Accelerating Transformational Leadership

Yesterday, the world paused to remember the life and legacy of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., coinciding with Dr. King’s 95th birthday. The HBA offices were closed in recognition of the holiday, with many staff volunteering during a day of service.

Today, during this day of racial healing, I wanted to reflect on Dr. King’s work and his life, one that was short-lived but a life that proved to be transformational during the Civil Rights Era and for generations to come. Reflecting on Dr. King’s sacrificial and active work to liberate the oppressed and to eradicate systemic structures, beliefs and institutions that threatened the basic freedoms of human beings even up to the point of his untimely death, I am reminded to also lift up the name of his dear life partner – Mrs. Coretta Scott King. Together, they committed to fight for equality alongside so many other civil rights leaders who caught the vision that was cast for a more equitable and accessible future for all.

It was in this quest for equality despite great resistance racial, economic and political turmoil in the world that Dr. King’s life was taken by an assassin on April 4, 1968. Many thought the dream died with the dreamer, but it was his wife that picked up the shattered pieces of the dream with her children in tow, determined to accelerate the work and legacy of her husband.

It’s because of this woman of great conviction that the King Center in Atlanta, Georgia exists today to educate and empower future generations of changemakers. It was also Mrs. King who was the catalyst to push for a federal holiday to honor the life of her husband and to spur us to focus on giving back to communities through acts of service. A day on, not a day off.

The commitment, values and actions of two people unified with so many more around the globe has led to a sustained movement for change – that is what represents transformational leadership. One woman determined to ensure that a dream deferred is not a dream denied. Mrs. King’s legacy lives on through her children, Rev. Dr. Bernice King who runs the King Center since her mother’s death alongside her brother Martin Luther King, III. The baton has now been passed to Dr. King’s only granddaughter Yolanda Renee King who recently released a book to empower and encourage youth and the young at heart to embrace the vision of her grandparents. That is transformational leadership.

What if we embraced the vision to accelerate gender equality from the 130+ years as declared by the World Economic Forum and partnered with those in our sphere of influence in healthcare to make it a reality? A vision of equality for women in the workforce that included access to quality affordable healthcare for all and created a pathway to true health equity across the health ecosystem?

A vision that ensures financial stability for women that undergirds health and wellness for all stages of life and creates a more sustainable future for generations to come. It’s possible and attainable if we commit to investing in accelerating transformational leadership now. The Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association is taking that commitment to investing in the workforce of the future seriously and ensuring that there are leaders equipped to transform our society now – not 15 years from now but right now.

We are moving beyond the physical borders of the United States and Europe into the global expanses of the Middle East, Asia, Latin America and Africa. Equality has no boundaries if we commit to doing the work of equity together. That’s the dream as articulated by Dr. King. That’s the work as articulated by Mrs. King when she chose to keep moving forward in her press for social change by inspiring her children and now her granddaughter, inspiring people from all walks of life across the globe.

What actions will you undertake in 2024 to be a transformational leader of our time in history? Who will you inspire to embrace the vision of equality to accelerate progress towards a better future for healthcare? The opportunities are limitless for us to make major impact – the choice is ours to make today so tomorrow can be different.

Authored by Nikki Jones, Chief People and DE&I Officer for the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association.

Nikki Jones is a people and culture leader with over 25+ years of professional experience. As the DE&I lead, she is focused on ensuring diversity, equity and inclusion are infused into every area of business operations - from how we interact with and meet the needs of our members to how we show up as a DE&I champion, leader and change-maker in the healthcare industry.