Check out your Company Bowl for anonymous work chats.
As we continue our celebration of Women’s History Month reflecting on the national theme, “Moving forward together! Women educating and inspiring generations,” we asked colleagues to name a notable woman - past or present - who has inspired them. Sherine Jones chose Brooklyn born, "unbought and unbossed," Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm: As the first Black woman elected to the U.S. Congress and the first Black woman to pursue the presidential nomination under the Democratic ticket, Shirley Chisholm is a source of inspiration to me as she exhibited strength despite facing adversity and shows that anything is possible with hard work and perseverance. She is also a trailblazer who advocated for the rights of women as well as minorities. Here’s a favorite quote from Rep. Chisholm that Sherine shared with us: “You don’t make progress by standing on the sidelines, whimpering, and complaining. You make progress by implementing ideas.”
While contemplating the Women’s History Month national theme, “Moving forward together! Women educating and inspiring generations,” we asked AVP of Government Affairs Michelle Rakebrand how she thinks women's leadership has impacted workplace innovation, collaboration, and the way we serve our community. Here’s what she shared.
Happy Women's History Month. In keeping with the national theme, “Moving forward together! Women educating and inspiring generations,” we asked colleagues to name a notable woman - past or present - who has inspired them and how. Leena Varghes chose Brooklyn native Associate Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg inspired me as she emphasized the importance of women actively participating in leadership roles across all spheres, including work and home life.” Leena also shared with us a favorite quote from Justice Ginsburg: “Women belong in all places where decisions are being made. It shouldn’t be that women are the exception.” Follow us for more Women's History Month inspiration.
As part of our Black History Month celebration, we reflected on the national theme for 2025, “African Americans and the Labor Movement,” exploring the profound contributions of Black Americans to the workforce. As part of this conversation, we asked our colleagues to share a Black historical or cultural figure who has been inspirational in their careers. Carleen Taylor chose one of the hidden figures of the space program, Katherine Johnson, who influenced her approach to leadership: Katherine Johnson, one of the first Black women to work for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), was an extraordinary mathematician, and was the mathematical brain responsible for calculating the orbital mechanics that were critical to the successful launch of the first manned U.S. spacecrafts. Although Ms. Johnson’s outstanding accomplishments were not widely known until recent years, she has influenced me and my career. Read more at the link below.
At EmblemHealth, our core values – Empower, Deliver, and Do it Together – aren’t just words; they guide everything we do. Our commitment to proactive self-starters, goal achievement, and caring for our members, patients, and one another defines our culture. We recently asked Assistant Vice President Jacqueline P. to share how one of these values has shaped her career: “My entire career was built on the trust and support of colleagues and leaders that empowered me to take and make bold actions at work. It can be hard to go outside your comfort zone but having a safety net among your staff and coworkers’ changes everything. Being given that type of confidence has helped me create opportunities for my team to be transformative and push boundaries and they know I will be there.” Her experience is a testament to how our values empower us to innovate, support one another, and serve our community.
As we continue celebrating, BlackHistoryMonth, we're highlighting the leaders who inspire us. Clinical Leader Stacy Scott-Wilds shares how the influence of activist and educator Mary McLeod Bethune has shaped her career. From advocating for civil rights and education to co-founding the United Negro College Fund, Bethune's legacy continues to uplift generations.
In celebration of Black History Month, we are reflecting on the national theme for 2025, “African Americans and the Labor Movement,” exploring the profound contributions of Black Americans to the workforce—across every industry and era of history. From laborers and innovators to leaders and changemakers, their work has shaped the foundation of American life. As part of this conversation, we asked our colleagues to share a Black historical or cultural figure who has inspired their careers. Their stories highlight the enduring impact of Black excellence in the workplace and beyond. Stay tuned as we celebrate these voices and honor the legacy of those who paved the way. Our VP of Strategic Sourcing & Procurement Tynina Lucas, kicks off the conversation by sharing the many inspirational forces in her career:
Colleagues across our enterprise recently joined forces to make a difference for children in our community this holiday season. The team sorted over 3,000 toys that will be donated to 33 community partner organizations for distribution to families across the five boroughs. Thank you to our dedicated team and community partners for helping make the season brighter for those we serve.
Preparing and sharing special meals is one of the great joys of the holiday season. Recently, a team of enthusiastic EmblemHealth volunteers donned their hairnets and stepped up at God's Love We Deliver to help provide nutritious, individually-tailored meals for people who are too sick to shop or cook for themselves - and had an absolute ball doing it! Thank you to the GLWD staff for a perfect afternoon in their kitchen.
On Veterans Day, EmblemHealth hosted Voices of Valor: Honoring Our Veterans and Their Families. Moderated by Terri Rhymes-Lowery, the discussion highlighted what service and sacrifice mean to all of us and how we can honor and support veterans every day—not just on Veterans Day. Panelists Matthew Gonch and Michael Collins discussed how their military service instilled values like loyalty, structure, determination, teamwork, and leadership—traits that have shaped their careers and impact in the workplace. Linda Henderson, panelist and mother of a master sergeant in the Air Force Reserves, also offered a heartfelt perspective on the challenges military families face during deployments and emphasized how supportive leadership can make all the difference. We launched our Veterans Committee in 2023 to support employees who are veterans, active-duty service members, reservists, and military family members. Thank you to all veterans and military families for your service and sacrifices. We are committed to honoring, hiring, and supporting you every day.
