she combined her expertise in brain-machine interfaces with personal insights to create a user-friendly and innovative device. Neurode was born from firsthand experience with the side effects of medication feeling her determination to build an alternative that doesn’t have these same downsides. With her co-founder Damian and the Neurode team, they have validated Neurode’s technology through clinical trials. Now, Nathalie is focused on expanding Neurode’s private beta, giving people the chance to experience a new way to improve focus and memory. Learn more at neurodelabs.com About Dr. Jenny Schneider: I am CEO of Homeward, a technology-enabled healthcare provider delivering care to those who don’t have it, starting in rural America. Previously, I served 5 years as the Chief Medical Officer and President of Livongo. At Livongo, I was responsible for product, data science, engineering, marketing, clinical operations, and our growth strategy. In my final year at Livongo, we led the company through the largest consumer digital health Initial Public Offering in history, a secondary offering, a convertible debt offering that raised over $540 million, and the industry’s largest merger ever between Livongo and Teladoc Health, valuing Livongo at $18.5 billion and beginning a new era of consumer centric virtual care. I was honored by Modern Healthcare as one of the 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives and by Fierce Healthcare as Woman of Influence for our work empowering women and modeling diversity and inclusion in the workplace. In October of 2020, I joined the Board of the Health Assurance Acquisition Corp., a Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) with Hemant Taneja, Glen Tullman, Dr. Stephen Klasko, Quentin Clark, and Anita V. Pramoda. Our mission is to partner with leading health and care businesses leveraging technology. We aim to support their efforts to become iconic category winners that accelerate the digital transformation of existing healthcare into a new system of health assurance.

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman Leslie Snavely, CEO of CHG Healthcare, the largest physician and clinician staffing organization in the U.S. Leslie shares her journey of rising through the ranks over 14 years at CHG, transitioning from roles in marketing and sales to leadership and eventually CEO. She credits her success to continuous learning, a strong work ethic, and a willingness to take risks when opportunities arose, such as stepping into a leadership role in technology despite it being outside her comfort zone. Key Insights: 1. Career Growth: Leslie emphasizes the importance of finding the right company, working hard, staying curious, and being willing to take leaps into new challenges. She highlights how the pandemic served as a pivotal moment, building her confidence and purpose for assuming the CEO role. 2. Leadership Philosophy: Leslie encourages women to reflect on their “why” to move from uncertainty to a confident “heck yes” when pursuing leadership opportunities. She advocates for authenticity and surrounding oneself with mentors and colleagues who enable you to be your true self. 3. CHG Healthcare’s Mission: Leslie provides an overview of CHG’s work, particularly its focus on placing locum tenens (temporary) physicians in areas of need. The organization plays a vital role in addressing the national clinician shortage and ensuring access to quality care, especially in rural and underserved communities. 4. Challenges in Healthcare Staffing: Leslie discusses the burnout crisis among healthcare workers and the challenges of recruiting in a constrained talent pipeline. CHG’s approach involves supporting physicians with career planning, credentialing, and licensure to let them focus on patient care. 5. Building a Strong Workplace Culture: Under Leslie’s leadership, CHG has implemented inclusive policies like gender pay equity, flexible work arrangements, and expanded parental leave. These initiatives have driven business success, including higher retention rates for postpartum employees, saving millions in recruitment and training costs. Leslie closes by advising young professionals to focus on finding environments where they can be their authentic selves and invest their energy into the work, rather than projecting an image that doesn’t align with who they are. About Leslie: CHG Healthcare has announced the promotion of Leslie Snavely to president, taking on more responsibility in the leadership of CHG, the nation’s largest physician staffing company. Snavely currently serves as chief sales officer, a role that will now be filled by Bill Heller. They will assume their new roles effective July 1. “Since joining CHG, Leslie has continued to bring a deeper significance to each position she has held,” said Scott Beck, CEO. “I have every confidence that her extensive sales and marketing knowledge and commitment to our people and our culture will further strengthen our company as she takes on the role of president.” Snavely joined CHG in 2010 as vice president of marketing and communications. She has held a wide range of positions within the company, including senior vice president of marketing and business development and chief strategy and digital officer. As a member of CHG’s executive leadership team, Snavely led the development of CHG’s strategic plan and the acquisition of two tech companies, Modio Health and Locumsmart. Prior to being named president, she served as chief sales officer. Snavely is also an executive sponsor of CHG’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts. “Putting people first is a huge part of who we are at CHG Healthcare. I’m so appreciative of the role this company has played in my life and the role our people have played in the healthcare community,” Snavely said. “I look forward to continuing to drive our business, grow our people, and strengthen our culture as president of CHG Healthcare.” Snavely made Utah Business Magazine’s “40 Under 40” in 2014 and was named CXO of the Year in 2021. She is passionate about elevating the status of women’s leadership and previously served as the vice chair of the Women’s Leadership Institute of Utah. She has also volunteered with the Park City Community Foundation. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Miami University with a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Accounting.

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman Deborah Di Sanzo, President of Best Buy Health. Deborah grew up in technology. Decades of technology, healthcare, business, executive leadership. She understood the potential of technology when she watched her systems at work in the surgery theater. She is a professor who teaches AI at Harvard. She knows how complicated all of the connected systems can be. What excites Deborah? Taking all of the complex and making it easy and simple. Bringing technology to the home, connected to other systems, bringing the human back to care. Deborah describes the great progress at Best Buy Health which is only the beginning. In this Inspiring Women episode, we talk about the future of care delivery at home – except that future is today. And then we delve into aging. Deborah has so many ideas for how AI – which never gets tired and is empathetic – can be that helpful bot for the aging. As she looks to the future, Deborah sees great promise. What is required? Spoiler alert: Being Bold. Being very, very bold. About Deborah Di Sanzo: Deborah Di Sanzo is president of Best Buy Health for Best Buy Co. Inc. She is responsible for the company’s health technology business. Best Buy Health enables care at home for everyone across the continuum of care based on Best Buy’s core competencies. Integrated technology, personalized caring centers and technical services, logistics, supply chain, and omnichannel experiences create the plumbing which enable consumers to develop meaningful connections with their caregivers, insurers, and clinicians. Her business includes Lively!, the brand of connected health and personal emergency response services to the aging population, which Best Buy acquired in 2018 as well as Current Health, a leading care at home technology platform which Best Buy acquired in 2021. Deborah is an innovative leader with more than 30 years' experience at the intersection of health care and technology. Prior to Best Buy, Deborah was the General Manager of IBM Watson Health, ad prior to IBM, she was the CEO of Philips Healthcare. She teaches AI in Health and Managing Information in Health Care at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health. Deborah holds a bachelor of science degree from Merrimack College and an MBA from Babson College. She is a Harvard University Advanced Leadership Initiative Fellow and serves on the board of AstraZeneca.

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman Dr. Abbey Vandersall, VP of Quality and Clinical Services at AMSURG. The path to medicine and quality began in …. the hospitality business. The “how did I get here” story for Dr. Vandersall is not your typical path. An early degree in nutrition is what turned her onto medicine. Seeing the graph of outcomes and the ties to nutrition was a light bulb moment. Management consulting at Bain was something she absolutely loved – using data, optimizing, business implications, and actually impacting outcomes. But her love for healthcare and innovation drew her back to medicine. Abbey describes the road to becoming a physician as The Yellow Brick Road – you know the path to get there. But her interests in operations and outcomes – were steps off that road. And while the path is not clear, the journey has been amazing! At AMSURG the largest network of ambulatory surgery centers, Abbey talks about the hard problems she faces every day. Improving clinical metrics and quality metrics across a multitude of factors is the focus every single day. She shines light on innovation and Patient Experience as critical to what she is driving in her work at AMSURG. What is Abbey’s True North? Being a supportive daughter, friend, family member. What does the future look like? The focus is innovation……and perhaps a few more detours off of the Yellow Brick Road. This Inspiring Women episode was recorded at the 2024 Nashville Sessions at the Country Music Hall of Fame. About Dr. Vandersall: Abbey Vandersall, M.D., M.S., is the Vice President, Quality and Clinical Services for AMSURG, one of the nation’s largest ambulatory surgery center operations in the delivery of essential, high-quality care to patients. Dr. Vandersall joined AMSURG from the Envision Medical Group team of Envision Healthcare, where she served as Chief of Staff to the President and Chief Medical Officer before being appointed as Vice President of Clinical Strategy and Head of Envision’s Clinician Value Institute. In her role as VP, Clinical Strategy, Dr. Vandersall defined the organization’s near and long-term clinical strategies, translating them into tactical annual priorities, including designing and scaling innovative value-based care pilots, while simultaneously supporting ~25,000 clinicians in her role as Head of Clinician Value. Prior to her time at Envision, Dr. Vandersall worked at Bain & Company as a consultant where she supported business strategy for companies across multiple industries including healthcare, software and aerospace. Dr. Vandersall earned a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Biology and a Master of Science in Nutritional Biochemistry from Columbia University as well as a Doctor of Medicine from The Ohio State University College of Medicine.

