Transforming Health Care to Build a Better Society for All

The Inclusion and Diversity Councils at UnitedHealth Group provides a pathway to carry out the organization’s mission to help people live healthier lives and help make the health system work better for everyone. In the first of this two-part blog, Gyasi C., Vice President of Strategy at UnitedHealthcare, a UnitedHealth Group business, explains why these Councils are so important to our culture and the impact it has on our organization.

Can you tell us about the Inclusion and Diversity Councils and what goals you are seeking to accomplish?

Being an alumnus of the same undergraduate institution as Martin Luther King, Jr., I often reflect on several quotes that are seared into my spirit and soul. Dr. King once said, “Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane.” This is one of the primary reasons that I chose to pursue a career in health care at UnitedHealthcare. We have the opportunity to truly transform health care to help build and shape a better society for all.

The UnitedHealthcare Inclusion and Diversity Executive Council is led by Steve Nelson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, and is composed of leaders from all lines of businesses, as well as shared services and corporate departments. The team is passionate about promoting an inclusive work environment that ensures every employee is valued, respected and empowered to use their skills for the success of the enterprise, and the benefit of those we serve. The Council has established its priorities for 2018, and we will continue to ensure diversity and inclusion are top-of-mind.

What are some of the initiatives the Inclusion and Diversity Council is working on that excites you?

I am in awe at the level of commitment from the leaders who serve on the Council. Each has made it his/her personal mission to elevate the awareness of diversity and inclusion, and to pass the concepts to their respective teams. These leaders have given more than just their time. They offer perspectives in a radical candor kind of thinking, which I believe will propel us forward.

Finally, I am thrilled that we are purposeful in recruiting diverse candidates. I am a staunch advocate and alumnus of INROADS, a multi-cultural non-profit whose mission is leadership development, career preparation and creating opportunity for talented, underserved youth and of which UnitedHealth Group is a strategic corporate partner. Partnering with organizations like INROADS gives us an opportunity to broaden our understanding of others to help with decision making. A diverse workforce is necessary to make effective decisions. Our organization has seen success in hiring diverse talent from this program and we would like to expand the recruiting efforts in the near future.

Hear more from Gyasi in part 2 of this series.

Learn more about Diversity and Inclusion at UnitedHealth Group.