Female Executives at BCFS Health and Human Services Discuss Women that Inspired Them

BCFS Health and Human Services is a global nonprofit organization that provides an array of services for individuals and families. It fully supports Women’s History Month and the impactful contributions women have made to the organization and to broader society. The organization released interviews with some of its female leaders to learn more about the women that inspired them to succeed.

Karen Thaxton, Executive Vice President of Human Resources, noted many women helped her to succeed both personally and professionally. She says many colleagues and friends provided her with encouragement and guidance that she hopes to pass along to younger generations of women. She also says she draws inspiration from iconic women including Ruth Bader Ginsburg (RBG) and Susan B. Anthony, noting these women helped others’ voices be heard and disrupted many barriers that kept women from reaching certain heights or achieving equality. She embraces the strides women have made, including the recent election of Vice President Kamala Harris as examples of the barriers women continue to broach.

The organization’s Executive Director at BCFS Health and Human Services Residential Services Division Headquarters, Sonya Thompson, notes the importance of a mentor for women in the professional field. She says her mentor Elizabeth Guthrie pushed her to grow leadership skills and strive for excellence. She also is inspired by the Vice President and was encouraged by the ongoing reactions to the passing of RBG, especially among girls who took up RBG as a role model.

Veronica Villa, Regional Director at BCFS Health and Human Services-Fairfield also supports RBG, noting her nine-year-old daughter requested an RBG bobblehead and asked for ones of Michelle Obama and Vice President Harris. Ms. Villa notes with proud how her daughter understands these women overcome adversity and challenged longstanding conventions to bring about more equality.