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Listen to this article(from left to right): Stephanie Browne & Yvette Pittman
By John Black
When it comes to using technology to find the best candidates for the job, Stephanie Browne, Vice President of Talent Acquisition and Chief Diversity Officer at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, is interested in determining whether the candidates’ skill sets fit the company’s needs.
“I want to come up with the technology that just sends me the best, most qualified candidates, so we can meet with them and get to know if they’re the right fit for the company and we’re the right fit for them,” Browne said.
In her role at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Browne is responsible for setting the strategy and leading the development and implementation of a world-class talent organization. Her responsibilities include recruiting diverse, high-quality talent for the organization, building a culture of respect, and developing and supporting programs that retain the company’s employees.
A huge part of Browne’s strategy is making sure her staff, especially the Employee Resource Group leaders, is well-trained in making sure the social, cultural, and professional needs of the individual employees are being met so that they can do their jobs to the best of their abilities and have opportunities for growth.
“The definition of diversity in the workplace is a lot broader than most people realize,” she explained. “It’s not just about ethnicity, but everything from veterans’ groups, to the physically challenged, to the members of the LGBTQ community.”
Browne knows that the success of any strategic planning initiative begins at the top, and she credits the C-Suite executives at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts for being both supportive and proactive when it comes to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
“There are many layers to success, and it’s inspiring to know that the people above me are always thinking about what’s next—what’s the next challenge going to be and what are we doing to be ready for it,” Browne said. “During any given day, I can go from a strategic planning meeting with the CEO to an initial meeting with an employee. It can be a roller coaster, but I love what I do.”
