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November 2004
In our series of regular events that bring together topical issues and
challenging aspects of our industry, "Women on Top", co-sposored
by The Commonwealth Institute, featured three women who head some of the
largest institutions in the city, all with bottom lines over $40 million:
Joanne Handy, president and CEO of the Visiting Nurse Association of Boston,
Joan Wallace-Benjamin, Ph.D., president and CEO of The Home for Little Wanderers,
and Ellen M. Zane, president & CEO of Tufts-New England Medical Center
and Floating Hospital for Childeren, SM& President and CEO Helene Solomon
moderated. Some of the threads that kept reappearing were the impact of
mentors; the need for risk taking ("If your're not willing to take
a risk, you can be good," said Zane. "But I don't think you can
be great"); the importance of thoughtful mergers ("There is such
strength of feeling behind mergers," said Handy. I think there needs
to be more mergers...but there is a downside when they detract from your
inner focus"); and the growing power of nonprofits in our region ("Nonprofit
organizations are the leading employer in six New England states with a
payrol of $660 million in 2000," said Wallace-Benjamin. "The sector
has tremendous power. We have a real opportunity to shape our city.")
Participants left full of ideas about the changing world and escalating
power represented by the nonprofit
sector — inspired by the women who run these important organizations.