Laurie McGraw is speaking with the Inspiring Women pioneers of public radio Breeze Richardson and Marty Durlin. These special interviews were aired on KGNU’s It’s the Economy and highlight the importance of public radio. Both Marty and Breeze provide their reasons for coming into public radio – the true town square, the opportunity for storytelling and creative expression and the ability for anyone and any walk of life to tell their stories that are relevant and speak to the concerns and triumphs of people in the community. The world of social media, podcasting, and digital media has long changed the game of where and how people get their information. And yet, people still listen and tune into community radio. Marty and Breeze know why and share how providing authentic and relevant voices and great story telling stands the test of time. About Marty: A pioneer in community radio, Marty Durlin came to KZYX after serving as manager of KZMU in Moab UT. Her longest tenure was at KGNU in Boulder CO, where she helmed the station for more than 20 years, cofounded the Grassroots Radio Conference and served as chair of the National Federation of Community Broadcasters, the Pacifica National Board, and the Rocky Mountain Community Radio Coalition. Also a print and radio journalist and a musical playwright, Durlin has spent her career in community media and community theatre. About Breeze: Breeze joined the Aspen Public Radio team in June 2021. Highly-respected in public media for her strategic planning and communications background, she has a passion for telling stories and producing community-focused programming. Since arriving in the Roaring Fork Valley, Breeze has been on stage exploring disability and inclusion with 1A’s Jenn White, discussing the importance of local journalism for Aspen Institute’s Society of Fellows, and in conversation with Tockukwu Okafor , Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, and 2023 Aspen Words Literary Prize winner Jamil Jan Kochai for Aspen Words. In February 2023, she took the stage at the Wheeler Opera House with NPR's Ailsa Chang to lead a conversation about making big career changes, representation in media, and the impact of investigative journalism. Breeze currently serves as President of the Rocky Mountain Community Radio coalition, and is an elected member of the Western States Public Radio Board of Directors. In 2024, she completed the Public Media Diversity Leaders Initiative (PMDLI) hosted by the Riley Institute at Furman University, and is a proud alumni of the Aspen Institute Hurst Leaders Forum. Before returning to public radio, Breeze worked as director of marketing and communications at Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art in Kansas City, Missouri, and from 2013-2017 she worked for the Kansas Board of Regents, gaining extensive experience in state government communications and higher education while serving as the agency’s public information officer.

Speaking with Miriam Paramore, a Nashville executive powerhouse, Founder and CEO of RxUtility – a new company that aims to cut through the confusing medication costs and bring LOWEST cost medicine to you! Miriam’s smarts, energy, and passion suggests she can do it!! She also is the Founding OG of Women Healthcare Leaders for Progress. Now 500 plus women executives strong… WHLP supports PUBLICLY Kamala Harris for the White House. Why? Reproductive rights!!! Protecting Medicare And Medicaid. AND the Affordable Care Act… Healthcare is on the ballot. Women are on the ballot. Miriam is all about rolling up her sleeves and digging in!!

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman US Congresswoman and Democratic Whip Katherine Clark. Whip Clark is one of the 28% of women to hold office in the United States Congress, she is the second woman to ever hold the position of Whip (second only to Nancy Pelosi), she is a key member of the leadership of the House and she wants you to know: Women on are on the ballot. And your voice matters. Reproductive freedom is at stake, more so than ever. Women’s rights are at stake, Healthcare is at stake. And your voice has never been more important. Thank you for your leadership Congresswoman Clark.

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman Dr. Geeta Nayyar, nationally recognized chief medical officer and author of Dead Wrong: Diagnosing and Treating Healthcare’s Misinformation Illness. We are dropping this episode at HLTH2024 where Dr. Nayyar provides both the diagnosis and the treatment for misinformation illness and how this can impact the entire system and ultimately the patients being served. About Dr. Nayyar: Geeta Nayyar, MD, MBA, is a globally recognized chief medical officer, technologist, and bestselling author who helps leaders leverage a human approach to innovation, including rapid advances in AI, to achieve better health and business outcomes. A widely sought- after speaker and author of the Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestseller “Dead Wrong: Diagnosing and Treating Healthcare’s Misinformation Illness,” Dr. G has appeared on CNBC, CNN, FOX, CBS, and other prominent media outlets. She has served as chief medical officer for Salesforce and AT&T, among other executive roles. She currently serves on the board of the American Telemedicine\ Association and as an advisor to the American Medical Association.

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman Rebecca Darr, CEO of Wings, the largest organization in Illinois focused on breaking the cycle of domestic violence. Wings provides housing, integrated services, education and advocacy to end domestic violence with tremendous success when people seek help. October is Domestic Violence Awareness month. The definition of domestic violence is the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior as part of a systematic pattern of power and control perpetrated by one intimate partner against another. And you may be surprised to know how prevalent it is. Every minute 24 people are victims of rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner in the United States. That’s over 12 million people every year. In Chicago alone, the police receive 500 calls per day regarding domestic violence. Further, over 1 in 3 women (35.6%) and 1 in 4 men (28.5%) in the US have experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime. Domestic violence does not discriminate and begins with a power imbalance. Rebecca discusses the stark reality of what it means to get out of an abusive situation and then how Wings can help. Rebecca has been doing this work for decades and became CEO of Wings in 2014. When people come to Wings for help – they receive it. Housing, counseling, and more. This Inspiring Woman discussion with Rebecca is filled with hard to hear statistics, very real human stories and an inspiring message of hope. Breaking the domestic violence cycle is the objective and after all of these years, Rebecca remains committed to expanding the programs and impact at Wings. About Rebecca: Rebecca Darr is a tireless advocate for families confronting domestic violence. Darr was named CEO of WINGS in 2014, after serving as the agency’s executive director for 15 years. Under Darr’s leadership, WINGS has dramatically increased its ability to serve the needs of families in crisis because of domestic violence. The agency has tripled in size and secured new funding sources, including three resale stores that generate revenue to support WINGS’ programs. Darr led the WINGS team in building the first domestic violence shelter in Chicago’s northwest suburbs in 2005. This shelter has since helped thousands of women and children move from abuse to freedom. She also played a key role in the 2016 opening of the WINGS Metro shelter on Chicago’s southwest side. Darr is closely involved with numerous organizations and task forces committed to leading the fight to enact stronger legislation and to secure increased resources to combat domestic violence. These include the Cook County Commission on Women’s Issues, the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and the Northwest Suburban Alliance on Domestic Violence. Darr is a sought-after speaker and expert on domestic violence issues and on programs that can break the cycle in families. To inquire about speaking engagements for Rebecca Darr, please call 847-519-7820. Guest & Host Links Connect with Laurie McGraw on LinkedIn Connect with Rebecca Darr on LinkedIn Learn more Wings and breaking the cycle of domestic violence Connect with Inspiring Women Browse Episodes | LinkedIn | Instagram | Apple | Spotify

Join Inspiring Women Host Laurie McGraw as she sits down with Dr. Karen Knudsen, the groundbreaking first female CEO of the American Cancer Society. In this episode, Karen shares her journey from oncology researcher to leading one of the most influential organizations in cancer care. She sheds light on the staggering statistics that show one in two men and one in three women will face a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime, and discusses the ACS’s mission to improve the lives of cancer patients and their families. Karen reflects on her transformative leadership at the ACS, moving the organization from a federated model to a unified strategy focused on health equity and patient support. With personal stories and insights, she emphasizes the importance of access to care and innovative programs that assist patients during treatment. Addressing the gender gap in healthcare leadership, Karen talks about the mentors who guided her and the pivotal moments that shaped her career. As she looks to the future, she shares her vision for a “golden age of oncology,” highlighting the potential for early detection and technology to revolutionize cancer care. Tune in for an inspiring conversation that blends personal anecdotes, professional insights, and a hopeful outlook on the future of cancer treatment.

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman Jessica McGlory, CEO and Founder at Guaranteed, a care company that focuses on end of life care. And we start by talking about death. Jessica shares her deeply personal journey that led to the creation of Guaranteed, when she was suddenly and unexpectedly thrown into becoming the primary caregiver for her father during a very emotional and confusing time as he needed to go into hospice. Losing a loved one is difficult. Couple this with needing to make important decisions at a time when people are likely feeling overwhelmed or at their most vulnerable…Jessica changed her professional focus to make this a more dignified process. Guaranteed aims to revolutionize the experience by using technology and personalized care to improve patient and family outcomes. Jessica believes she can provide and change the experience to provide equitable and incredible end of life care. By using technology and human-centered care Guaranteed aims to better equip caregivers and healthcare providers to support patients and to create a seamless end-of-life experience. Jessica also reflects on her entrepreneurial journey, offering advice for future founders and sharing the importance of trusting your instincts and constantly learning. About Jessica: Jessica McGlory is the Founder and CEO of Guaranteed, a hybrid healthcare company modernizing of end-of-life care. Under Jessica’s leadership, Guaranteed has raised $9MM to date and its backers include BrandProject, Cake Ventures, Lakehouse Ventures, Precursor Ventures, and Springbank Ventures. Previously, Jessica was an early stage operator working in growth for some of the fastest growing startups in the US.

