Dana Holmes

Go Get It: Women at the Top in Corporate America!

Hello, Golden Divas! 

Ladies, you know how much I love to see women in leadership, especially in the workforce. It shouldn’t only be the month of March to celebrate the working diva. We should celebrate women every day who played an integral part in today’s workplace.

Why, because as we may know, the history of women’s work has not always been accessible; however, there have been some significant strides women have made in the labor market. Our entry into paid work has been a substantial factor in America’s prosperity over the past century and a quarter.

Forty years ago, the future of work was with women elevating to the top in the corporate world in the 1970s into the 90s. The workplace’s progression was booming; women achieved higher positions, which closed the gender wage gap and moved them into male-dominated fields with a seat at the head of the table at least temporarily.

Granted, over the past five years, the number of women in senior leadership has grown. But don’t be fooled; we are still underrepresented at every level.

It’s 2020 and the progression has stalled, especially at the top! It’s not like women aren’t ambitious enough; we aspired to leadership as much as men more so, than ever. Why is it that so many organizations guided women into jobs that don’t have much of a career ladder to climb? Why is it that the male-dominated workforce chose not to let us have a seat at the table? I’m just asking Golden Divas.

This disparity of an equal playing field in corporate America has blown my mind. The higher up the corporate ladder, the fewer women. Did you know ladies that women now outnumber men in the workforce by 50.04%? 

However, women in Senior Manager/Director positions roles across the world are only 34% and black women only hold 4.0% of those positions. Yes, you read that correctly.

But before women get close to the glass ceiling, there are some barriers in advancing to their first management roles, ‘The Broken Rung,’ this is a big obstacle that is holding so many professional women back. This barrier is when a woman gets stuck at the entry-level position, prohibiting her from progressing to become a manager.

The next obstacle is the ‘Double-Bind’ that women in leadership positions may face. When a woman is perceived as friendly, warm, and nurturing, they don’t show what is expected to move into a leadership position and cannot be taken seriously. On the flip side, when a woman takes charge and gets the job done, they are often deemed as angry and too aggressive than their counterpart. Men. Unfortunately, there’s no satisfying the opposite sex when it comes to women in leadership. In these top positions, women are seen as less likable when they do the same things male leaders do. With these challenging experiences, in the workplace, it’s no wonder most women black women, in particular, want to skip the corporate dance altogether and start their own businesses. 

I must say kudos to the woman who stayed in the fight, and paved the way to get the job done! Despite the unleveled playing field at the table. As you can see, there is a leak in the corporate pipeline for women in leadership; especially black women. This brings me to my Golden Diva for this month, a successful African American woman, with no doubt in my mind worked extremely hard to have a seat at the C-suite table in corporate America. 

Just like the song, ‘Go Get It,’ by Mary, Mary, it’s our time as women to go get our blessing and a seat at the head of the table in the workforce. It’s our time to shine as women to make a difference. 

This ‘Corporate Golden Diva’ I bring to the C50 table has a unique set of skills that took her to the top. She is a talented communication leader, who has built a reputation for operating from a place of excellence that drives people to seek her out for problem-solving and strategic counsel. Golden divas she is an excellent asset to any corporation seeking women’s advancement.

Without further ado, let me introduce you to my friend, whom I met at my alma mater, Percy L. Julian High School. A woman whom I quickly learned to admire her ‘shoe game’ and her love for Chanel. Golden Divas, meet Dana Holmes, one of the Top Women in Communications, for her inspirational and fearless work, which helped to shape the communications industry and change the trajectory in the workplace at the top. Welcome to the ‘Circle of Sisterhood’ Dana!

MEET DANA HOLMES

Dana Holmes is single; she turned 56 on October 5th. She has two beautiful daughters, ages 22 and 32. Her hobbies are dancing (Chicago Style Stepping), golf, travel, and staying engaged with her tribe. Her tribe is a close circle of friends and family that she makes time to stay connected to.

Dana Holmes is executive director of Corporate Communications for Health Care Service Corporation, the country’s largest customer-owned health insurer that operates Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans in Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.

