AdventHealth Womens Leadership Ebook

Book of Inspiration

Featuring Stories of Healing, Hope, and Vision from AdventHealth Women

THE JOY PROJECT

About The Joy Project

The Women’s Leadership Forum, affectionately known as The Joy Project, was established in 2019 to foster an environment that enables current and aspiring women leaders to maximize their full potential and achieve professional and personal goals at AdventHealth.

Click below to learn more:

Women’s Leadership Forum Site

(L-R) Amanda Maggard, Olesea Azevedo, Jayne Bassler, Audrey Gregory during The Joy Project 2022 Summit

A Message From The Joy Project’s Executive Sponsors

Dear Colleagues:

Over the last few years, we have seen our teams work harder than ever to overcome persistent challenges. We’ve also seen a shift in what people expect from their work. Through uncertainties, it may become easy to grow tired or anxious about the future. However, as leaders, we have the opportunity to create the future we hope for.

AdventHealth women leaders are using 2022 and 2023 as years of vision. We recognize that in order to create the future we envision, we must first heal from our past and find hope for a better tomorrow. Throughout 2022, we reflected on the stories and lessons fostered our healing, hope and vision. We compiled some of our quotes in this eBook to share the inspiration with you!

We want to thank all of the women who have led our teams with wisdom, compassion, and diligence. Thank you for inspiring us!

Yours truly,

Olesea & Amanda

Books and Podcasts that Inspired Us

Throughout 2022, there was an amazing outpouring of book and podcast recommendations that AdventHealth women found inspiring. Here are several that were shared:

Books Podcasts

• Atlas of the Heart – Brené Brown

• Atomic Habits – James Clear

• Call Us What We Carry – Amanda Gorman

• Dare to Lead – Brené Brown

• Designing Your Work Life: How to Thrive and Change and Find Happiness at Work – Bill Burnett & Dave Evans

• Everyday Holiness – Alan Morinis

• Everything Is Better Than You Think – Will Johns

• Fierce Conversations – Susan Scott

• Get Out of Your Head – Jennie Allen

• Grit, Grace & Gravitas – Jane Firth and Andrea Zintz

• How Women Rise – Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith

• Human 365 – Dr. Jade Teta

• Jesus Listens – Sarah Young

• Leading with Emotional Courage – Peter Bregman

• Option B” – Sheryl Sandberg

• Raising Good Humans – Hunter Clarke-Fields

• The Choice: Embrace the Possible – Dr. Edith Eva Eger

• The Confidence Code – Katty Kay and Claire Shipman

• The Four Agreements – don Miguel Ruiz

• The Gifts of Imperfection – Brené Brown

• The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry – John Mark Comer

• The Secret – Rhonda Byrne

• Think Again – Adam Grant

• Think Like a Monk – Jay Shetty

• Elevation with Steven Furtick – Pastor Steven Furtick

• Next Level Human – Dr. Jade Teta

• Out of the Dark – Mandisa & Laura Williams

• The Mindset Mentor – Rob Dial

• Unlocking Us – Brené Brown

Devotionals

• 100 Days of Believing Bigger: Devotional Journal – Marshawn Evans Daniels

• Be Still: A Year of Daily Devotionals for One-on-One Time with God – Jill Lowry

• Be Still: 90 Devotions for the Hopeful Heart –Cleere Cherry

• This is Love – Max Lucado

2022 Book Club Recommendation

• Present Over Perfect – Shauna Niequist

This book was recommended by multiple women at AdventHealth. Its message about the importance of women finding peace, connection, and meaning in a world that can feel demanding, isolating, and exhausting inspired and spoke to many.

HEALING

Psalm 61:1-3 NKJV

Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer.

From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For You have been a shelter for me, A strong tower from the enemy.

“A major source of healing for me has come through reading. When I sink into a book that is portraying a life so different from my day-to-day, I feel my understanding of the world, and my place in it, grow. I believe there is healing and centering to be found in seeking new perspectives. In this way, I have been just as inspired by people I have never met as by those I work with each day.”

– Bailey Ringering, Program Director Strategic Operations, Central Florida Division South

“I find transparency, especially from other women, to be so inspiring. All of us have so many roles we have to play and responsibilities to juggle, and it is often so overwhelming. We don’t want to disappoint anyone or fall short in any area of our lives. But when we can let our guard down and share how difficult it is at times to not only maintain our busy lives, but to actually thrive in them, we give each other permission to be who we really are and to prioritize what truly matters to each one of us.”

– Jessica Galo, Director Specialty Care, Central Florida Division South

“I feel that finding your ‘why’ in life is one of the most important things an individual can do to help them heal. I have been in many situations where I have found it difficult to pick myself up, but refocusing on my ‘why’ and grounding myself in faith has helped me pick the pieces back up and refocus on what matters most in my life.”