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman Rebekah Swain, Vice President of Managed Health Strategy, Planning, and Membership Performance at Advocate Health. Rebekah began her career in healthcare early, an original candy striper volunteer as a teenager and progressing through various roles in healthcare management. Her passion for healthcare stems from witnessing firsthand the impact hospitals have on their communities. Today Rebekah oversees a complex portfolio involving over 600 managed care contracts across six states and a vast network of care delivery sites. Her role focuses on optimizing payer contracts and enhancing membership engagement strategies. She discusses Advocate Health’s initiatives in virtual primary care, hospital-at-home programs, and leveraging AI to improve decision-making and patient outcomes. Rebekah also shares insights on the evolving landscape of healthcare, emphasizing the need for simplicity amidst complexity. She highlights the role of innovation, digital health solutions, and AI in driving better patient engagement and care delivery. Her leadership philosophy centers on empowering women in healthcare leadership roles and advocating for diverse perspectives in decision-making. Advice for others? Continuous learning, embracing challenges, seeking mentorship, and advocating for diversity in shaping a successful career in healthcare management. Rebekah’s insights serve as a guide for aspiring healthcare professionals looking to make a meaningful impact in the industry.

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman Michelle Fitz-Henley, Group Human Resources Manager at Jamaica Broilers Group. Michelle shares her journey from aspiring lawyer to impactful HR leader. Despite initially aiming for a legal career, Michelle found her calling in HR at Jamaica Broilers, where she manages human resources across diverse locations and oversees the company’s commitment to employee well- being and development. Michelle discusses her role in fostering a culture of civility and inclusion within the organization, emphasizing the importance of treating employees with kindness and respect. She details initiatives such as strategic retreats and employee assistance programs that promote engagement and support among team members. Reflecting on her leadership approach, Michelle advocates for authenticity and trustworthiness, encouraging aspiring leaders to be passionate about their work and uphold their commitments. Her story highlights the power of adapting career paths to align with personal values and making a meaningful impact in the workplace. This series of Human Resources Leaders and the future of work is sponsored by Transcarent, a One Place for Health and Care.

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman Camille Wright, Director of Human Resources at American Health Marketplace. Camille oversees HR for a health insurance marketplace firm which spans 28 states. She shares her path from early days when she wanted to be a university dean to finding her calling in HR through unexpected opportunities. Joining American Health Marketplace when it lacked a formal HR department, Camille took charge and built it from the ground up as the company grew 5x in just a few short years. Her proactive approach and commitment to personal and professional development not only transformed the company but also empowered her team, fostering a culture of growth and inclusivity. Camille’s leadership journey is underscored by her commitment to being a servant leader, a quality that shines through in her approach to HR and organizational development. By placing a strong emphasis on supporting her team members and fostering their growth, Camille not only cultivates a positive work environment but also ensures that her colleagues feel valued and empowered. Her insights highlight the critical role of HR in navigating challenges like mental health, remote work dynamics, and evolving workforce needs. Camille's journey exemplifies resilience, adaptability, and a steadfast dedication to empowering others, making her a beacon for aspiring leaders in healthcare and beyond. As she continues to shape the future of HR at American Health Marketplace, her story resonates as a testament to the transformative power of seizing opportunities and embracing growth. This series of Human Resources Leaders and the future of work is sponsored by Transcarent, a One Place for Health and Care.

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman Tiffany Gamblin, Director of HR Business Services at Paycom. Tiffany shares her journey into HR, initially considering a career in veterinary medicine but pivoting into HR under the guidance of her mother-in-law. She describes her role at Paycom overseeing HR business partners, employee relations, compliance, and more. Tiffany emphasizes the importance of a culture of support and development, aiming to create a workplace where employees thrive. Regarding leadership, Tiffany reflects on her transition from benefits into management, driven by her passion for developing people and fostering a positive work environment. She credits her mentorship under Paycom’s Chief HR Officer, Jennifer Kaszewski, for shaping her leadership style and aspirations within the organization. Looking ahead, Tiffany discusses the future of work, particularly the integration of AI in HR practices and the importance of balancing technological advancements with human interaction. “AI plus HI equals ROI” (the HI being human intelligence). She advocates for understanding employees’ diverse needs across different generations and maintaining clarity in organizational values, especially concerning remote work policies. Throughout the interview, Tiffany emphasizes the significance of authenticity, courage, and adaptability in leadership, encouraging HR professionals to ground themselves in their core values and build supportive networks within their organizations.

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman Dr. Kayla Randolph. Managing Director of Human Resources at IDEA Public Schools, as part of the Women Who Inspire: HR Leaders Series – A collaboration between Transcarent and the Inspiring Women Podcast with Laurie McGraw. Kayla oversees HR for 11,000 employees across multiple states, emphasizing values like respect, dignity, and integrity. Kayla discussed challenges in education, such as teacher retention, and highlighted IDEA’s focus on comprehensive employee benefits to support their workforce. Starting in HR unexpectedly, Kayla’s career evolved through roles like recruitment and Title IX coordination, advocating for employee rights. Title IX is often only thought about as it relates only to athletics. Kayla emphasized its broader scope in addressing issues like sexual harassment, assault, and gender discrimination within educational settings. At the SHRM conference, she explored HR’s future, emphasizing transparency and the role of AI. Drawing from her Title IX coordinator role, Kayla underscores the importance of advocating for equity and respect in the workplace and educational environments. She believes in creating inclusive cultures where all individuals feel valued and supported. Finally, Kayla emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and staying updated with industry trends and advancements. Attending conferences and networking with peers are crucial for personal and professional development. This series of Human Resources Leaders and the future of work is sponsored by Transcarent, a One Place for Health and Care.

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman Lana Krasnyansky, Senior Manager of HR Transition at TriNet, as part of the Women Who Inspire: HR Leaders Series – A collaboration between Transcarent and the Inspiring Women Podcast with Laurie McGraw Lana shares her journey and insights into leadership. Her diverse career path started with a passion for creativity and the arts. From launching a dance studio in her kitchen at 13 to managing HR at a prominent PEO, Lana emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and resilience in achieving professional success. Throughout the discussion, Lana highlights the critical role of empathy and authentic leadership in her approach. She discusses the challenges and complexities of HR management, especially in navigating evolving regulations and supporting diverse organizations. Lana’s leadership style focuses on empowering her team and fostering a supportive work environment where individuals can thrive. As an advocate for women in leadership, Lana encourages listeners, particularly women, to embrace career pivots and pursue their passions without giving up. She underscores the value of balance between personal and professional life, sharing practical advice on achieving fulfillment in both realms. Lana’s dedication to making a meaningful impact on her team and clients exemplifies her commitment to driving positive change in the workplace. Overall, Lana’s story serves as a beacon of inspiration, demonstrating how creativity, resilience, and empathetic leadership can shape a successful career journey in HR and beyond. This series of Human Resources Leaders and the future of work is sponsored by Transcarent, a One Place for Health and Care. About Lana: Skilled human resources professional & people leader who has structured HR departments and supported companies in successfully implementing benefits, policies and organizational structure that focuses on strategic HR business solutions that drive growth, change, and instill a culture of excellence. Throughout Lana’s successful 25-year career trajectory, she gained expertise within employee relations, recruitment, compensation, benefits design/administration, HRIS implementation, pension and retirement planning, policy and procedure creation, orientation and training, performance management, and talent retention. For the past 10 years, Lana has been guiding companies and built an internal team that provides consultative HR guidance to TriNet’s onboarding new larger customers by trouble shooting and leading clients through employment laws, principals and “best practices” gained through diversified experience at mid-size to large private, public, and non-profit corporations, including start-ups. Lana managed the implementation of Human Resources Informational Systems, policies, procedures, company-wide strategic programs and initiatives. Lana created streamlined HR departments, that were controlled in expenditure and focused on goals of internal and external stakeholders. Lana continues her successful track record of building high performing teams. Ms. Krasnyansky holds a BA from the University of Akron, is an active member of SHRM, HRNY, as well as various Chambers of Commerce.

