In honor of Women’s History Month, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska (BCBSNE) recently hosted an all-female leadership panel.

The panel, presented by FORWARD, BCBSNE’s employee resource group (ERG) supporting women in the workplace, featured four female leaders from across the company:

  • Bridget Knaub, director of information services engineering
  • Barb True, vice president of claims support service
  • Lyndsay Williams, manager of information services
  • Joni Wheeler, executive vice president of strategic talent and enterprise shared services

During the session, the panelists explored topics around leadership, growth and overcoming challenges and self-doubt within their careers.

“Believe in what got you here,” said Wheeler during the panel. “There’s a reason you were chosen for something. There’s a reason that others believe in you, so believe that you belong here and have an impact.”

Throughout the panel, various themes arose, but one carried through the discussion: deconstructing the traditional view of leadership.

“This panel showcased that leaders can, and should, look and show up differently than we think,” said Knaub. “It’s very easy to get in our heads a perfect image of a leader, but we’re all human beings. I think the panelists did a great job of representing that. We’re not perfect and we’re not trying to be.”

The panel was held just days before International Women’s Day on Saturday, March 8, allowing panelists and attendees alike to reflect on what the day of celebration means to them.

“I think it is a time to celebrate ourselves and give ourselves a pat on the back for all we’ve achieved so far,” said Knaub. “One of the things women can do well is recognize the path we’ve taken and the struggle we’ve gotten through and now is a great time to reflect on that.”

In addition to the panel, FORWARD created and shared a trivia game focusing on important women in history and powerful women from Nebraska for BCBSNE employees to take part in throughout the month. Each employee who completed the trivia challenge was entered to have a $100 donation made on their behalf to a local nonprofit that serves women.

“Celebrating Women’s History Month is not just about honoring the past; it’s about committing to a future where every woman is empowered, supported and celebrated,” said Natalie Gill, community engagement intern at BCBSNE. “Groups like FORWARD help us shine a light on our women’s achievements and take meaningful actions to ensure their continued success.”

For more articles like this one, visit Team Blue.