Innovation & Insights

Providence Health Plan's Randi Escobedo on leadership and overcoming imposter syndrome

06 December 2024

Randi Escobedo, who serves as the Head of Healthcare Experience and Advocacy Strategy for Providence Health Plan (PHP), recently spoke with Candace Beeke, President and publisher of the Portland Business Journal, as part of a BizWomen Coalition series.

They discuss her career journey and the leadership qualities essential for women aiming to transform their businesses. Randi emphasized the importance of bravery, courage, and self-belief, especially in overcoming imposter syndrome. Here are a few of the many impactful moments from the interview:

Essential leadership qualities for women who want to transform their business areas

"As I reflect on my journey, the thing that sticks out to me the most — especially for women who are looking to be movers and shakers and really think about true transformation — is being brave and courageous, especially in an environment where it can be hard being a woman in a leadership role, especially early on in our careers can be filled with doubts."

Randi emphasized the importance of trusting yourself, believing in your capabilities, and using those outside influences, opinions, chatter, and whatever else it is as information to help guide, but not information to help knock you off your path.

Find trusted women who will give honest feedback

"I think all of us have stories with mentorship that as we're growing in our careers, connecting with women we aspire to be or respect, it is game-changing."

Randi reminded women in more senior leadership roles to open themselves up to be mentors to the women in their fields who are earlier on in their roles.

Addressing health equity gaps

"We can't continue on a one-size-fits-all healthcare system. It works for some people, but it's not working for everybody, and we are seeing incredible disparities and health outcomes that we want to change."

Providence has begun implementing an enterprise-wide social determinants of health action plan that looks at all facets of business. It provides safety nets to ensure PHP can support that member in real time. If PHP doesn't have the resources best suited to help the member, we look to our community partners.

Sustainable self-care models for a team

"No one can do all the things all the time. We can do all of the things some of the time and some of the things all of the time, but by putting impossible benchmarks and goals on ourselves to do all of the things, we're constantly setting ourselves up for failure."

Randi highlighted the importance of meeting ourselves where we are, especially as women, reminding listeners of the importance of carving out time to prioritize our wellness— whatever that means for us.

You can watch the full interview on the Portland Business Journal's website: https://bit.ly/3OqZyti