September Member Spotlight Featuring Jeannine M. Rivet
This month we are excited to feature Jeannine M. Rivet in WBL’s Member Spotlight. Jeannine is an active board member, advisor, mentor, and coach. As former Executive Vice President of UnitedHealth Group, Jeannine worked with and on behalf of all business segments in areas focused on strategic business relationships, clinician advancement, culture and social responsibility. Her previous roles at UnitedHealth Group include CEO of UnitedHealthcare, CEO of Ingenix and CEO of Optum. Prior to joining UnitedHealthcare Corporation, Jeannine held various other managed care and nursing positions.
Jeannine recently received an Outstanding Directors Award from Twin Cities Business as a Lifetime Achievement Honoree and was also recognized as a 2019 Twin Cities Heart of the Cities Honoree by the American Heart Association. She is a driving force in challenging the industry to enhance health and well being through information, collaboration and advancement of optimal healthcare.
You hosted a wonderful event at the beginning of September, the first half of which brought together WBL members and “next generation” members for a workshop focused on the future of WBL. What were your key takeaways from the workshop and the event as a whole?
For this year’s annual WBL dinner at my home, Eleanor and I sponsored a workshop for WBL members and “next generation” guests who have the potential to join WBL within the next few years. It was a great success! We received wonderful feedback from the session and are looking forward to developing the next generation of members. This group then joined the rest of the WBL ladies at a reception and dinner where we hosted a panel of four women who shared their experiences and the value of WBL for them. Eleanor did a marvelous job of moderating both sessions. There was lots of excitement from all surrounding the sponsorship of the next generation, and the guests were overwhelmed by the warmth and openness of all of the ladies and the many talented women that they met.
What advice do you have for WBL members as they mentor and sponsor the next generation of women leaders in health care, particularly within the WBL network?
Be intentional, be selective, and be there for them. WBL women have much to share and are great guides/sponsors for developing leaders, so it is important that we put in the effort to help them succeed.
What is the best leadership advice you ever received from a mentor?
Two pieces of advice have stuck with me. The first is to “speak up” – make a concerted effort to ask questions and share insights. The second is to “know your audience” – whether your audience is one person or 1,000, tailor your conversations and presentations to your listeners.
Looking back on your career, what accomplishment would you say you are most proud of?
I am most proud of contributing to the development of other leaders. It is a very rewarding process and a great way to pay it forward to the next generation.
After your retirement from UnitedHealth Group as Executive Vice President, you have remained an active force in the health care industry through board service and other activities. What keeps you motivated to stay involved?
Board Service keeps me up to date and stimulates my brain; mentorship and sponsorship is my way of giving back and paying it forward. My husband has always said I have two hobbies: my family and my work! Post-retirement, my new “controlled” (I do the controlling) busy is family, friends, boards, mentoring, and participating in groups such as WBL.
Personally or professionally, what might your colleagues be surprised to learn about you?
I am very transparent, so not much! However, I have never dyed my hair, permed or treated it – I saved a lot of money over the years!
