AWS Breaking the Glass Ceiling Program 2025
Denise Lo, MD
In June 2025, I attended the Emerging Women Executives in Health Care course at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston. This 4-day program was attended by women of diverse professional and personal backgrounds united by a common goal to develop as leaders within their respective fields in health care. The course was divided into 3 themes over 4 days: Looking Inward, Leadership Deployed, and Leadership Expanded.
On the first day, we introduced ourselves to the group by describing our leadership reputation. We were inspired by the collection of words and descriptors the group had amassed by the end of our introductions. It was clear that leadership could assume many different forms. We used the Clifton Strengths Finder to help us identify our strongest characteristics as leaders. Understanding how we show up as leaders was critical to understanding how we can lead our respective teams.
In Leadership Deployed, we learned more about building networks and leading teams. Each of us mapped out our professional networks, and we discussed how to better leverage networks and fill in gaps as needed. We spent a significant amount of time talking about how healthy teams build trust, work through conflict, develop commitment, and create accountability.
Leadership Expanded focused on developing skills like change management, conflict and negotiation, and strategic planning. We paired up to do a fun negotiation exercise. The group was inspired by speakers and a discussion on equity. At the end of the 4 days, each of us left Boston refreshed and armed with a personal leadership development plan that we had drafted based on what we learned throughout the course.
My attendance at the Emerging Women Executives in Health Care course was sponsored by the Association of Women Surgeons’ Breaking the Glass Ceiling program. As the new Associate Chief Medical Officer at my hospital, I was eager to gain leadership insights that might equip me in my new leadership role. This was an invaluable opportunity to take time away from my busy life to focus on myself and growing as a leader. The program was thoughtfully crafted with engaging speakers, challenging topics, and a group of highly motivated and enthusiastic attendees. Thank you to AWS for your sponsorship and your tireless efforts to support women surgeons in their career development!