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Women Drs. Marjorie Rallins and Holly Miller who are experts in the space of data standards setting and the landscape of interoperability. Both Marjorie and Holly have devoted their expertise and careers towards building the infrastructure and plumbing that fuels the clinical data information highway so that clinical data is trustworthy, useful and actionable. They share the progress made over the past few decades and the opportunity in front of us with the adoption of TEFCA (Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement). They emphasize the complexities of standards and terminologies governing health information flow and highlight interoperability’s critical role in improving healthcare quality, safety, efficiency, and patient engagement. Dr. Miller notes that while health data exchange is widespread, data often lacks reliability and usability for seamless integration into patient care. Dr. Rallins reflects on improvements since the inception of interoperability initiatives, citing advances in electronic health records (EHRs) but noting persistent challenges like semantic interoperability with standardized terminologies. She also notes that this may be technical, but is also not that hard. The “Internet of Interoperability,” prioritizing data accessibility alongside security and privacy protections is the aim. They also discuss challenges such as data blocking and regulatory efforts to promote patient access and adherence to interoperability standards like USCDI. Overall, they express cautious optimism about interoperability’s progress amid ongoing issues of data usability, trustworthiness, and regulatory compliance, with an eye toward evolving technologies like AI for future improvements Both Marjorie and Holly recognize that there are fewer women who, like them, have pursued a field of data standards and interoperability. Yet, they are NOT alone and with appreciation for those who work alongside them, they encourage others to choose this deeply technical path. We close with giving both doctors a magic wand to advance the healthcare landscape. Holly officially wants to “ax the fax” and get to standardized data. Marjorie also looks to standardized terminologies but asks for national health equity as the most important path for us to pursue. **************************************** Dr. Holly Miller Chief Medical Officer, MedAllies Dr. Miller is an internist who has practiced medicine using several EHR systems and has well over two decades of healthcare IT experience. Since 2009, Dr. Miller has been the Chief Medical Officer of MedAllies a company that operates multiple networks in support of interoperability. At MedAllies, Dr. Miller provides operational, tactical, and strategic collaborative leadership. Dr. Miller is currently a Chair, Co-Chair, or member of many Health Information Technology (HIT) Interoperability related committees and workgroups engaged in enhancing healthcare value. These include committees within the following organizations: Carequality; Sequoia; DaVinci; CMS: PACIO; ONC: 360X; IHE; NCQA; HIMSS; Moving Forward and KLAS. She continues to be a frequent speaker at national conferences. Dr. Miller was formerly a VP and the CMIO of University Hospitals and Health Systems (UH), a community-based system with more than 150 locations, seven wholly owned and four affiliated hospitals throughout Northern Ohio. Prior to joining UH, she worked as an HIT Managing Director for the Cleveland Clinic where she also maintained a clinical practice in General Internal Medicine. She has been active in healthcare informatics research and has been a co-investigator on multiple grants. As a member of HIMSS since 1999, Dr. Miller is a past Vice Chair of the HIMSS Board and a past inaugural member of the HIMSS World-Wide Board. Her past roles within HIMSS also included being a physician leader of the HIMSS/AMDIS Physician Community and serving as the Board Liaison to HIMSS Europe for four years. She was also active in a variety of previous S&I ONC committees and other state and government HIT committees. Dr. Miller earned her MBA at Hautes Etudes Commerciale in Paris and her Doctor of Medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City. **************************************** Dr. Marjorie Rallins Executive Director of Health Data Standards, LOINC® at Regenstrief Institute Marjorie Rallins, DPM, MS, is a nationally recognized leader in health data standards and informatics. She began her duties with LOINC® at Regenstrief Institute January 11, 2021. She previously served as vice president and chief scientific officer of the PCPI® Foundation in Chicago as well as director of clinical informatics for the American Medical Association. Her proven experience in a unique combination of clinical research, business development and thought leadership positions Regenstrief Health Data Standards to continue facilitating healthcare interoperability at a crucial tim

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman Melissa Bell, long time health tech executive ad CCO of Enliven Health. For Melissa, working hard was obvious and natural. She was always one to raise her hand for the next challenging assignment which gave her the reputation of being the company’s go to person for the most visible difficult projects. One of Melissa’s “fun facts” includes a lot of prison time…. having led a multiyear implementation at the nation’s largest correctional corporation. Another major project meant leaving her Midwest roots and relocating to California. This is home today having met her now wife there and where they have their family. The arc of Melissa’s career moves from leading important projects to being an executive leader at growth companies focused on patient outcomes. She is very intentional about how she shows up as a leader, her brand, and her style of leadership. Diverse teams and inclusivity mean a lot to Melissa. “Showing up as your authentic self” is more than a catch phrase. In those early years Melissa kept a sharp line between her professional self and her “weekend” self. Times have changed and those divides no longer exist for Melissa. She recognizes that depending on who you are, where you live, or the environment you are in, this may not be the case for everyone. Which is why it is so important to Melissa to be known for being inclusive, to gain trust of others, and to earn credibility as a leader. Melissa leaves us with a message of celebration, celebrating Pride and inclusivity. Melissa encourages us to stay true to being our authentic selves. And she invites us all to demonstrate and go the distance as allies to the LGBTQ community. It matters.

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman Dr. Jenny Schneider about the new Home[ward] Grown program to elevate women founders and leaders that was launched last year. Dr. Sipra Laddha, CoFounder and CEO of Luna Joy discusses her experience with the program. Jenny is very vested in female founders and believes that the worn battle scars are useful to others. She has particular affinity to founders who are also physicians. And with Sipra, not only are they both doctors, but being Mom first is key to them both. You have to do it all and if there ever was a superpower for knowing that trying and not doing it all right all the time – being a mom is IT. Sipra began LunaJoy because she saw women’s health issues and mental health issues up close and personal in the early days of her practice. When she became pregnant with twins while practicing and trying to do it all, she found the needed resources to support women at every stage of the reproductive journey were either subpar or not available. LunaJoy aims to solve that with women’s mental health reimagined. Reproductive psychiatry begins from the moment that that person is thinking about conceiving or getting pregnant through fertility (or a fertility journey). LunaJoy aims to prepare women to have the best possible outcome. As to the mentorship program, for Sipra this was intensely different. Every discussion with Jenny led to actions she could immediately take within LunaJoy. Sipra would bring the TL;DR approach to her team even though she would be taking copious notes in every discussion. Jenny also talks about how with most people who are involved in a company, as the CEO, you are always trying to impress them. Some of the magic of the mentee/mentor discussions is that nothing is off limits. “Things are crazy….3 people quit today…..how do I even deal…..”. Sipra emphasizes that we really don’t need to pathologize messiness, that is exactly what entrepreneurship is. Like Jenny, Sipra is also committed to paying it forward. And no matter how busy you are – if it is important to you to bring more female founders forward, to advance more women into leadership – you have the time. Small comments and actions matter. Showing up matters. Inspiring Women looks forward to showcasing future conversations with women in the Home[ward] Grown mentorship program. **************************************** Guest Bios: Dr. Sipra Laddha, CEO and CoFounder, LunaJoy Throughout my education and career, I have been dedicated to improving the lives of others. My background in psychiatry and deep interest and experience in women’s mental health has allowed me to support women through various life transitions, including pregnancy and postpartum. I gained firsthand knowledge of the challenges women face in accessing affordable and convenient mental health care. I co-founded LunaJoy with these challenges in mind. A unique platform that improves access to high-quality therapy, medication, and mind body interventions. With our telemedicine platform, you spend less time commuting and waiting and more time engaged. And our ability to work with most insurance companies reduces the financial burden for patients who have previously seen cost as a barrier. Every woman should have access to the care she needs. We aim to make this possible. From adolescence through menopause, we support women through their emotional challenges, allowing you to engage in other parts of your life with more joy and efficiency. It is time to live fully, unburdened, and authentically. For personalized psychotherapy and women’s mental health reimagined, send a message or visit us https://hellolunajoy.com Dr. Jenny Schneider, CEO and Founder, Homeward I am CEO of Homeward, a technology-enabled healthcare provider delivering care to those who don’t have it, starting in rural America. Previously, I served 5 years as the Chief Medical Officer and President of Livongo. At Livongo, I was responsible for product, data science, engineering, marketing, clinical operations, and our growth strategy. In my final year at Livongo, we led the company through the largest consumer digital health Initial Public Offering in history, a secondary offering, a convertible debt offering that raised over $540 million, and the industry’s largest merger ever between Livongo and Teladoc Health, valuing Livongo at $18.5 billion and beginning a new era of consumer centric virtual care. I was honored by Modern Healthcare as one of the 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives and by Fierce Healthcare as Woman of Influence for our work empowering women and modeling diversity and inclusion in the workplace. In October of 2020, I joined the Board of the Health Assurance Acquisition Corp., a Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) with Hemant Taneja, Glen Tullman, Dr. Stephen Klasko, Quentin Clark, and Anita V. Pramoda. Our mission is to partner with leading health and care businesses leveraging technology. We aim to support their efforts to become

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman Jami Youmans, President and CEO of HealthEco. Jami is an athlete and expected to be seven feet tall when she grew up and likely playing professional basketball. It was her sincere curiosity that led her to healthcare and building her company HealthEco. In this 2024 WBL (Women Business Leaders) Series finale, Jami talks about her early stage career as a healthcare administrator which gave her tremendous experience understanding the front lines of healthcare while also needing to be operationally efficient. Her curiosity and love for innovation led her to a background in venture which then further led her to forming HealthEco. There, Jami and her team partner with health systems to find new and alternative revenue streams. She describes one of the solutions where she is building a national network of hospital based clinical labs to buy and sell their capacity. Today, those labs are managed only by the hospital schedule. However, they may have more or less capacity to serve those immediate needs. By creating a larger scale network, this in turn can bring new revenue to the health system or allow them to support higher demands when needed. Jami also finds that building out her own professional network is critical to being a successful CEO with a growth mindset. And who doesn’t want to be around women leaders? With WBL, Jami has found not only a professional network, but also trusted advisors to help her expand her thinking or solve tough problems. For Jami, collaboration, trusted relationships, and staying curious are key to building out her business today and for the future. About Jami: Jami Youmans President and CEO, HealthEco Jami is a healthcare executive and entrepreneur, serving as the President and CEO of HealthEco where she strategically collaborates with healthcare organizations to foster and scale pioneering innovations throughout the industry. Her foundational experiences at Trinity Health and BJC Healthcare laid the groundwork for her leadership, enabling her to spearhead the expansion of HealthEco’s robust healthcare provider network, venture studio, commercialization accelerator, and investment platform magnifying its influence across both established providers and emerging startups. Beyond this, Jami’s entrepreneurial spirit is evident in her establishment of two niche healthcare consultancies focused on advancing innovation across the healthcare ecosystem and Vantedge Ventures, a venture fund aligned closely with U.S. health systems. Jami received a Master of Health Administration from St. Louis University and a Bachelor of Science in Cell and Molecular Biology, Chemistry from Missouri State University.

