“It has to be us.” Denielle DeWynter on making time for the next generation of women leaders. || EP. 161

[00:00:00] I had a mentor at a previous role who did something similar. And she said to me, she goes, Danielle, if I didn't do it, why should somebody else? If I don't care as the most senior woman, why should somebody else stand up and do it? And he said, absolutely. And I feel the same way. I'm the most senior woman of our 2000 person Hearst Health organization. And I thought if I don't care enough to bring women's voices up and women's voices to the table and have

[00:00:30] this community that welcomes all to to educate and bring inspiring stories, then who should?

[00:00:41] This is Inspiring Women. And today I'm speaking with Danielle DeWinter, and she is the CFO of Hearst Health. And she has been as CFO and in the world of finance for 20 years. We're here at the WBL Summit. Danielle, thank you for being on Inspiring Women.

[00:00:57] Thank you. Thank you for having me. This is incredible.

[00:01:00] I know it's exciting, right? It's like, you know, we're actually at the end of the day. So it might be a little bit punchy as we do this conversation and what we've got the energy for it. So Danielle, I wanted to start because, you know, as a CFO, you've got, you know, 20 years in the world of finance, also international, you are a global executive, and you've been in various Hearst businesses over the years. So just what is the through line? Where did you sort of start out? How did you get here?

[00:01:27] Oh, wow. That's a that's a big question. Yeah.

[00:01:31] So how did I get here? It's so I think I'd say the through line is this natural curiosity and desire to just be this continuous learner. I grew up in a very small town in Canada, in British Columbia. I was a exchange student, a Rotary Exchange student when I was 18, lived in Spain. And I think that kind of

[00:01:56] was a driver for me to have this international experience. I had this I just had this desire and goal to see the world. So when I came out of college and became a chartered accountant, I then moved over to Germany. And then my career moved me to the UK and I lived in London for a few years.

[00:02:17] Oh, my.

[00:02:19] Yeah, my career has spanned five countries.

[00:02:21] Oh, wow.

[00:02:21] And I think if anything, it's just made me a better leader. You know, like when we talk about diversity and inclusion, like I've just seen more things and I see, I see the rewards, I see the challenges, the opportunities of just being around different people.

[00:02:36] Was your peer group when you were sort of, you know, doing all these different positions around the globe? Were they also all international? Because to me, it's like the world has become much smaller and much more connected. But to have that kind of experience is exceptional in seems any role today. But were you sort of like unique in that way? Or were other people doing it too?

[00:02:58] I would say so. I was unique when I was in Spain. Yeah, I was unique a little bit unique when I was in Germany. Being in London, it's not as unique because Canada is part of the Commonwealth. So it is sort of a melting pot of all these countries that come from Commonwealth countries.

[00:03:14] So now you've moved around to a number of different Hearst businesses, you know, as the senior leader. So what are the things like so first of all, so you're in Hearst Health? And so what's unique about this position? And is it the best position so far? Or tell me about that?

[00:03:30] Yeah, I mean, absolutely. It's the best position so far. So I'd say like, I mean, now I'm an American too, which is really cool for me. But I'd say most of my career has been in financial services. So a lot of the years were there. And then you know, I joined Hearst. And this role, the CFO of Hearst Health kind of fell on me because I was part of this, this, I was a CFO of a division that had multiple

[00:04:00] verticals. And so Hearst decided because it was becoming such a larger piece and a larger contributor for Hearst, they needed to separate it. So it just kind of came to this point of I either luckily have an offer and accept the offer to become the CFO of Hearst Health, or I'm out of a job. And if anything, it just turned out to be the best thing ever for me because Hearst Health is very mission driven. It's all about better quality, or

[00:04:30] efficiency, more cost, you know, cost efficient health care as well as greater accessibility. Which to me is much more meaningful than being in the financial services. So

[00:04:43] well, financial services is a critical role for any organization. And, you know, being mission driven is just interesting that you go there because I actually wanted to ask you about some of the programs that you personally invest your own time, your leadership capability towards these

[00:04:59] programs. So the first one is, what is it? We. Oh, we at HH.

