What resonates with me about the WBL mission is the intentionality of establishing women as thought leaders and using our collective power to drive change. Women and power in the same sentence can elicit a variety of reactions. WBL offers opportunities to learn, share, and expand thinking with other executive women in healthcare, and using that knowledge as power, provides a safe environment and encouragement to exercise that power to change the world for good. 

Carolyn: Katheen Dodd, my former CEO, was the first person to introduce me to WBL. She had been a member for years and spoke highly of the network and the connections to be made at the annual summit. When I moved to Dallas after years of living in San Francisco, I thought WBL would be the perfect way to build my local professional network and make new friends through shared interests. I have to say, it’s been all that and more!

The camaraderie, conversation, and collaboration are just not something I’ve found in other peer organizations and affinity groups. WBL’s mission “to connect and convene senior executive women from across the health care industry to create meaningful cross-sector relationships” rings true and continues to impress me the longer I’m a member.

 

 

Toni: I feel compelled to serve as the Chair of the Membership Committee because it provides me a platform to serve others and in that service, the rewards are great. It allows me to pay it forward as a way of paying back the goodwill I received as a junior executive from other women who cared about me as an individual and could see the positive impact the group would have on me and I on it. 

 

I am a committed women’s advocate for my daughter, my friends, my colleagues, and for those I’ve not met and will never meet. I believe my legacy is tied to lifting others up, helping prepare the next group of women to carry us forward, and expanding the thinking and policies of those in power to create equity for all. WBL helped me recognize that I could be a catalyst for change and if, as a matter of practice, I connected people who are also trying to make a difference, the impact is exponentially greater. I recently received a text from a former colleague who realized he was on the phone with three others who came together over time because of my introductions. The text read, “I’m on the phone with a couple of people and your name comes up and I realize that relativity is actually a measure of all our proximity to Toni.” THIS is why I serve! 

Carolyn, what advice do you have for members seeking to get more out of WBL? How can members help support other women executives in and outside of WBL?

Carolyn: I love speaking with new members who have just joined WBL and asking them what they are hoping to get out of their membership. The number one response I get, is “I’m looking to build my network. I haven’t had time to keep up with my connections.” The biggest piece of advice I have for members is Make Time. Make time to participate in webinars, local events, the Annual Summit, and Board Program. You’ll get out what you put in, and you can’t build relationships and grow your network if you don’t show up.

I also think the best way members can help support one another is by giving of their time to take another member’s call, help facilitate an introduction, or be a sounding board for new ideas or a collaboration.
 

Toni: My passion for supporting people along their journey extends into my volunteer work. I am a certified End of Life Doula and support people during their transition journey. I am also a Sexual Assault Victim’s Advocate empowering those who experience sexual assault toward healing. 

 

My favorite quote is, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed it’s the only thing that ever has.” WBL is a clear expression of this!

Carolyn: Prior to my career in executive recruiting, I was an avid linguist and studied Hebrew, Mandarin Chinese, Italian and French. I also lived abroad in China, Hong Kong, and Italy and worked for an international art auction house.