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman Denielle deWynter, CFO and SVP of Hearst Health. Denielle has spent twenty years in finance and half of them in various Hearst businesses. It’s the mission driven focus that Denielle finds so meaningful, making this her best position so far. In this 2024 WBL (Women Business Leaders) Series, Denielle describes her natural curiosity growing up in rural Canada which led her to travel the world. She credits her ability to think broadly and strategically from having worked in five different countries where she needed to learn and work effectively across many different cultures. We also discuss her efforts to create WE@HH – an inclusive community for learning and mentoring of the next generation of company leaders. Started as a monthly zoomcast during the pandemic, they are forty sessions in and going strong. As the senior most female leader at Hearst Health, Denielle’s view was, if I am not going to do it, who is? This including her efforts with Hearst Labs which funds female led startups are very rewarding and Denielle’s way to give back. Denielle is a strong advocate for networks like WBL where she has realized that she does not need to solve all the hard problems alone. Her strong advice for others is to stay curious, have a growth mind set, learn to manage up well and most importantly, be a strong advocate for yourself. Guest Bio: Denielle deWynter CFO and SVP, Hearst Health A highly accomplished professional with 20+ years of global finance experience in finance, accounting, tax, audit and operations. Roles have included financial & operational transformation & financial planning & performance improvement with increasing components of behavioral change and relationship building to create buy-in cross functionally and cross company. Diverse & international work assignments have enhanced strategic thinking & analytical expertise to deliver global growth & performance across rapidly expanding businesses. Specialties: Finance Transformation, Change Agent, Spin-off Transaction, Mergers and Acquisitions, Financial Due Diligence, Acquisition Integration, Enterprise Risk Management, ERP and System Implementation, Accounting Policy, Budgeting and Forecasting, Accounting Operations, Control, Financial Reporting, Financial Shared Services and Internal Control Environment.

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman Kristin Rodriguez. Kristin is many things, and one of those things is that Kristin is funny. Don’t confuse her quick wit and humorous approach to career trajectory (a winding path indeed!) with anything less than her seriousness in how she expects to help Heroes. Who are the Heroes? The people who are trying to improve their health while often taking on more financial risk, navigating new places to receive care, and sorting through a complicated system. In this 2024 WBL (Women Business Leaders) Series, Kristin gives us a view to her original career plans. Plan A: Run a Coffee Shop. Plan B: Go the Naval Academy and then into military service. Seven colleges later along with a “bohemian walk about” led her to fall into healthcare sideways. This is where she fell in love. Love of serving customers and meeting their needs. Her career throughline appears to be that of service and continuous exploration of new possibilities. As Kristin works to support heroes in their healthcare journeys, she considers these key trends: Shifting risk to the healthcare consumer. A worry as it is just too complex for people. This type of risk is as complex as the tax code and Kristin feels it is important to bridge that gap. The important race to new sites of care delivery – telehealth; more care at home; remote monitoring; more virtual care. Kristin believes we should lean in more here. And social determinants of health. Where healthcare payers are being asked to influence and quantify nonclinical interventions. It remains important to have focus where well-being meets care. As Kristin discusses some great choices she has made along the way, these include getting her advanced degree, even while working full time and with young children. She also believes the network she has found professionally with WBL is second to none. Best professional habits for staying sharp? Kristin is a huge believer in the power of sleep. As a recovering over achiever, she has learned to put her energy on the right things which does not mean all things. She finds that she has to continuously work on protecting her time for “deep” work. Her best advice for others is making sure just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should which has been key to her own growth as a leader. Guest Bio: Kristin B. Rodriguez Chief Product Officer, Vitality Group Kristin Rodriguez is a mission-driven healthcare executive with a 16-yr track record of launching successful products and transforming organizations to solve problems, bring people together, and create lasting value. She has a passion for collaborating in pursuit of high-quality outcomes for health care consumers. Kristin has deep experience in change management and has led teams through the disruption of leadership changes and the uncertainty of operationalizing strategic plans and mission-derived aspirations. She also has extensive experience in systems thinking, continuous improvement, as well as product design and strategy. Kristin maintains the strategic direction of Vitality Group’s product portfolio and customer success. She supports health plans and employers across the country get the engagement they want and the health results they need from their employees and healthcare beneficiaries by helping them lead engagement where wellbeing meets care, leveraging the world’s largest behavioral engagement platform and digital health solution. Prior to joining Vitality Group’s executive leadership team, Kristin was Chief Operating Officer of the Health Plan Alliance, a for-profit venture designed to be a vehicle for collaborative innovation among provider-sponsored, regional, and independent health plans across the United States. She was responsible for value portfolio implementation and designed specific programming goals and strategies to achieve organizational objectives. She led the teams responsible for programming execution, member engagement and insights, communication, and knowledge management. Prior to joining Health Plan Alliance, Kristin was recruited to GHG Advisors, a leading consulting and software solutions firm specializing in government-sponsored healthcare programs, where she led the creation and launch of GHG Advisor’s subscription-based content aggregation service. Kristin served as the firm’s director of marketing and corporate communications and her team executed on overall market engagement and branding, product management of the online knowledge center, and the regular introduction of GHG Advisors’ sister companies into the marketplace. Prior to joining GHG Advisors, Kristin served as the founder and executive director of RISE, Financial Research Associates’ flagship healthcare networking association. Kristin holds a BA from the University of California at Berkeley and a Master of Science in Health Care Informatics from the University of San Diego. Kristin is a member of Women Business Leaders and sits on WBL’s Diversity, Equity & Inc

In this 2024 WBL (Women Business Leaders) Series, Emily talks about her leadership journey from the point of view of a “mid careerist”. Today she is leading innovation operations at Geisinger. Her path to leadership was not a clear straight journey and she credits her prior diverse experience to giving her the confidence to lead innovation where she doesn’t need to be the subject matter expert in everything. We go back to the time when Emily was first becoming a manager. She is quick to thank her mentors who she looked to for advice at that key time in her career (Maureen Jones, Karen Murphy, Sajeev Thomas). Their advice was meaningful and helped her shape her leadership style. Establishing trust and learning from her team members and their experience is important to Emily. Being kind first and smart second is part of her personal mantra. As a “Mid-careerist” Emily also shares how she approaches wanting to be excellent professionally while also doing her “best job” of being a mom. Easy? No. A juggle? Sure. She gets help. She doesn’t expect perfection from herself in everything. And just because there isn’t a balance – she still finds peace and excitement in all of it! Emily also talks about her excitement in joining WBL and attending her first conference. Finding women at similar stages in their career journeys. Expanding her network and investing in herself is a priority for Emily so that she too can do her best work. Guest Bio: Emily Fry – Vice President, Innovation Operations at Geisinger Strategic Healthcare Innovation Leader | Value Based Care & Automation Enthusiast I am dedicated to driving transformative change, fostering innovation, and elevating consumer experiences. My journey has been marked by a pursuit of operational excellence and a passion for enhancing healthcare quality. With a background in developing strategic directions and crafting innovative solutions, I have championed cross-functional collaboration to propel organizations towards their goals. I firmly believe that a positive outlook paves the way for positive outcomes. My personal mission is to drive positive change in both my own life and the lives of others. For me, there’s no greater way to make a meaningful impact on the world than by working in an industry dedicated to creating healthier communities. Let’s connect and collaborate towards a healthier, brighter future!

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman Michelle Wright. In this 2024 WBL (Women Business Leaders) Series, Michelle begins our conversation talking about what it means to play the long game. She has always been in Maryland and for nearly thirty of those years she was a senior executive at Carefirst BlueCross BlueShield. To play the long game, it must be interesting. Michelle started off in finance and then moved into HR. Michelle is quick to point out that the HR field has evolved significantly over the past two decades. But at the time, she was concerned about being pigeonholed. With curiosity and purpose, she earned her MBA, learned the business of BCBS, and took on responsibility for several of their product lines. Today she uses that experience to consult with others who are entering the payer space. The lines are blurred today with provider organizations and growth companies taking on risk. Michelle also opened up as to what drives her strong advocacy regarding access, opportunity for best health, and why innovation is so important. Her adult son is very affected by autism. Less than 5% of mental health professionals will see those with severe issues. Many years of multiple powerful medications. Five years of worsening symptoms, declining health, and limited remaining options that might provide benefit. So Michelle went back to school to gain her PharmD. She began exploring emerging therapies such as medical cannabis. And this began to work. After two years, her son is now off his previous six different medications. And while this is not a cure for her son’s autism, it has been an enormous step forward. For everything Michelle has accomplished professionally, she is very clear as to her why. She is a Mom. “This is why we do what we do.” Closing out the conversation, Michelle provides her WBL story. She has established a strong network and was connected to her most recent Board appointment through WBL. “This sisterhood is powerful.” And if you want to get connected, be connected, all you have to do is ask. Guest Bio: Board director, strategic advisor, business and community leader, with a unique mix of value-based health care, integration and human capital management experience; including finance, strategy and planning, M&A, product management, and governance; all resulting in alignment across operations, organization and services. – A proven record of managing boards, distributed organizations, and executive teams through transformation and integration. – Experience in health care payor, provider and health IT, value-based care, behavioral health, wellness, disease & care management. – Board, corporate, integration, quality and system governance. – Executive Compensation, Leadership & Succession, Diversity & Inclusion, Business Continuity.

