Novant Health named best place in the U.S. to work for women and diverse managers

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Novant Health has been ranked first in the nation in the 2021 Diversity MBA Magazine rankings for “Best Places for Women & Diverse Managers to Work.” Diversity MBA is a national leadership organization integrating diversity and inclusion with talent management. Novant Health was last recognized by Diversity MBA in 2020, when the not-for-profit healthcare system ranked No. 10 overall and fourth among hospital systems.

“Being recognized as first in the nation by Diversity MBA Magazine is an incredible accomplishment for our teams and a testament to the hard work that has gone into creating a culture of diversity, inclusion and equity,” said Tanya Blackmon, executive vice president and chief diversity, inclusion and equity officer at Novant Health. “We leverage the strengths and talents of our team members to ensure we are a strong organization capable of providing remarkable health care to our patients, families and communities.”

The companies are ranked using Diversity MBA’s benchmarking metrics, which measure how companies and organizations are investing in intentional strategies to advance women and managers who are people of color and create a sustainable culture of belonging and inclusion. Diversity MBA’s methodology consists of a multitiered process that involves primary and secondary research. Companies are selected based on scores on eight categories: strategy, representation, board diversity, recruitment, workplace inclusion and retention, succession planning and accountability.

Novant Health continues to cultivate a diverse workforce and inclusive culture by providing:

• Integration of a diversity, inclusion and equity lens into strategic business imperatives, including long-term goals.
• Ongoing diversity, inclusion and equity education for all Novant Health team members, including physicians.
• Open forums and web chats with the CEO and chief diversity, inclusion and equity officer to provide a safe space for open dialogue among team members about topics related to diversity, inclusion, and equity that affect the communities in which team members work and live.
• Business Resource Groups (BRG), which are an important part of the diversity, inclusion and equity strategy. Novant Health has 14 BRGs that are organized around a common identity such as age, race/ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity, veteran status, etc.  
• A supplier diversity program through which Novant Health bolsters economic growth of Women and Minority Owned Business Enterprises (WMBE). Cumulatively since 2006, Novant Health has spent over $1 billion to purchase goods and services from WMBEs, as well as other underrepresented groups such as veterans, people with disabilities, etc.
• The Leveraging Internal Female Talent (LIFT) Program for high-potential female leaders that includes sponsoring as well as leadership and personal development. At least 50 percent of women in the LIFT program have received promotions within the health system.
• The Upward Mobility RN Scholarship, which has been awarded to 25 Novant Health team members. Formerly the CNA to RN program in Charlotte, the initiative expanded systemwide to include team members who are not CNAS and support those who aspire to be registered nurses and are experiencing financial hardship.