Explore every episode of the podcast The Treasure Hunt: A Healthcare Changemakers Interview Series

In this episode, Marcia Alesan Dawkins, senior research scientist at the Center for Creative Leadership, public speaker, author of four books including Clearly Invisible, Racial Passing and the Color of Cultural Identity, expert storyteller, and regular speaker for The Carol Emmott Foundation, discusses her ideas about the meaning of identity. Marcia shares her profound take on sincerity over conformity and grapples with the notion that we don’t just have one story in life, but rather a larger culmination of stories that we present to the world. Listen as Marcia explains her personal exploration of identity and presents a provocative analysis of the connections between authenticity, identity, succession planning, and leadership development. Marcia also delves into where we belong in society from an evolutionary perspective and how the social, political, and emotional effects of conforming impact humanity.

This episode of The Treasure Hunt presents a discussion with Ruth Williams-Brinkley, a member of the Carol Emmott Leadership Council and a highly sought-after mentor for Carol Emmott Fellows. With accolades that include a top 100 most influential leader in healthcare, a top 25 woman in healthcare, and a top 25 minority executive in healthcare, Ruth has accumulated invaluable knowledge and experience throughout her many years as an industry leader.

Listen as Ruth shares insights gleaned from an impressive career that began as a bedside nurse in Chicago and ended with her retirement from the Kaiser Foundation Mid-Atlantic, where she served as regional president. Hear about her people-centric approach to healthcare and how successful outcomes can be enjoyed by all stakeholders when compassion and sensible practices are accompanied by providing individuals with the tools and knowledge they need to be healthy.

Ruth stresses the importance of mentors and increasing the presence of women and people of color in the healthcare space while weaving in tales of nursing, CEO life, motherhood, and how she relies on the NFL and the NBA for coaching tips.

In this episode, Mary Pittman, one of the founders of The Carol Emmott Foundation and former president and CEO of the Public Health Institute, shares highlights from her remarkable career in public health, including Carol Emmott’s influence in shaping her career trajectory. Mary talks about the importance of building a network that focuses on building social capital among peers, the value of advocacy, real life examples of mentoring other women, and personal stories of her current interests in Italy and art.