The finalists for WashingtonExec’s 2023 Pinnacle Awards were announced Sept. 25, and we’ll be highlighting some of them until the event takes place live, in-person Nov. 16.
Next is Winter Washington, head of DE&I at Gainwell Technologies and a finalist in the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Executive of the Year in the Private & Public Companies category. Here, she shares focus areas, biggest professional risk she has taken,
What are your primary focus areas going forward, and why are those so important to the future of the nation?
Gainwell Technologies is the leading provider of technology solutions for state and federal health and human services programs. It is fulfilling to know that the company I work for is making lives better for so many people across the nation.
As Head of DEI, I want to support Gainwell in this vital work by continuing to be authentically available to my colleagues and external partners. Too often, I’ve seen the DEI function in organizations not utilized to its full potential, thereby missing opportunities to equip leadership with powerful new tools and perspectives. By being a supporter, guide and credible partner, I hope to be an asset and trusted resource to the next generation of government and industry leaders.
Furthermore, it’s becoming increasingly important to me to intentionally weave DEI and overall wellbeing into all aspects of our work. Helping to expand awareness and improve allyship has the potential to make a profound impact in both professional and personal settings. The result will hopefully be a new sense of “normal” that is naturally more inclusive.
Anything I can do to make inclusivity part of the national discourse is where I want to focus my efforts.
What’s the biggest professional risk you’ve ever taken?
The biggest professional risk I’ve taken was to leave a position where I was flourishing for a newly created, more junior role in a different department. Many advised me against making this move, but I felt confident it was an opportunity to climb a different ladder, even if that meant starting at the bottom again. Thank goodness I trusted my instinct and began a career in HR.
At that time, discussing diversity topics in the workplace was new. As we began to push the boundaries of how we think about diversity, I saw firsthand the impact it had on employees and organizations. Creating and delivering DEI-related content exposed employees to new perspectives, and I soon recognized the necessity of this work.
Making the switch to HR has been endlessly rewarding. I am an advocate on some days and an educator on others. I’m able to be an ear to someone who wants to be heard, the eyes to someone who wants to be seen and affirmed, a shoulder for someone who feels defeated, and a boost to those who need the courage to continue this meaningful but challenging work.