Bold. Empathetic. Courageous. Strategic.

These words were frequently exchanged at last week’s HBA Woman of the Year event. Yes, finally, after two years, we were back together again and our conversations were peppered with these terms and many of the other attributes our community has deemed not only desirable but required for industry leaders to succeed in this New Era of Leadership.

As HBA’s 2022 STAR recipient, I was present and in awe of the exuberant spirit palpable in the crowd. I’m so very grateful that more than 1,300 attendees showed up (and nearly 700 attended virtually) to celebrate the Woman of the Year Beth Seidenberg, Honorable Mentor Chris Boerner, and our largest class of Rising Stars and Luminaries.

Many of you have reached out already and shared how the experience was inspiring and empowering. You have articulated also how critically important it was, it is, and will be, that these celebrated leadership characteristics are forever integrated into our network’s DNA.

As HBA’s interim CEO, I am also in awe of how our community has come together to support the HBA during this transitional period. In this role since February, I have had the opportunity to see firsthand how our members, volunteers, corporate partners, and HBA Central staff exemplify leadership in 2022.

With a successful “WOTY” in our wake, it seems befitting to also share that the HBA continues to thrive in our endeavors, and the organization is perfectly poised to welcome a new chief executive in the coming months. In the meantime, as a long time HBA champion, I will continue to serve as a familiar liaison with various stakeholders and contribute to the recruitment and vetting process for this pivotal HBA role.  

While an engaged team of HBA leaders has been working for the last few months to prepare, I am happy to announce that our public recruitment efforts launch today with role requirements and details found here. Please follow the link to apply.

We are committed to finding and welcoming an HBA President and CEO who possesses the acumen and skills that will further propel our success.

They will be: Bold. Empathetic. Courageous. Strategic. And everything necessary for a New Era Leader of the HBA.   

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This article was authored by 2022 HBA STAR Wendy White, Interim CEO, HBA.

Wendy has spent 15 years as part of the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA) with increasing roles of responsibility. Starting as HBA Chicago's Chapter President and moving to Corporate Board Member, Executive Committee Member and 2015 Chair of the Association. She then oversaw various committees including nominating, ad board, and awards. She now serves as the Chair of all past Board Chairs with the goal to maintain this network of global leaders to continue to drive the HBA mission forward.

She currently serves on several boards and advisory boards including as Board Director for CEEK Women’s Health—a fast growing, privately held, for-profit company that makes a medical device named by TIME magazine as one of the top inventions in 2020.