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman Nadine Hauf. In this 2024 WBL (Women Business Leaders) Series, Nadine begins our conversation with a view into how she developed an innovative technology hub for health plan members. A place where people can come into the care system and understand what is available to them. She built this hub at a time when there was no playbook to look to, so innovation began with an idea and a blank piece of paper. This is where working collaboratively with her team was imperative. Over the years Nadine has pushed herself into areas where she had both energy and opportunity to move up the ladder. Relationships are important to her as is building her tribe. When she wants to pursue something, she relies on them for advice and encouragement. Even when she is headed into an important meeting or presentation, a quick call or check in from the network can give her that extra boost. WBL has become a very important part of that tribe for Nadine. On staying sharp, Nadine relies on nutrition and fitness as key parts of her daily routine. And she is always cultivating her mentor and mentee relationships. These have been critical to her own success, and she is now very committed to paying it forward. Guest Bio: Nadine Hauf, leads an integrated and synchronized concierge experience dedicated, personalized and focused only for National Account clients. Nadine supports our underlying deliverable focus on trend management each day and is accountable for commitments made to National Account Clients. Primary Responsibilities: – Serves as an operational leader for advocacy and clinical teams supporting National Account Clients with overall accountability to include the staffing, coordination, and leadership of the integrated call, clinical, and behavioral health teams of top talent. – Leads a team of Lead Operations Directors supporting the front line advocates and clinicians providing concierge service to the Premier members in a solution that removes the heavy lifting from the member, while focusing on overall medical trend reduction and increasing member satisfaction. – Partners with the account management teams to ideate and disseminate new solutions and best practices from across the enterprise, using a sound working knowledge of multiple functions (e.g. clinical, network, member incentive structures, provider strategies, fraud/abuse, contractual issues) – Analyzes and interprets client data and reports, health assessment data, and other relevant population statistics in order to make recommendations for client strategy, programmatic interventions, benefit design, or to communicate the performance of clinical and other client programs.

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman Karen Walker Johnson. In this 2024 WBL (Women Business Leaders) Series, Karen begins our conversation talking about her path to sorting out retirement. What I learned from Karen is that she is exceptional at just about everything she has ever set her mind to with the minor exception of retirement. Welcome to Karen Walker Johnson’s world of “reWIREment”. I am here for all of it. Karen is a nurse… and she is a lawyer… and then decided she wanted to run a health plan. So she did that. She wasn’t lucky. She was clear and determined. She had a mentor who believed in her. He gave her opportunities. She took every one of them. In this Inspiring Women conversation you are going to hear about an exceptional woman who has a strong interest in making a difference. In doing great work that serves vulnerable underserved populations. Someone who is grounded in family (Karen points to her 88 yo father as her greatest cheerleader and champion) and is committed to bringing the next generation along with her. In talking about the trends to pay attention to, Karen points out that value based care is here and ensuring there is demonstrable focus on health equity is coming along with it. Aiming to find a way to deal with the aftermath of George Floyd, Karen put her energy towards action and leadership. Karen turned her attention to Board Service where she is a Director at a number of organizations which she does today. We also spent time laughing about Karen’s desire to retire…which led her to her current role as CEO of another health plan . For Karen, retirement really just means reWIREment. As we are speaking at the WBL Summit, Karen also talked about the importance of finding an active network of senior executive women committed to supporting each other just as she did at WBL. Guest Bio: A change catalyst and innovative problem solver, with a 35-year track record of driving organizational transformation in the healthcare industry. Having worked with Fortune 50 companies, experience encompasses P&L management, market share growth, product development, hospital administration, health plan operations, and sales serving Medicare, Medicaid, Long Term Care, and Commercial populations. As an established strategic leader, pursues her passion for leadership development and positively impacting and improving the health status of vulnerable populations. Has consistently demonstrated the ability to drive innovation, market share growth (double-digit year over year), and superior quality outcomes as evidenced by achieving the coveted Medicare 5-star rating. Previously responsible for developing innovative clinical care models and end-of-life programs. Currently serves on public and private boards.

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman Carla Harris. THE Carla Harris…the renowned international public speaker, top 40 female speakers in the world who is sharing her “Carla’s Pearls” on career success. This is the first of the 2024 WBL (Women Business Leaders) Series where Laurie and Carla are speaking to a live audience of senior executive women in healthcare. “There is NO question where I will not have a prescriptive answer” and Carla most certainly lived up to that promise. In this powerful conversation, we touched on many of “Carla’s Pearls” including the different types of currency you build, and bank, over the course of a career. Performance currency is what you are building over the course of a career. But as you get more senior, performance currency has diminishing returns. What becomes more valuable is relationship currency. Herein lies power. What will people say about you behind closed doors? In those conversations when decisions are being made for senior leaders, these conversations do not include numbers, it is about what people know about you. “Danguole is our most creative person. If she can’t do it, it can’t be done.” Those conversations do not happen if you have not taken the time to build that relationship currency. Another Pearl from this conversation is busting the myth of the imposter syndrome including a bit of exhaustion of still talking about it after decades. Carla reminds us that in today’s world to get into the chair (whatever chair that is), you are being vetted by 8…12…more people. They are wrong about you? Not possible. Own your truth. One more favorite Pearl is the strong push to support others. “You cannot be in that room and not support another.” Carla is clear that no one would support someone if that was not deserved. At the same time, the idea that you wouldn’t bring along others, like you, diverse from you, when you have the opportunity to use your currency……. Carla’s Pearl: When you have relationship currency you USE it. That’s power. Guest Bios: Carla Harris is a renowned international public speaker and is also a Senior Client Advisor at Morgan Stanley. She was most recently the Vice Chairman responsible for increasing client connectivity and penetration to enhance revenue generation across the firm. In her 30+ year career as an investment banker, Ms. Harris has had extensive industry experiences in the technology, media, retail, telecommunications, transportation, industrial, and healthcare sectors. She is highly regarded as a motivator, executor and leader. In August 2013, Carla Harris was appointed by President Barack Obama to chair the National Women’s Business Council. Named as one of the Top 40 Female Speakers in the World in 2020, Carla engages audiences around the world with her popular “Carla’s Pearls” where she shares with both leaders and emerging leaders how to maximize their career success across all industries using the “hard earned and hard learned” lessons that she acquired during her Wall Street Career. Her most recent book, Lead To Win, shares her pearls of Intentional Leadership to help professionals become powerful, impactful, influential leaders into today’s challenging professional context. Carla has been named to Fortune Magazine’s list of “The 50 Most Powerful Black Executives in Corporate America”, Fortune’s Most Influential List, U. S. Bankers Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Finance(2009, 2010, 2011), Black Enterprise’s Top 75 Most Powerful Women in Business (2017), and “Top 75 African Americans on Wall Street”, and to Essence Magazine’s list of “The 50 Women Who are Shaping the World”, Ebony’s list of the Power 100 and many more. She has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Forbes, Fast Money, Barrons and many other publications. In her other life, Carla is a singer who has sold out concerts at Carnegie Hall and the Apollo Theatre, and released 4 Gospel CDs: “O This is Christmas” (2021) “Unceasing Praise” (2011), “Joy Is Waiting”(2005), and her first CD entitled, “Carla’s First Christmas”(2000), was a bestseller on Amazon.com in New York and was featured on the CBS Evening News with Dan Rather in his “American Dream” segment.

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman Judy Goldberg about her book WonderSHIFT , a guide and program for results driven transformation This Inspiring Women conversation was recorded in the New York office of Redesign Health and followed by a WonderSHIFT workshop. Judy’s life’s work is centered around education and teaching. This started in her basement at 8 years old where she would “teach classes”. Fast forward to years of teaching in schools and abroad and then focusing her studies and work on what happens when change, or shifts, happen. Shifts can come in the form of natural shifts (getting older), imposed shifts (things thrown at us – natural disasters, health issues), and initiated shifts (starting a business, making a career change). Judy had been developing her SHIFT methodology (Shape; Harmonize; Imagine; Focus; Team) for a few years when an imposed shift of a breast cancer diagnosis occurred. What she thought would be six weeks became a significant care journey. Judy brings us into her life (and health!!) and how this experience, amazingly, fueled her work of Wondershift. She also describes the power of Wondershift for more than just those imposed shifts but also those that are initiated. And how to bring methods and tools into your professional life for more purposeful results driven transformation. Closing out the conversation, Judy provides her best advice for other aspiring women. Show Up even on the darkest, hardest of days, as that is where growth and change happen. And Be as intentional about the recovery, as you are about the grind. Guest Bio: Wondershift can transform your leadership, your team and through world class design can ensure positive, long lasting results. Whether you have a new team, an established team, or a group who don’t yet work together or are located around the globe, Wondershift will find the right approach to achieve the results you need to navigate tough targets and unique challenges. Those who succeed develop skills and awareness to appreciate individuals, engage in healthy debates, recognize valuable ideas, and ultimately enable the organization to thrive.

