Robin A. Bleier, RN, HCRM, LNC

I attribute my success to a lifelong commitment to compassion, integrity, and dedication. My career in healthcare did not begin with ambition or accolades—it began at fifteen, as a candy striper, learning early that dignity and empathy are not abstract ideals but daily practices. From nursing assistant to LPN to RN, I advanced step by step, balancing education with weekend Baylor programs, night shifts, and the lived realities of patients and caregivers. Healthcare, when practiced honestly, leaves no room for shortcuts.

Over more than four decades, I have grown from bedside care into leadership, consulting, risk management, and executive roles across multiple states. In 1994, I founded my own consulting company, and over the years I served as chief nurse and later chief operating officer, guiding teams through regulatory challenges, workforce shortages, and constant industry change. While titles evolved, my responsibility to deliver quality care and nurture teams never wavered.

If asked what achievement I am most proud of, it is not an award—though I am grateful for recognitions such as the Walter Johnson Lifetime Achievement Award and the Gregson Award. It is the work we did during COVID: despite fear and uncertainty, we did not lay off a single team member. No one lost wages or was forced to use paid time off. Instead, we showed up for each other—delivering meals, maintaining open communication, and leading with steadiness when panic could have been easier. That experience reinforced what I have always believed: leadership is listening, making decisions when others cannot, and accepting accountability without deflection. Every team member matters, and it is a privilege to foster an environment where empathy, competence, and compassion are central to care.

I am proud to be turning 65 this year and to celebrate my company’s 25-year milestone—a testament to decades of dedication, teaching, and service to seniors, guided by a mission that continues to inspire every decision I make.

My advice to young women entering the healthcare and leadership space is simple but powerful: be open to listening. Listen to your colleagues, your team members, and your customers. Every perspective provides insight, and humility in hearing others is a strength, not a weakness.

At the same time, if you aspire to run your own business, understand that leadership can be lonely at the top. Many decisions start and end with you, and the weight of responsibility falls squarely on your ability to navigate challenges thoughtfully and decisively. Embrace that responsibility, but don’t lose sight of collaboration and empathy—they are the anchors that sustain both your team and your mission.

Healthcare has always faced challenges—staffing shortages, complex regulations, and reimbursement pressures—but today these are compounded by visa issues and the loss of essential caregivers. Yet despite these challenges, healthcare remains profoundly human. This is not an industry that can be managed remotely or abstractly.

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown many professionals the possibilities of remote or non-traditional work, but in settings like nursing homes, quality care demands physical presence. Oversight, supervision, and direct engagement are critical: without team members on the floor, the most vulnerable members of our community risk being underserved. Care requires being present, attentive, and fully engaged.

At the same time, these challenges also present opportunities: to innovate in training, support, and team development, to strengthen workplace culture, and to reaffirm that compassion and competency are at the heart of every decision we make.

Honesty and integrity guide everything I do. I am committed to advocacy and high standards because quality care requires conscience, not just systems. Listening carefully, making thoughtful decisions, and taking full accountability are at the heart of my leadership and care.