[00:05:05] It's we at Hearst Health.

[00:05:06] We. Okay. Okay. Okay. So this is the first the first ERG employee resource group for women. And so you started it. What is this?

[00:05:16] I did. So I started it back a couple months into COVID. So I think it's one of my COVID silver linings because I was feeling very isolated. You know, I was at home in San Francisco with my two young kids that were in third and fourth grade. And I just wasn't seeing anybody.

[00:05:36] And so just slowly and slowly, I started this monthly Zoom cast, which fast forward now we're on our 42nd session, which it's a one hour Zoom cast each month. And I just bring all these guests in to share leadership stories, inspiring guidance. And it's been really rewarding. I'd say if anything, it's been a great chance for me to give back the up and comers. It's not only for women now, but for all of us.

[00:06:06] And so now it started that way. Now it's we means everybody. So it welcomes all. And so it's this toolkit that brings anyone from Hearst Health, anybody from even Hearst together as a community to learn.

[00:06:26] It's hard to imagine in an organization like Hearst, I mean, Hearst has been around for some time that it was the pandemic when a group like this just started. So when you started it, it must have seemed like such an immediate good idea. What happened?

[00:06:44] Well, it's small. It's almost like what Carla Harris said. You start small and incremental small changes that create benefit and value. And I'd say the community was maybe 25 people. And now the monthly email goes out to over 400 people.

[00:07:04] Wow. And we get at least, you know, we get around 100 participants. And for me, my goal is really just I want those participants to learn something. And I've gotten the most incredible feedback around how they feel energized, feel more productive. They feel this sense of belonging.

[00:07:19] And for me, that's that's extremely important because all of our businesses are distributed and decentralized across the United States. We're not all in one location. So I think that is a nice silver lining.

[00:07:35] Well, not only a silver lining, but what I've seen in employee resource groups is it's not just that the group exists. But when a senior most executive takes their time and is passionate about bringing others together in an organization, that is such an enormous statement. And I'm sure this is not about you. It's about the folks.

[00:07:57] So the story there is I had a mentor at a previous role who did something similar. And she said to me, she goes, Danielle, if I didn't do it, why should why should somebody else? I don't care as the most senior woman. Why should somebody else stand up and do it?

[00:08:15] And I said, absolutely. And I feel the same way. I'm the most senior woman of our 2000 person Hearst Health Organization. And I thought if I don't care enough to bring women's voices up and women's voices to the table and have this community that welcomes all to to educate and bring inspiring stories, then who should?

[00:08:34] Yeah, well, and it's again, I just I'm very impressed by it because oftentimes it doesn't look like that. And oftentimes it's sort of like a check on the HR list of things, things to do. And it might be a little bit of reluctant participation. You're leaning in all the way.

[00:08:49] And the thing and I don't know if you feel the same way. It's but I love that I don't pay anybody like nobody like there's been no money involved in the 42 sessions like it's just it's an amazing network where these people open up their Rolodex.

[00:09:05] You know, they're the it's just all word of mouth. And, you know, if someone says, Hey, will you do it for me? Then? Yeah, they'll come and sit on the zoom cast. Yeah, that's fantastic. But it's not the only program that you do. So you're also very involved in this Hearst Scout program, which is about helping new innovative businesses. So tell us about that.

[00:09:28] So that's called it's the Hearst lab. I'm just so happy to be part of that journey. So that was started by Eve Burton, the chief legal officer and general counsel at Hearst. And her goal there is to bridge the funding gap for for women founders. So she started

[00:09:45] which is an enormous gap where 2% of funding goes to female founders unless they wish to give away a good part of their company to a male founder for that privilege, they might get 27% of the funding that's out there. Yes.

