Insights from Women Shaping the Future of Healthcare: Celebrating Women’s History Month

In honor of Women’s History Month, the Nashville Health Care Council set out to tap into the collective wisdom of the incredible women leading the way in healthcare. We asked women across our community to share their most valuable leadership insights — from the advice they would give to future leaders to the lessons that have shaped their own journeys. The response was inspiring.

More than 100 women answered the call, offering authentic reflections and practical advice to help empower the next generation of female leaders. This blog captures their voices, experiences, and wisdom — a powerful testament to the strength and impact of women in healthcare. Read all of the shared wisdom below: 

100+ Insights from Women Healthcare Leaders: Advice for Success

1. You don’t have to know it all – all at once.
2. There are no problems, only opportunities. 
3. To be a strong woman, you shouldn’t have to give up the things that define you as a woman.
4. No one has all the answers. 
5. Advocate for yourself. 
6. Don’t wait to be 100% ready to start or you never will.
7. No, means not this way.
8. Lead by example – “Tone at the top.”
9. Follow your gut instincts and don’t overexplain! 
10.   Impact vs. intention. 
11.   You have to be willing to ask to get to “yes.”
12.   Listen – everyone knows something you don’t. 
13.   Thinking differently is your superpower!!
14.   Don’t just be a doer;be a player. 
15.   Take the time to create strong relationships because relationships are business currency. 
16.   Growth doesn’t come from staying in your comfort zone. 
17.   Fail fast. 
18.   Feedback is a gift. 
19.   Failing Forward. 
20.   There’s a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women. 
21.   It’s not a “difficult conversation” it’s just a conversation. 
22.   Learn to delegate (even when it’s hard). 
23.   Work at the level of the job you want, not the job you have. 
24.   Network. It’s always about who you know! 
25.   When you’re in the room, don’t waste that opportunity! 
26.   Invest in relationships, just as much as you do in skills/quality of your work. 
27.   Stay curious, ask questions and listen.
28.   Your career doesn’t need to be a ladder to climb, it can be a jungle gym! 
29.   Know your value and your values. 
30.   Every woman’s success should be an inspiration to another.
31.   Growth and comfort do not coexist.
32.   Knowledge and experience are resources to share.
33.   Be a player, not just a doer.
34.   Don’t wait for permission to speak.
35.   Take time to create and have good relationships.
36.   Ask for what you want – don’t wait for a reward.
37.   Leadership isn’t about having all the answers — it’s about asking the right questions, creating space for others to lead, and staying curious along the way.
38.   Reframing challenges into opportunities.
39.   Embrace your unique perspective and voice.
40.   It’s not just about breaking glass ceilings; it’s about building bridges that connect different perspectives. 
41.   Trust in your abilities and advocate by mentoring and sponsoring others.
42.   Be open to change. Learn and grow with it.
43.   Perfection is the enemy of progress—just start. 
44.   Be intentional with your time and energy—both are valuable resources. 
45.   Your perspective is your power—own it. 
46.   Don’t mistake busyness for effectiveness—work smart, not just hard. 
47.   Set boundaries, and don’t apologize for them.
48.   Ask for feedback, and don’t take it personally.
49.   Say yes to opportunities that scare you. 
50.   Let go of the need to please everyone. 
51.   Success looks different for everyone—define it on your own terms.
52.   Give yourself grace—mistakes are part of the journey. 
53.   Leadership isn’t about titles; it’s about impact. 
54.   Don’t let imposter syndrome hold you back—you belong here. 
55.   There is no one right path—create your own. 
56.   Seek mentors who will challenge and support you.
57.   Surround yourself with people who push you to grow.
58.   Learn from women in leadership who have paved the way, and, most importantly, stay open to new opportunities.
59.   Learn the most that you can from any challenge. 
60.   Surround yourself with people who celebrate your wins.
61.   Own your strengths—there’s power in knowing what you bring to the table. 
62.   You don’t have to minimize yourself to make others comfortable.
63.   Be your own biggest advocate before expecting others to be.
64.   Every small step forward is still progress.
65.   Be bold enough to walk away from what no longer serves you. 
66.   Trust that you are capable of handling whatever comes your way.
67.   Embrace learning as a lifelong process.
68.   Learning to say “no” is just as important as knowing when to say “yes.”
69.   Surround yourself with people who inspire and challenge you.
70.   Your career path doesn’t have to be linear—embrace the detours.
71.   Give credit where it’s due—and ensure you receive it too.
72.   Build allies, not just connections.
73.   Find strength in community—success is rarely achieved alone.
74.   The best leaders elevate those around them. 
75.   Mistakes don’t define you— but how you handle them could.
76.   Show up for other women—support is a two-way street.
77.   Learn to find joy in the process, not just the outcome.
78.   You are capable of more than you think. 
79.   Stay flexible—change is inevitable, so learn to adapt with confidence.
80.   You don’t need to be the loudest in the room to be the most influential.
81.   Be decisive—own your choices and move forward.
82.   Keep pushing boundaries—someone else’s limit doesn’t have to be yours.
83.   Keep an open mind—your career may take you in unexpected but rewarding directions.
84.   You don’t need to apologize for being ambitious.
85.   Always have a learning mindset. 
86.   Own your mistakes, but don’t dwell on them.
87.   Approach challenges with curiosity, not fear.
88.   Keep your word—trust is built on consistency.
89.   Leadership isn’t about control; it’s about influence.
90.   Be present in every space you enter—your presence should never feel like an afterthought.
91.   The ability to pivot is just as important as the ability to plan.
92.   Be intentional about who you learn from
93.   There’s no such thing as a wasted experience—use everything you’ve learned.
94.   If you’re not challenged, you’re not growing.
95.   The biggest growth happens when you step outside of your comfort zone.
96.   Sometimes the hardest decisions lead to the biggest rewards.
97.   Trust your intuition—it’s usually right.
98.   You can’t control everything, but you can control your response.
99.   Set Clear goals: Define what you want to achieve in your career and create a roadmap to reach those goals.
100.      Stop making excuses.
101.      Perseverance is failing nineteen times and succeeding the twentieth. 
102.      Understand that failure is not the opposite of success, it’s part of the process.

The Nashville Health Care Council supports leaders at every level, strengthening Nashville as The Healthcare City. The Council fosters connections, drives innovation, and provides opportunities for industry leaders to collaborate, grow businesses, and shape the future of healthcare.

About the Nashville Health Care Council
The Nashville Health Care Council strengthens and elevates Nashville as The Healthcare City. With a $68 billion economic impact and 333,000 jobs locally, Nashville’s healthcare ecosystem is a world-class healthcare hub. Founded in 1995, the Council serves as the common ground for the city’s vibrant healthcare cluster. The Council offers engagement opportunities where the industry’s most influential executives come together to exchange ideas, share solutions, build businesses and grow leaders.