Professional Development: Emerging Leaders at HealthEdge

Nearly 125 employees have participated in HealthEdge’s professional development program, now referred to as Emerging Leaders. Emerging Leaders is an experience designed for current and aspiring leaders to understand the personal and organizational behaviors required to be a strategic manager and leader within our organization.

Nominated by their managers, the program participants are strong cross-functional collaborators, strategic thinkers, and striving for a more significant manager or leadership role. When selecting the participants, we try to make sure the final group includes all functional areas and products to represent every part of HealthEdge in the program.

The program kicks off with a 360-review and a personality assessment called the Predictive Index, so participants can gain an understanding of where they are at, highlight their opportunities, and how they can get to where they would ideally like to be at the end of the year-long commitment.

In the first half of the year, the group meets once a month and participates in interactive training focused on topics including their own leadership styles, leading change, and communicating with impact. The trainings contain a mix of classroom sessions, interactive discussions, and group activities

Thanks to the feedback we received from past Emerging Leaders, we recently launched a formal mentorship aspect of the program. In the second half of the year, participants are paired with a leader to provide mentoring and direction as they drive towards their development goals. Mentors aren’t necessarily in the same functional area as the mentee. Matches are based on what skills the emerging leaders are looking to improve. Then, we find leaders at the company with strength in that area to help coach them and build on that area of focus.

Another benefit of emerging leaders is the ability to gain exposure with other leaders within the organization. We strive to create an open forum where participants can have open discussions, participate in breakout groups, and work with people they have never met before. There is a lot of collaboration, sharing experiences, and talking through approaching a similar situation or solving a common issue.

We strive to make sure the program is not generic for everyone but tailored to each person and helping them figure out where they need to grow and provide the tools to help them become effective leaders.

HealthEdge was recently named national Elite Winner in Employee Achievement and Recognition designation for the 2020 Medium-Size Best and Brightest Companies to Work For, Top 101 in the Nation®. We are also a proud winner of Boston’s 2020 Best & Brightest Companies to Work For® award, three years in a row, Boston Globe Top Places to Work, and Top Places to Work in the Nation in 2021.  Want to work with us? Check out our current job openings.