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman Dr. Jenny Schneider about the new Home[ward] Grown program to elevate women founders and leaders that was launched last year. Nikita Singareddy and Cydney Kim, co-founders of Fortuna Health, are the first mentee graduates of Home[ward] Grown and join this Inspiring Women conversation. Home[ward] Grown has both an external and internal focus to strengthen and support women in their leadership journeys. Jenny shared Home[ward] Grown was launched because empowering women is more than just a matter of equitable representation – It’s a business imperative. Jenny believes in order to achieve the ultimate promise of healthcare’s triple aim of improved patient experience, outcomes and cost requires us to elevate the vital perspective of healthcare’s leading consumers: women. In this discussion, Jenny, Nikita and Cydney discuss how this program went and how they all benefitted. Mentorship and mentEEship is fluid. Setting up regular calls with open ended agendas put responsibility on the shoulders of Nikita and Cydney. One of their important conversations was about simply discussing all of the hard business problems they were facing at the company today. How should they approach a current business decision, and could they go through how it might impact their trajectory in the future? For Nikita and Cydney, they were able to take these discussions and use them in their reality of building Fortuna Health. For Jenny, while she has significantly more experience in building and scaling companies, she too learned new approaches to business problems – or certain areas of healthcare where she wasn’t as familiar. From this conversation you can also hear the energy that Jenny, Nikita, and Cydney drew from this opportunity to work together in a concentrated way during the course of the program. Energy from solving big problems. Energy from getting to know other passionate builders who also dream of solving big problems and aim to have a large impact. The Home[ward] Grown model for mentorship is a new time based and concentrated approach to mentorships which is so important for leadership success. As the first “graduates’ of this quarterly program, both Nikita and Cydney were effusive regarding the opportunity and how they felt it was helpful to them and their company. For other leaders who want to give of their time and experience to other founders/leaders, this approach to mentorship may be appealing and may also align with otherwise busy calendars. Inspiring Women looks forward to showcasing future conversations with women in the Home[ward] Grown mentorship program. Guest Bios: Nikita Singareddyis the co-founder and CEO of Fortuna Health, a multi-lingual platform to easily check eligibility, enroll, and recertify on Medicaid (backed by Andreessen Horowitz). Nikita has worked as a healthcare investor and served in strategy and operations roles at Oscar Health and Truepill. She is a former Medicaid beneficiary. Cydney Kimis the co-founder and COO of Fortuna Health, a Medicaid navigation platform. Prior to Fortuna, Cydney served as VP of Strategy & Operations and GM for a Series C health tech company (HALO Dx) where 30% of the patients were Medicaid beneficiaries. Cydney has worked in a number of commercial and operator roles spanning healthcare and tech/media. Dr. Jenny Schneider is the CEO of Homeward, a technology-enabled healthcare provider delivering care to those who don’t have it, starting in rural America. Previously, she served 5 years as the Chief Medical Officer and President of Livongo responsible for product, data science, engineering, marketing, clinical operations, and growth strategy. In her final year at Livongo, they led the company through the largest consumer digital health Initial Public Offering in history, a secondary offering, a convertible debt offering that raised over $540 million, and the industry’s largest merger ever between Livongo and Teladoc Health, valuing Livongo at $18.5 billion and beginning a new era of consumer centric virtual care. Honored by Modern Healthcare as one of the 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives and by Fierce Healthcare as Woman of Influence for work empowering women and modeling diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman Cheryl Capps, a trail blazing leader and maverick in the world of supply chain. Supply chain came to be in the late ‘90s, early 2000 time period. Cheryl viewed the discipline of attacking problems from many different angles as simply, interesting. She did not view it as a disadvantage to be one of HARDLY ANY women in the field at the time (less than 11% of senior executives in the discipline of supply chain are women), rather an advantage to provide an important point of view. Certainly, she led by example, but more important was attacking the problem at hand. The core to supply chain was understanding People, Process, and Technology. Cheryl had a 24/7 vision for supply chain that was based on this three-legged stool and international operations. And this was all PRE-pandemic. You cannot underscore the importance of the innovation approach that Cheryl led in defining a discipline that led to ALL plants and ALL operations open for business across the globe in multibillion $$ conglomerates during a pandemic….WELL BEFORE everyone knew how stressed these systems would become in the pandemic era. For Cheryl, it was not about being the first woman to break these barriers, it was about methodical planning, thinking, and viewing innovation as a process. Cheryl comments on how this structured thinking should be applied to innovation today (think AI/ML) – break down the process, there are always people in that process, and technology – and all need to work in harmony. Further, Cheryl suggests and advises that we must not be afraid to innovate. Shots on goal is the name of the game. We must try. Thoughtfully and in earnest. But try and continue to try. And that is where the magic happens. Guest Bio: Cheryl Capps is a technology-focused board director who has built, transformed, and run manufacturing, engineering, supply chain and business operations at multiple global businesses at Corning Incorporated, Bristol Myers-Squibb (BMS) and GE. Cheryl is an innovative leader who has consistently delivered fast, flexible, low-cost solutions that increased competitiveness and enabled growth. She is an expert in enterprise risk management and sustainability and is highly qualified to advise CEOs and boards seeking to scale their businesses while growing bottom line profits and increasing free cash flow. Cheryl currently sits on the Integer Holdings Board of Directors (NYSE: ITGR) and has experience on Audit, Corporate Governance & Nominating, Compensation & Organization and Technology Strategy Board Committees. She also serves on the executive advisory board for Elementum, ketteQ, and o9 Solutions and is serving as a C-Suite advisor for World50. As Chief Supply Chain Officer at Corning, Cheryl was part of Corning’s Senior Leadership team and was a management representative at general board meetings and for the Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Committee. Cheryl built, developed and transformed the Global Supply Chain function, delivering more than $1.3B in year-over-year savings to the P&L. She also led the development and implementation of multiple business transformation initiatives including capital excellence, realizing over $800M in capital efficiency. Under Cheryl’s leadership, Corning developed a digitalized global risk detection and mitigation system which was recognized by the National Association of Manufactures as the ‘best of the best’. It kept all 80 factories operating and customers served throughout and after the pandemic. Cheryl was an early adopter of digitalization in supply chain sustainability and social responsibility, and the program she deployed quickly set new standards for the industry. Previously, Cheryl led the Global Manufacturing, Distribution and Customer Service Network at ConvaTec as it transitioned from a Medical Device division of BMS to a PE stand-alone owned by Nordic Capital and Avista Capital Partners. In this role, she became a limited-partner and participated in all board meetings. She led the integration of the Unimedical acquisition and exceeded all PE financial improvement milestones including gross margin (7 points) and FCF (25%). Previously, Cheryl led a Supply Chain Transformation for the Pharmaceutical Business at BMS, materially reducing operating costs, while simultaneously reducing inventory and improving customer service. Cheryl joined BMS at Zimmer Orthopedics where she delivered fundamental changes in material cost structure, inventory/cash flow and customer service through a business process transformation. At GE, Cheryl was a part of the Aircraft Engine, Aerospace, Medical Systems and Industrial Motors businesses. In Industrial Motors, Cheryl developed and executed a strategy to restructure the manufacturing network, enabling a gross margin improvement of 4 points, before assuming responsibility for the private label business -doubling sales and increasing operating margin by 16 points in two years. Previo

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman Stephanie Mercado of the National Association for Healthcare Quality (NAHQ). Stephanie was recently named as a Top Most Influential person in healthcare which is representative of her work and the work of NAHQ. NAHQ, aims to provide solutions for the most pressing issues in healthcare which today vast. “…..but I think could be summarized in three words. Care, cost and cliff. We want to stay ahead of where health care delivery is going. We want to make sure that from a cost perspective that we are helping to make health care sustainable. And that we are readying ourselves for the workforce cliff. Because we know workforce shortages are going to get much worse over the next 15 years and we really see quality and safety, equity and value as huge drivers and business strategies to advancing all of that.” In talking about quality, Stephanie provides historical context as to how that has evolved over the years since Medicare was signed into law in the ‘60s to today where there are not shared definitions or common language across all of the people whose job in one way or another does bear responsibility for quality and safety. NAHQ defines the profession of quality and safety with detailed competencies for the entire workforce. “We tell people what to do in healthcare all the time. Make it safer, make it more affordable. But we are not really good at telling people, the workforce, the leaders, how to achieve it. And that is really where we need to focus. It’s as much on the how as it is on the what.” As to advice for other emerging leaders….. Being prepared, doing your homework, and walking the talk matters. As a leader, Stephanie also consumes a lot of information, yet she is very pressed for time (work, travel, speaking engagements, two boys in travel hockey. The list goes on!). Her new favorite time hack is listening to summarized books while on the treadmill or out walking the dog. And she needs that time. Owning the issue of the profession of healthcare quality, the discipline of healthcare quality and the competency standards for that profession are big and important jobs for NAHQ. Yet, with tremendous potential to impact, as Stephanie would say, cost, care and cliff. Guest Bio: Stephanie Mercado is the chief executive officer/executive director of the National Association for Healthcare Quality® (NAHQ), the leader in the development of industry-standard healthcare quality and safety competencies, training and certification in healthcare quality. The Chicago-based association serves healthcare professionals across the country and internationally. Mercado brings more than 20 years of healthcare industry experience to her lead role at NAHQ. Since joining NAHQ in 2013, she has implemented innovations and introduced methodologies to research and define standardized competencies for the healthcare quality profession. This has resulted in advancement of quality professionals and increased visibility and credibility of the quality workforce within healthcare. Under Mercado’s visionary leadership, the Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality® (CPHQ) certification has doubled from approximately 7,000 CPHQs to more than 14,000. Over the same time period, NAHQ membership has grown from about 4,500 members to nearly 9,000. In partnership with NAHQ’s board of directors, staff and volunteers, Mercado led the development of industry-elevating initiatives, such as the twice-validated Healthcare Quality Competency Framework, and the profession’s first workforce study, offering critical insights to workforce development opportunities for healthcare quality and safety professionals. She also orchestrated the development of the first and only database that articulates the work of those working in healthcare quality. A builder by nature, Mercado, with the partnership of NAHQ leaders, then conceptualized and deployed Workforce Accelerator®, a scalable organizational solution to assess, organize and leverage the quality workforce. She is committed to educating leaders on the impact that a coordinated, competent workforce can make in advancing healthcare. To that end, Mercado is a highly sought-after speaker and author on workforce development and system sustainability and speaks nationally about strategies to drive quality in healthcare and improve healthcare outcomes. She is an innovative thought-leader and influencer who contributes insights on the critical need to reduce variability in healthcare quality competencies and the training needs that are vital with the decreasing shelf-life of skills in the rapidly evolving healthcare environment. Mercado currently participates on: The Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s National Steering Committee for Patient Safety The Association Forum Healthcare Collaborative steering committee The Commission on Accreditation for Healthcare Management Education as a board member The Patient Safety Movement Foundation as an advisory member Pati

