LETTER FROM THE CHAIR

Building Our PWH® Community

I hope each of you had a wonderful and restful holiday season and that your 2021 is off to a great start. I’m thrilled to be the new PWH® Chair. While 2020 was a year of unexpected challenges, it was also a year of coming together in the midst of extraordinary circumstances. I’m so proud of the way the PWH® community helped one another navigate our changing circumstances and continued to build connections virtually even when we couldn’t be together physically.

My vision for PWH® this year is focused on connection and understanding. Now more than ever, it’s essential that we build an inclusive industry that’s equally led by women so that we can collectively work together to drive innovation and excellence in healthcare. We need to give women and men of all backgrounds the tools to foster a diverse and inclusive culture in their workplaces. In particular, we need to support women’s advancement throughout their full career cycle. Female executive

Vicky Lyle

leadership is important, but it’s also critical that we build a pipeline of female leaders across every level.

PWH® will work toward this inclusive vision by delivering extensive educational opportunities, partnering with diverse organizations throughout the industry, and creating space for members to network and build strong relationships that support their personal and professional growth. As we begin our 2021 activities, it’s likely that many will continue to take place remotely. As of writing this message, we are in discussions about our 2021 Annual Leadership Summit going virtual. This event will be two days of leadership, inspiration, and Innovation. You will learn from industry leaders and subject matter experts while you enjoy reconnecting with friends and colleagues.

Whether on-site or virtual, I am confident that our members will continue to expand their networks and learn from, and support, one another.

One of our 2021 goals that I am most passionate about is collaborating with our corporate partners to grow our Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) support offerings. Our PWH® D&I committee will support members as they grow D&I initiatives at their own organizations as well as create D&I educational opportunities tailored to PWH®. We will also continue to provide ongoing career resources and educational events throughout the year, covering topics that include managing in a virtual world, effective negotiation strategies, and building a lasting and meaningful network. Whether on-site or virtual, I am confident that our members will continue to expand their networks and learn from, and support, one another.

My top priority as Chair will be supporting you—our PWH® members. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me at any time with questions, feedback, or just to chat. I’m extremely honored to serve as PWH® Chair for this year, and I am excited for everything we’ll accomplish together in 2021.

Sincerely,

Vicky Lyle

Chair, Professional Women in Healthcare® VP, Industry Associations, Owens & Minor