Patricia Gaudino

I attribute my success to hard work, perseverance, and showing up consistently throughout my career. Over the last decade, I have placed a strong emphasis on my own professional development — taking every leadership class and management course available to me and learning from others to shape my own leadership style. Throughout my entire career, I have always sought out mentors, and when one mentoring relationship runs its course, I actively look for someone who either has the skill set or the leadership style I aspire to grow toward. I have built a strong personal brand within my organization — people know who I am, what I stand for, and what I bring to the table. After 34 years, I carry institutional knowledge that is invaluable. I also believe deeply in keeping skills current. With AI rapidly transforming our industry, I encourage my team to embrace it and share best practices openly. We set development goals alongside work goals, because growth never stops. I have learned the importance of building relationships with senior leaders and reading the room — skills I did not always prioritize early in my career but have since invested in deeply. My advice has always been: you never know where an opportunity will take you, so stay open, stay connected, and never assume you know it all.

Communications is a broad and wonderfully rewarding field, and I encourage any young woman considering it to explore all the directions it can take you. Within a large organization alone, there can be multiple distinct communications departments — from writing, editing, and proofreading to communications strategy, media relations, and corporate messaging. You can carve out a path that aligns with your strengths and evolve as your interests grow. In my own career, I chose a path that kept writing at the center while also growing into people leadership as a senior manager. From writer to manager, senior manager, Vice President of Corporate Communications — the sky truly is the limit. That said, the fundamentals matter deeply. You must be a strong writer and a meticulous editor. If you are applying for a role on my team, I expect zero typos and a polished, professional presentation. Emotional intelligence is equally critical — knowing how to navigate relationships, reflect a company's values, and communicate with empathy will set you apart. I also want to be honest: it is still a competitive field, and while we have made significant strides — including seeing more women step into CEO roles across the Blue Cross Blue Shield plans — gender pay disparity remains a real and frustrating challenge. Know your strengths, understand your areas for growth, and present yourself with confidence. You belong in this industry.

The communications field is full of opportunity right now, and I genuinely believe the possibilities are expansive for those who are prepared. From writing and editing to communications strategy, media relations, and corporate messaging, there are countless directions a career in communications can take. Within our organization alone, we have multiple communications departments, each offering distinct and meaningful work. At the same time, there are real challenges to navigate. Competition is intense, and the bar for core skills — writing, editing, and professional polish — remains high. Emotional intelligence and the ability to align with an organization's values are no longer optional; they are essential. Gender pay equity continues to be a significant and ongoing challenge in our field, and while the progress we have seen in women's leadership is encouraging, there is still meaningful work to be done. Perhaps the most pressing challenge across communications right now is staying current, particularly with artificial intelligence. AI is reshaping how we create, distribute, and measure communications — and embracing it is not optional. I actively encourage my team to learn it, share best practices, and build it into how we work. The professionals who will thrive are those who combine strong foundational skills with a commitment to continuous learning and adaptation.

Professionally, my most deeply held value is people first. The work we do matters enormously — keeping a health insurance organization running effectively for our members and providers — but it is the people behind that work who make it meaningful. I am committed to supporting my team with transparency, honesty, genuine flexibility, and the kind of active listening that makes people feel truly heard. I lead with kindness and by example, a value so central to who I am that I was nominated by my senior director for a corporate award recognizing it — and simply being seen in that way was profoundly meaningful to me. Gratitude is my guiding word, both professionally and personally. I live by an attitude of gratitude and a one-day-at-a-time philosophy that was shaped in large part by my 25 years of sobriety, a milestone I am immensely proud of. In my personal life, family comes first — my stepson, my siblings, and my nieces and nephews scattered across the country all hold a central place in my heart. My faith is an important anchor, as is staying active and remaining connected to a supportive community. These values — kindness, gratitude, people, and faith — are not separate from my professional life. They are the foundation of everything I do.