A uniquely talented communications leader, Dana is firmly connected to the business and enables her team to act as strategic counselors and advisors. She does this while maintaining the creativity and innovative spirit that attracts communicators to the field.

Dana has a strong reputation for operating from a place of excellence that drives people to seek her out for problem-solving and strategic counsel. She began an evolution of the internal communications team at HCSC to better connect leadership to employees, drive strategic alignment to business priorities, and streamline communication channels and messaging. She is a trusted partner to the company’s leadership team. She drives positioning on key programs around access to health care, health care equality and equity, and community economic health and wellness.

External to HCSC, Dana has demonstrated her dedication as a company leader over time through her proud memberships in Page Up (a nomination only mentorship step for Arthur W. Page Society), Gartner Communications Leadership Council, the Public Relations Society of America, and the International Association of Business Communicators.

She has worked in many organizations toward women’s advancement to include the Hewitt Associates Women in Leadership Governance Council, the Abbott Women Leaders in Action, and the Women of Walgreens Executive Committee. She accepted honors for Women of Excellence in 2017 by the Chicago Defender and Sisters with Super Powers in 2019 by Rolling Out magazine. And recently recognized as one of Ragan Communications Top Women in Communications for her inspirational and fearless work, which helps shape the communications industry.

Philanthropically, she is a Power of Pink Ambassador for the American Cancer Society’s 2020 inaugural campaign, chaired the American Cancer Society’s 2018 Discovery Ball and the American Heart Association’s 2019 Heart Walk.

IN CONVERSATION WITH DANA HOLMES

C50: As an African American woman who has climbed the corporate ladder of success, Dana share a little of your journey with my C50 loyal readers.

DH: In high school, I enjoyed the creative arts and developed an affinity for writing. The objective statement on my first resume written during high school, was to be a notable public relations professional. That determination followed me to college, and when I left Illinois State to start my own business, it was a marketing and communications company called DH Agency.

In the beginning, I was focused on fashion and entertainment. Over time I developed a strong reputation for good storytelling. When I began to raise a family with my then-husband, I decided to take a more predictable opportunity including – ironically — health benefits and accepted my first corporate position with Kraft Foods, where I worked in ethnic marketing and corporate communications. I found my joy and have worked with passion and excellence every day since.

C50: As an executive director of Employee and Corporate Communication at Blue Cross Blue Shield, what is your management philosophy?

DH: Regardless of the company or position at this point in my career, I consider myself a leader first. My philosophy is to take the time to hire the right talent and give them everything they need to be successful. Leadership takes time and commitment, and the potential for excellence is inside everyone. I currently manage almost 60 communications professionals through seven direct reports, and I’ve come to know each one. They have a passion for what they do and for the company, making developing, guiding, and rewarding the team easy. I’m only as good as my team.

C50: What’s your experience with strategic planning, specifically when it comes to building a high-performance team, managing multi-million-dollar budgets, connecting and engaging stakeholder audiences?

DH: I’ve been fortunate to have worked with the c-suite for my entire corporate career with increased responsibility each year. That’s six CEOs within the Fortune 300. Having a seat at the table as part of the executive team for communications professionals is very important. You get firsthand access to the business’s inner workings, how it makes money, what the market needs, and how to achieve growth.

Partnering and collaborating about the business strategy and planning elements helps develop a clear direction for all stakeholders. Stakes are high when you work at that level. A work ethic in delivering excellence is critical. When creating a high-performance team, I communicate that expectation upfront and leave no room for surprises. The clearer the direction and expectation, the more likely it is to be followed. And take the time to hire, develop, and guide the right people.

C50: If you had the power to change one thing in our healthcare system, what would it be at Blue Cross Blue Shield?

DH: HCSC and the five states where we operate have a business purpose of standing with our members in sickness and health. Our mission is to provide access to quality healthcare insurance to our members and potential members regardless of their station in life. That commitment is what drew me to HCSC, and that is what keeps me at this company.