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman Candace Richardson of General Catalyst. Candance talks about her investing philosophy, why measuring portfolio success based on societal impact is important, what Black History Month means to her, and then we also talk some girl math – as in when closing the gender health gap has a $1T global impact ….WHY is it that we saw investment in women’s health companies cut in half in the last two years??. Spoiler alert – the answer is complicated… Well, actually, it is NOT that complicated. One of the solutions to squaring that circle includes having more women on the funder side of the table. But first, let’s start at the end and let’s talk tennis!! Why tennis? Because Candace loves tennis. Not just a fan, but a previously competitive player, now turned teacher and coach. For the past seven years, Candace has been teaching tennis at the Kings County Tennis League, an organization that uses tennis and education to spark the potential in kids living in Brooklyn public housing. And when Candace talks about what it means to her to be teaching tennis to young kids (4-8 yo), she describes it as “one of the most fulfilling things she has ever been a part of.” This level of personal commitment speaks to the underpinning of her investment philosophy. We can bend the cost curve in healthcare, if we direct care to those who need it most. We can improve outcomes and have financial returns when we focus on historically underserved populations (ie Cityblock Health). We can hold ourselves accountable for societal impact (Homeward Health’s recent B Corp designation). And as someone who grew up as someone very interested in history and current events…..expecting to be a journalist…..demanding her parents take her to CNN headquarters just because….Candace also talks about what Black History Month means to her. “It’s American history and it serves all of us if we have kind of a clearer picture of kind of what got us to where we are today, so we can make sure the future is brighter. And I think that future gets so much better, much brighter, when we have more people, more women, more black women, more people around important tables making big decisions.” Guest Bio: Candace Richardson Principal, General Catalyst I grew up in Asheville, North Carolina watching the news every night believing I would become a journalist, keen to have a grasp on what was happening around the world and why. After moving to NYC for college I continued on this pursuit academically, studying economics, philosophy and history but my career aspirations evolved, and like many at that age I entered an exploratory phase professionally. After discovering that my mother had been a political activist in Ethiopia before she emigrated, I traveled there with her to create an oral history project on the role of secondary students in the Ethiopian Revolution, and that got me thinking about a career in academia. I also spent time at a think tank to explore economic policy at the federal and state level. In the end, I received and followed wise advice that a career in finance would keep me connected to current events, and the integral role capital markets play in shaping them, while affording me the opportunity to make a difference in the world. Beginning my career at Goldman Sachs, I got a fast, immersive education in healthcare finance across the capital structure. I furthered my interest at Town Hall Ventures, where I was able to work closely with companies that serve medically vulnerable and historically underserved patient populations. And because the firm was relatively small, I was able to contribute across a range of essential activities, from raising a fund and portfolio management to observing boards. General Catalyst has a tremendous opportunity and influence in healthcare, including how care is delivered and paid for successfully, and equitably, for all stakeholders. The firm also has deep technology and consumer experience that is essential to the transformation of healthcare from a “sick care” system to a more proactive and resilient Health Assurance system designed to make quality care more affordable and accessible to help people stay well. It’s probably no surprise that I enjoy tackling big problems that require extensive collaboration to dissolve barriers and create new solutions. I think of it as a combination of lofty and grounded, creative and practical. It’s the same in my personal life, where you can find me painting one day and teaching tennis to kids the next.

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman Dr. Bayo Curry-Winchell, known to many as just Dr. BCW. She is the creator of Beyond Clinical Walls, a popular video series where Dr. BCW discusses a wide variety of health topics. Her intention is to create awareness and advocate for patients while also infusing health equity into the series. Advocacy and standing up for people has been important to Dr. BCW since she was a little girl. Her why comes from her father who would bring her to rallies and have her hold signs. She may not have understood the issues at the time, but she learned that it was important to speak out. Today, Dr. BCW is sharing medical information in helpful and disarming ways to help build trust which is often lacking. Topics range from complex diagnoses, uncomfortable medical terms, and consistently, teaching patients how to advocate for themselves. Bias is pervasive in healthcare. Breaking through those barriers includes telling real patient stories to get beyond the statistics. This includes sharing her own story of nearly losing her life after the birth of her second child. Knowing something was wrong, asking for help, and not being heard. We have a long way to go to break through bias in healthcare. Dr. BCW aims to educate, to share medical information, and to tell real patient stories. And if she can reach one patient, break down one barrier, that is what she is after. Her purpose is to save lives. Dr. Curry-Winchell (Dr. BCW): A Medical Contributor Going Beyond Clinical Walls TEDx Speaker Founder of Beyond Clinical Walls Medical Contributor Columnist Board Certified Family Medicine Physician Urgent Care Medical Director

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman Dr. Nishi Rawat, Bamboo Health’s Chief Clinical Officer. In medical school, like most physicians, Dr. Rawat had little to no training on mental health or substance use disorder. And yet, day in and day out, as a critical care physician this is what she was seeing. Dealing with these medical issues, the overdoses, over and over without having the right tools at her fingertips, led Dr. Rawat to want to do more than just putting a band aid on this this public health emergency. The reality is not pretty. Over 110,000 deaths last year. Fentanyl on the rise. Complex drivers of mental pain, physical pain, economic pain – all moving in the wrong direction. Dr. Rawat discusses the role of stigma and bias, fundamentally at the root of payment parity issues (substance use disorder is not paid at par as physical disorders). And while what works has been well known for forty years, a patient that presents to an ED with overdose will be connected to life saving evidence-based care only 10% of the time. Dr. Rawat points to recent efforts of Medicaid incentives, providing community based localized care, the post pandemic stickiness of virtual care for behavioral health where people may want to remain anonymous, as the beginning of change. But so much more is needed. While the holy grail may be hyper localized virtual scalable care, Dr. Rawat emphasizes the importance of the low hanging fruit, let’s just do what works. What keeps her going? Working on one of the most intractable problems of our generation. Knowing that she is working in an area where people are really suffering, and doing something about it. And when asked about her best advice for other younger women, Dr. Rawat invokes Barbie. How it is hard to succeed as a woman and consistently tie yourself in knots trying. Her advice? Don’t tie yourself up in knots. And practice. Practice untying a knot. Guest Bio: Nishi Rawat, MD, MBA, is a critical care physician and health leader working at the intersection of medicine, public health and technology. She has dedicated her career to improving healthcare access and outcomes for all with a focus on behavioral health within the lens of whole person care. As Chief Clinical Officer at Bamboo Health, Rawat’s focus is on developing innovative solutions and products that improve whole person care by bridging healthcare silos and reducing fragmentation across the healthcare industry that will improve patient outcomes and reduce costs across the healthcare industry. Rawat began her healthcare career as an emergency medicine and critical care physician at Johns Hopkins. As a healthcare faculty member and researcher, she led quality measure development and implementation at Johns Hopkins Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality. Clinically, she experienced the frustration of locating definitive care for patients with behavioral health conditions, which led to the development in 2015 of OpenBeds, a software platform to expedite access to care. In 2018, Bamboo Health acquired OpenBeds. The OpenBeds system now serves 15 states to improve access to behavioral health and crisis care. The OpenBeds platform was recognized as a “Best Behavioral Health Company” finalist for the UCSF Digital Health Awards in 2019. The platform’s Crisis Management System module was named a Best-in-Class finalist for the “Mental and Behavioral Health Category” of the UCSF Digital Health Awards in 2022. Through her work, Rawat is intimately familiar with the challenges faced by various stakeholders, including the public, hospitals, health systems, health plans, treatment providers and county and state governments. She uses her current role to look for ways technology can help overcome those challenges, not by replacing providers, but by amplifying hands-on care. As a member of Bamboo Health’s executive leadership team, Rawat uses her clinical expertise and experience building and innovating IT solutions as a thought leader. A sought-after speaker and contributor to external media, some notable contributions include being named to Becker’s “Women Power Players in Health IT” and “Women in Health IT to Watch in 2022 and 2023,” lists and serving as a keynote speaker for NCQA’s Quality Talks in 2022. Rawat completed her residency and fellowships at Johns Hopkins and Harvard, M.D at Queen’s, B.Sc. from McGill and MBA from Georgetown.