– Fortune Hansen, Director of Quality, Risk, Infection, Patient Safety Organization, Central Florida Division North

HOPE

Isaiah

40:31 NIV

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

“Each day is an opportunity to celebrate our team members and to help them find fulfillment in how their hands, hearts, and minds touch the lives and extend Christ’s healing to others. With intention, we can help each other feel whole in the work we do and in the lives we touch each day. We can do this by recognizing that our actions, the decisions we make, the words we choose, all impact the present and influence the future. We create the future in moments we share and in every interaction we have. And in those moments, we can offer hope.”

– Faye Peraza, Assistant Vice President, HR Business Partner AdventHealth Ocala, West Florida Division

“I intentionally and continuously grow into the person and leader I hope to be by owning my own story with authenticity. My advice to my pre-pandemic self is to focus on self-compassion.”

– Karen Bell, Chief Nursing Officer, AdventHealth Gordon and Murray

“For me, hope is about perspective. Early in my career I spent time working in organ donation and transplant. Being surrounded by sudden loss juxtaposed with the miracle of a second chance gave me great appreciation for the fragility of life but also for the amazing possibilities in front of us.”

– Kristen Jimenez, Chief Strategy Officer, Central Florida Division

VISION

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

“Children have always been a source of inspiration, hope, and vision for me.

My young nieces, nephews, and cousins motivate me to be intentional about becoming the best version of myself and experiencing the best life has to offer. Seeing their precious, innocent faces smiling at me and admiring me is priceless. In their eyes, I am a superwoman, and I refuse to let them down! I am so humbled to be a loving adult in their lives who has the power and influence to help shape their young minds. I truly believe that what we impart into our children — the words we speak, how we relate to them, how they see us navigate our lives even in times of adversity — will not only influence their future but the future of the world.”

– Jessica Brazier, Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer

“Focus on self-awareness to drive your day, week, and your calendar. I focus on self-awareness to drive my day, week, and calendar. Intentional time blocks help ensure that I have the focus time to forward think. It’s also important to build a team that understands the vision and is committed to the mission. Finally, I strive to always lead with the heart and remember that every patient experience matters and every employee experience matters. Creating a culture with your team will reap benefits years to come and every encounter with patient should be personable and connected living out each service standard.”

– April Chilson, Chief Operating Officer, Central Florida Division North

“We are often told successful people follow routines; forward thinking can be part of your personal routine, as exercising is for some. Figure out what works for you and begin flexing the ‘forward thinking muscle’. Initially it will need to be scheduled, and during challenging times, I plan for smaller and quantifiable wins on a daily basis until the crisis has passed.”

– Shelia Rankin, Chief Executive Officer, AdventHealth Kissimmee

“I find inspiration in pausing to reflect on lessons from the past and dreaming about plans for the future. I found that reflection blocks on my calendar once a month allow me to see beyond just the next day, remember the people I need to thank, and focus on stakeholders critical to my journey.”

– Olesea Azevedo, Chief People Officer

The Miracle of Morning

I thought I’d awaken to a world in mourning. Heavy clouds crowding, a society storming. But there’s something different on this golden morning. Something magical in the sunlight, wide and warming.

I see a dad with a stroller taking a jog. Across the street, a bright-eyed girl chases her dog. A grandma on a porch fingers her rosaries. She grins as her young neighbor brings her groceries.

While we might feel small, separate, and all alone, Our people have never been more closely tethered. The question isn’t if we will weather this unknown, But how we will weather this unknown together.

So on this meaningful morn, we mourn and we mend. Like light, we can’t be broken, even when we bend.

As one, we will defeat both despair and disease. We stand with healthcare heroes and all employees; With families, libraries, schools, waiters, artists; Businesses, restaurants, and hospitals hit hardest.

We ignite not in the light, but in lack thereof, For it is in loss that we truly learn to love. In this chaos, we will discover clarity. In suffering, we must find solidarity.

For it’s our grief that gives us our gratitude, Shows us how to find hope, if we ever lose it. So ensure that this ache wasn’t endured in vain: Do not ignore the pain. Give it purpose. Use it.

Read children’s books, dance alone to DJ music. Know that this distance will make our hearts grow fonder. From a wave of woes our world will emerge stronger.

We’ll observe how the burdens braved by humankind Are also the moments that make us humans kind; Let every dawn find us courageous, brought closer; Heeding the light before the fight is over. When this ends, we’ll smile sweetly, finally seeing In testing times, we became the best of beings.

— Amanda Gorman