C50: As women, we wear many hats; share with us how you balance work and your family endeavors?

DH: My role is very demanding and, at times, very stressful. I’ve been doing this work for over 25 years, and I’ve learned that I must take time for self-care. Selfcare includes eating healthy, drinking water, scheduling time with my tribe, meditation, massage, taking personal time off, and following sage advice to work hard and play hard. These things, to me, have become as essential as breathing.

C50: Dana, effective leadership is crucial for any higher-up position, but particularly for you as an executive director; what qualities do you think are required in a successful leader?

DH: I believe empathy, ethics, critical thinking, and mental toughness. Everything else can be trained or learned. A leader has a unique opportunity to influence and drive for results. To do that, those four qualities are required.

C50: Tell us the procedure of how you enhance the brand, protect the reputation, manage change, and promote the public’s awareness of Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s products and services?

DH: That’s a big question. I’ll try to simplify it. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield brand has been around for decades and has become one of the most trusted brands. Ensuring that members and potential members have trust in what they have come to rely on is protecting the brand, and growing with the times to deliver relevant products and services is enhancing the brand. We do that by raising awareness through campaigns, community events, excellent customer service, and our many partnerships and initiatives—all designed to deliver on our purpose and mission. I believe in what we do.

C50: Looking back in hindsight, Dana, what mistakes have you made, and what would you have done differently?

DH: Oh, I think I’ve made my share of mistakes, but what I will say is that I don’t have any regrets. Risk-taking and not being afraid to fail is what makes success happen. Fail fast, though. Recover and move on.

C50: What current trends or recent innovations provide the most significant opportunities for positively impacting healthcare improvement, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic?

DH: A focus on health disparities, health equality, and equity as well as a change for the better when it comes to social determinants of health. These are essential topics to understand and evolve so that meaningful impact and change can occur. 

C50: What is an example of how you dealt with conflict in the workplace?

DH: Within all organized systems, there is a certain amount of bureaucracy. Corporate America is known for it. From my perspective, you manage it and your reaction to it.

 C50: How did entrepreneurship play a role in your ability to be successful in corporate America?

DH: When it comes to being successful, there is no one size fits all. It is up to the person to define what success is. I came from humble beginnings, but I learned about pulling up my own “bootstraps” from my mom and an icon of resilience, Mamie Till Mobley. She was my mentor in grade school and taught me that I can be anything I want and that storytelling has a value.

She perfected my ability to perform Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech. As an entrepreneur, I learned the world of business and some fundamental principles like finding a need and filling it, marketing strategy, managing people, making a profit and invest, taxes, and competition.

C50: What are you most proud of from those days?

DH: Knowing when and how to build a network from opportunities. I contributed two weekly fashion articles to the Chicago Defender for nearly ten years. I shared stories with readers about some of Chicago’s iconic fashion and entertainment talents like Sterling Capricio, Barbara Bates, Kevin “WAK” Williams, Marcus Geeter, Same Fine, and the late Eunice Johnson.

That led to other opportunities like fashion production and model management for over 12 years with Merry Green Promotions Group for the Black Woman’s Expo. Ultimately that exposure brought my work as creative director for Alberto Culver’s TCB and Motions hair care product lines. I managed the product launch and national tour for Motions. It was a great experience.

 Bonus Question

C50: What advice would you give to the younger generation of women seeking to climb the ladder of corporate success?

DH: The job market, society, and expectations had changed so drastically from when I first entered my career. I would say, make education a priority. Embrace life-long learning and be curious about everything. Make sure you surround yourself with the right people and connections. Please make sure they are meaningful and reciprocal. Pick your trusted advisors carefully and manage those touchpoints smartly. Make sure you have both mentors and sponsors. There is a difference.

C50: There you have it, Golden Divas, Dana has made an impact on ‘Corporate America,’ and is one of the few black women who are making strides at the top. Thank you, for a job well done Dana!

Ladies, don’t forget to listen to this diva signature song for this article on the sidebar. ‘Go Get It’ By Mary Mary!

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