Invest in Your Business by Investing in Your People

Published in Complex Rehab on November 01, 2022

Sara Laures

By Sara Laures, Chief People Officer, VGM

Without doubt, your company’s most valuable asset is your employees. Products, services, trademarks, and even your brand and reputation depend on your people. That’s why no business growth strategy is complete without considering the people your company depends on. But where do you start? 

At VGM, we decided to take a targeted approach to investing in our people, building a program that we could use as a reference for our future efforts. And because they represent two-thirds of our workforce, it made sense for us to invest in our women leaders.

Investing in Women Leaders

VGM launched its Women in Leadership (WIL) program in 2016 as strategic initiative to support, motivate, and empower aspiring women leaders across our company. Since its inception, we have invested in over 100 women leaders by way of educational and networking opportunities. Among the WIL alumni, only 10 have left VGM. Retention, anyone? 

Investing in Women Leadesr

Your investment in women leaders has never bee nmore important. The pandemic has taken a toll on all employees, but the data shows that females have been particularly hit. Recent studies by Deloitte and Women Lead Change surveyed thousands of women professionals across the world. Their findings are significant:

  • More than half of women are more stressed than a year ago, and 46% feel burned out.
  • Women in middle-management roles and younger adult women (25 years old and younger) are experiencing the highest burnout levels.
  • Women are unable to “switch off” from work, and many are concerned about their career advancement.
  • Work-family conflict continues to be a main concern for women.
  • Remote work is beneficial, but it can also create feelings of isolation, blurred boundaries, and coordination problems.
  • Flexibility and workplace support are factors that can increase employee retention and alleviate employee stress.
  • Female participation in the labor force has decreased.

Building Network

Equity in the Workplace

Building a women’s networking group can be a meaningful step toward gender equity in the workplace—and, more importantly, it’s good for business.

A Foundation for Growth

Our VGM WIL program has evolved through the years. Today, the program is led by a leadership committee, we have a formalized nomination process, and we sponsor meaningful curriculum for both existing participants and alumni. We’ve since used this structure to create other professional cohorts who can connect and grow together.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE

VGM Playbook Business Planning and LeadershipThis article was originally featured in the VGM Playbook: Business Planning and Leadership. To read the full article and more like this, download your copy of the playbook today


TAGS

  1. leadership
  2. playbook
  3. vgm

From Our Experts

How Wound Care Can Help Grow Your DMEPOS Business thumbnail How Wound Care Can Help Grow Your DMEPOS Business June is a special month for the wound care community. Not only is the week of June 12– June 16, 2023, designated as Certified Wound Care Specialists Week, but the American Board of Wound Management (ABWM) Foundation designated the entire month of June as Wound Healing Awareness Month. Attending VGM Heartland Conference? Here's What You Need To Know thumbnail Attending VGM Heartland Conference? Here's What You Need To Know The 2023 Heartland Conference is quickly approaching, and VGM is excited to welcome all attendees to Waterloo, Iowa, for two days of unlimited networking opportunities and industry-leading education. Here's everything to know before beginning the journey to VGM's hometown. Important Update on Seat Elevation Covered Under Medicare thumbnail Important Update on Seat Elevation Covered Under Medicare On May 16, 2023, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the National Coverage Determination (NCD) for the Seat Elevation System as a covered item. Protecting Your Business With Viable and Sustainable Payer Contracts thumbnail Protecting Your Business With Viable and Sustainable Payer Contracts Read how to protect your durable medical equipment, prosthetic, orthotic, and supplies (DMEPOS) business by ensuring that you have payer contracts that have long-term viability, as this is one of the most important factors in determining whether your company ultimately succeeds or fails. Locking the Digital Door to Risk: Proactive IT and Website Security Strategies to Protect Your Business thumbnail Locking the Digital Door to Risk: Proactive IT and Website Security Strategies to Protect Your Business With the increasing number of cyber threats and data breaches, it's important to take the necessary steps to protect your business from these risks. The PHE Is Over: What's Next? thumbnail The PHE Is Over: What's Next? In today's episode of Industry Matters, Mandi Joyner, Senior Director of Marketing at VGM & Associates, talks with three of VGM's payer, billing, and reimbursement experts Ronda Buhrmester, Dan Fedor, and Craig Douglas about the end of the Public Health Emergency (PHE) and what that means for members. How to Navigate Supply Chain Issues thumbnail How to Navigate Supply Chain Issues The DMEPOS supply chain was significantly disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the industry is gradually making its way back to a more typical state. Nevertheless, certain procedures that were developed out of necessity during the pandemic's onset and peak have evolved into effective best practices. One of the most crucial lessons learned is the importance of close collaboration between providers and their trusted vendors, manufacturers, or distributors to ensure success. U.S. Rehab Named Official RESNA CEU Provider thumbnail U.S. Rehab Named Official RESNA CEU Provider U.S. Rehab is proud to announce that it has been named an official RESNA CEU provider for continuing education needs.