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Our celebration of Women’s History Month reflecting on the national theme, “Moving forward together! Women educating and inspiring generations,” continues with Judith Zwillenberg, MPH’s tribute to her grandmother, United States Marine Corps Sergeant Rose Sankey Blum: My maternal grandmother’s story is an inspiration to me this Women’s History Month. Grandma Rose was a Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II, at a time when women weren’t visible in the military let alone in leadership roles. Her experiences from that time remind me to navigate life with grit (and humor) and to take action when called upon, like when she joined up when her country needed her. Being a part of her legacy, I honor her memory every month, but especially this Women’s History Month.
The EmblemHealth Neighborhood Care team was recently recognized by The Stevie® Awards, the world’s top honors for customer service, contact center, business development, and sales professionals. “EmblemHealth expresses gratitude to the Stevie® Awards for acknowledging our team's dedication to providing exceptional customer service," stated EmblemHealth Chief Operating Officer Thomas MacMillan. "Our fifteen Neighborhood Care centers serve and provide resources for some of the most underserved neighborhoods in the country. Their strong work ethic and genuine concern reflect our mission of creating healthier futures for New York City." The 2025 individual honorees include Customer Care Navigator Kemar Asphall (Gold tier Front-Line Customer Service Professional of the Year); Regional Manager Crystal Harrison (Silver tier Customer Service Manager of the Year); Program Development Manager Bethanny Boyd (Silver tier Back-Office Customer Service Professional of the Year). The EmblemHealth Neighborhood Care team was tapped for Bronze tier honors in the Customer Service Department of the Year category. Congratulations to all! Find a complete list of winners at the link.
We’re pleased to share that Nazneen Rahman, AVP of EmblemHealth Neighborhood Care, was named Woman of the Year in Customer Service by The Stevie® Awards. She was cited for consistently demonstrating the qualities of a truly exemplary leader—vision, integrity, empathy, and a relentless commitment to excellence. The Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service are the world’s top honors for customer service, contact center, business development, and sales professionals. The Stevie Awards organize nine world leading business awards programs, including the American Business Awards® and International Business Awards®. Congratulations, Naz!
Meet Anna, one of the stars of our Marketplace Facilitated Enrollment team. For the past five years, Anna has been helping people access the quality health insurance they need. We asked her to tell us about the key factors that support her success and what she loves most about her job. Her answers were surprising
As we continue our celebration of Women’s History Month reflecting on the national theme, “Moving forward together! Women educating and inspiring generations,” we asked colleagues to name a notable woman - past or present - who has inspired them. Sherine Jones chose Brooklyn born, "unbought and unbossed," Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm: As the first Black woman elected to the U.S. Congress and the first Black woman to pursue the presidential nomination under the Democratic ticket, Shirley Chisholm is a source of inspiration to me as she exhibited strength despite facing adversity and shows that anything is possible with hard work and perseverance. She is also a trailblazer who advocated for the rights of women as well as minorities. Here’s a favorite quote from Rep. Chisholm that Sherine shared with us: “You don’t make progress by standing on the sidelines, whimpering, and complaining. You make progress by implementing ideas.”
While contemplating the Women’s History Month national theme, “Moving forward together! Women educating and inspiring generations,” we asked AVP of Government Affairs Michelle Rakebrand how she thinks women's leadership has impacted workplace innovation, collaboration, and the way we serve our community. Here’s what she shared.
Happy Women's History Month. In keeping with the national theme, “Moving forward together! Women educating and inspiring generations,” we asked colleagues to name a notable woman - past or present - who has inspired them and how. Leena Varghes chose Brooklyn native Associate Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg inspired me as she emphasized the importance of women actively participating in leadership roles across all spheres, including work and home life.” Leena also shared with us a favorite quote from Justice Ginsburg: “Women belong in all places where decisions are being made. It shouldn’t be that women are the exception.” Follow us for more Women's History Month inspiration.
As part of our Black History Month celebration, we reflected on the national theme for 2025, “African Americans and the Labor Movement,” exploring the profound contributions of Black Americans to the workforce. As part of this conversation, we asked our colleagues to share a Black historical or cultural figure who has been inspirational in their careers. Carleen Taylor chose one of the hidden figures of the space program, Katherine Johnson, who influenced her approach to leadership: Katherine Johnson, one of the first Black women to work for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), was an extraordinary mathematician, and was the mathematical brain responsible for calculating the orbital mechanics that were critical to the successful launch of the first manned U.S. spacecrafts. Although Ms. Johnson’s outstanding accomplishments were not widely known until recent years, she has influenced me and my career. Read more at the link below.
At EmblemHealth, our core values – Empower, Deliver, and Do it Together – aren’t just words; they guide everything we do. Our commitment to proactive self-starters, goal achievement, and caring for our members, patients, and one another defines our culture. We recently asked Assistant Vice President Jacqueline P. to share how one of these values has shaped her career: “My entire career was built on the trust and support of colleagues and leaders that empowered me to take and make bold actions at work. It can be hard to go outside your comfort zone but having a safety net among your staff and coworkers’ changes everything. Being given that type of confidence has helped me create opportunities for my team to be transformative and push boundaries and they know I will be there.” Her experience is a testament to how our values empower us to innovate, support one another, and serve our community.
As we continue celebrating, BlackHistoryMonth, we're highlighting the leaders who inspire us. Clinical Leader Stacy Scott-Wilds shares how the influence of activist and educator Mary McLeod Bethune has shaped her career. From advocating for civil rights and education to co-founding the United Negro College Fund, Bethune's legacy continues to uplift generations.