[00:10:00] So it's it's a real problem, real challenge. And so Eve started it and I've just been part of the ride. It's another area that just makes your job much more rewarding. And I think you also mentioned, you know, Hearst is a very traditional company that's been around for so long. It's so amazing to be around these female founders that are just cut from a different cloth. You know, they're they're very entrepreneurial, very

[00:10:30] scrappy, very gritty. And it's sort of like the the bridging of those two worlds. Yes, you know, because they come in and they get help. And, you know, I help out either by, you know, introducing these female founders to some of our Hearst health businesses, or, you know, I sit down and work out a financial model for them. And, you know, just develop some great relationships. And I personally feel inspired because I look at what they do. And I mean, I'm inspired by just

[00:11:00] the passion. Yeah, that makes so much sense to me. I mean, when you're at that very senior level job, I mean, let's face it, it's a lot of work. And sometimes it can be a grind, you know, to be in those senior executive positions. So when you have people who are so passionate about the thing that they're doing, and you can provide wisdom advice, or just, you know, a warm introduction is so very meaningful. So

[00:11:24] And it's inspiring up and down. Like, without a doubt, I just I am a lot of they're not only in healthcare, like I think now Hearst has invested in over 70. Oh, wow, like 70 startups. It's been around since, I think 2016. Wow. And I think it's the largest investor in female startups because very early stage startups. The checks are small, but it is really amazing. Amazing. Absolutely amazing. I wanted to ask you about WVC.

[00:11:54] So you're a CEO at WVL. We're here at the WVL annual summit, and you're a CFO. And so as a senior executive with the financial angle, and strategy for an organization, what do you get out of the professional network of WVL?

[00:12:11] I just I'm a big believer of you not needing to solve problems on your own. And that's what this is about. And I love the fact that it's specific to healthcare. So it's, you know, it's, it almost encompasses that that feeling of diversity, you know, because it's all these different minds, people from all different functions coming in and, you know, we're trying to solve healthcare problems.

[00:12:37] So it's a wonderful experience.

[00:12:39] Yep, yep. And so and other like people like they're not finance or are they finance problems as well as just other strategy and leadership?

[00:12:48] I think everybody's looking for, you know, growth opportunities meeting with customers or, you know, potential other relationships, strategic partners.

[00:12:57] Yeah, it's not just a social network is a place of business. Right?

[00:13:02] It is.

[00:13:03] Yeah, yeah. So Danielle, I want to close out on this inspiring women conversation. I always like to ask senior executives, you know, in terms of the what got you here into the leadership spot that you are in if you think about sort of like the next women who are coming up and want to be you when they grow up in their leadership seats.

[00:13:24] What advice maybe worked for you along the way that might apply for them or things that they won't have to do that maybe you had to do as you grew your career?

[00:13:33] Yeah, I mean, I would have a lot of advice. But I would say it's just it's I'd say stay curious. Just be naturally interested in learning.

[00:13:46] I mean, I'm a big fan of reading books, listening to podcasts, getting different point of view. Have an open mind. Have I mean, even my kids, I'm like, have a growth mindset. Yep. It's so important.

[00:13:58] I would also say, you know, mentors are really important managing relationships. Just an even adding on to that is is understanding how to manage up to your boss.

[00:14:13] I would say, you know, when I was in mid of my career, you know, I was I had two young kids. I was working so hard and I just kind of wondered why was I not being promoted?

[00:14:25] And it just there was an aha moment of realizing you don't necessarily have to be the hardest worker. You need to also be able to advocate for yourself.

[00:14:35] You have to be able to tell your story. It's not like everybody's just looking out for your own career path. So what did you do?

[00:14:43] What did I do? I learned how to advocate for myself. I understood my marketability. I also like I've learned how to manage up to like my current boss and just, you know, understand what he likes, like how he likes to be communicated to.

[00:14:59] So those little like tweaks. That is so important. And, you know, I think, you know, others have said, you know, if you don't ask, you don't get exactly, you know, and if you're not paying attention to that.

[00:15:10] So and how to receive that information so that people have time to actually listen to you. Exactly.

[00:15:16] Exactly. That's this we'll call that one of Carla's Pearl. Oh, my God is one of Danielle's Pearl. It's perfect. I know I had to come up with my own pearl, but she was great.

[00:15:27] Yes. Yes. This has been an amazing inspiring women conversation. I've been speaking with Danielle de Winter and Danielle. Thank you so much.

[00:15:36] Thank you so much.