Amanda Holguin
Amanda Holguin is the Vice President of Enterprise Talent and Culture at OU Health, where she leads a growing enterprise function focused on talent acquisition, leadership development, employee development, organizational effectiveness, belonging and inclusion, onboarding, and workforce development. With a team of more than 40 professionals and four direct reports, she is responsible for shaping and sustaining the full talent lifecycle across the organization. While her scope is broad, her core passion remains centered on leadership development and workforce pipelines that strengthen the future of healthcare.
Her career began as a trainer through the University of Oklahoma’s contract with the United States Postal Service, where she delivered technical training and quickly distinguished herself in leadership instruction. Recognized for her ability to translate technical learning into leadership development, she transitioned into more leadership-focused curriculum design and facilitation. This experience sparked a deeper commitment to learning and development, leading her to pursue graduate-level preparation in administrative leadership and ultimately guiding her into healthcare at OU Health, where she was entrusted to build the learning and development function from the ground up.
Over six years at OU Health, Amanda has progressed from Program Manager of Learning and Development to Director roles in learning, leadership, and employee development, later serving as Interim Vice President before assuming her current executive position. Starting with a small team of two, she was charged with building the infrastructure for enterprise people and culture systems, which has since expanded into a comprehensive, enterprise-wide function. Outside of her corporate leadership role, she is also an ordained evangelist who travels and speaks to women, focusing on empowerment, purpose, and helping others step into their full potential as influential leaders in their personal and professional lives.
• Ordained Evangelist
• Creating a Leadership Development Program
• Strategic HR Business Partner Certification
• Certificate of Administrative Leadership
• University of Oklahoma - BA, Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General
• University of Oklahoma - MA, Organizational Leadership
• Brandon Hall Award for Leadership Development
• Brandon Hall Award for Learning and Development
• Training MVP Award
• Partnership with OKCPS (Oklahoma City Public Schools) - Middle School Healthcare Exploration Programs
• Empowering Women Through Ministry and Speaking
What do you attribute your success to?
First, I'll say God, because I wouldn't be where I am without Him. And second, I would say the hard work I've put in - through all of the adversity and challenges I've faced in my life. I've come a very long way, and when I look at where I am now, it's something I never could have imagined for myself. If someone had asked me years ago what I wanted to be, I never would have said a VP of Talent, Enterprise Talent and Culture. And yet, that's exactly where I am today. So I truly believe I'm in this seat because of a combination of faith and hard work. I've been placed here for a reason, and I don't take that lightly.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't hold back on your dreams. Live for you 100% and no one else. And always be willing to jump in, especially when you don't know what's next, because oftentimes, on the other side of fear is the greatest reward you'll ever see. If you are honest to the core and show up authentically, then you don't ever have anything to worry about. Loyalty - I really take that seriously, because I'm an honest person, I'm a loyal person. And I think having ultimate kindness towards one another. If you live with those three - honesty, loyalty, and kindness - you'll be okay.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I really see this as an opportunity to look at talent differently. The industry is changing, and so are people - how they communicate, how they learn, and what they expect from work. Because of that, we have to adjust. For me, talent isn't just something we go out and find anymore - it's something we have to start building early. That's why I'm really passionate about creating partnerships with our school systems, especially OKCPS. We're going into middle schools and showing students how exciting healthcare can be, because if they can see it and experience it early, they can start to believe it's possible for them. I also think we have to rethink how we connect with people. The newer generation communicates differently - they prefer texting over phone calls, quicker interactions, more authenticity. That means our approach to talent acquisition and development has to evolve too. The experience we create matters just as much as the opportunity itself. One thing I'm very intentional about is creating programs that give people something they can actually touch and experience. Every program I create has a theme and a purpose behind it, because people want to understand their why. Whether it's our healthcare explorer programs or internal opportunities for employees to try something new, I believe people want to experience a role before they fully commit to it. So for me, the opportunity is really about being innovative - thinking outside the box in an industry that hasn't always changed quickly. It's about creating real, hands-on pathways and building a future pipeline, instead of just competing for the same talent. If we want the next generation to see healthcare as a viable path, we have to make it real for them.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty is something I take very seriously. I believe that when you are honest to your core and show up authentically, you don't have anything to worry about. Loyalty is just as important to me. Being a loyal person goes hand in hand with honesty - it reflects how you show up for others and the commitments you keep. And then there's kindness. I believe in leading with genuine kindness toward others in everything you do. If you live by those three values - honesty, loyalty, and kindness - you'll be okay.