3. Always support each other.
With only a small portion of healthcare CEOs being women, it is important for women to build each other up instead of tearing each other down.
“As a society, we are stronger if women are in leadership roles. Along with men, we offer a lot of passion, a lot of support and caring that may not be there in the leadership of an organization,” said Heather Howell. “It is to our benefit to always support each other. So, I would tell my younger self and future leaders that are young that they should always take women with them as they’re moving forward, that the stronger we are together, the better we are. You’re not going to stand out any better if you push a woman down and think that you can get ahead of her. Safety in numbers if you will – and stronger together.”
“I believe in this world there is just so much competition, and women are just so often tearing each other down for a variety of reasons. I’ve really been fortunate enough to be blessed with very strong and supportive women – and men – leaders throughout my career,” said Howell. “I was surrounded by this tribe of women who really cared about each others’ success [at the FDA].”