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CVS Health CEO Discusses Authenticity at Work, Intentional Communication, & Mentorship

CEO Karen Lynch shares her experience of learning to take up space in the male-dominated healthcare field.

April 17, 2023

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DEI Leadership Day Karen Lynch 

Anu Aiyenger:

So when you were a little girl growing up in Cape Cod, did you say, “I’m gonna grow up and be the CEO of CVS Health”?

Karen Lynch:

I got here through the help of many people throughout my entire life. What it taught me was that every sort of move you’re making, people are watching, and that’s really important as a leader to recognize that your words matter, your actions matter, and sort of thinking about that as you’re making those decisions that I talked about is critically important.

Anu Aiyenger:

You shared a story with me. You were up for a big job, and you were given some not-so-nice feedback?

Karen Lynch:

Yeah. Very early in my career, when I walked into a room and it was, I was the only woman walking into the room, one of the gentleman said to me, I said, “Where should I sit?” and he said, “Oh, you should sit over in the corner because women take up space in the board room.” So, when I was named CEO, I walked out and my husband looked at me and goes, “You’re wearing a T-shirt for your first day?” And I said, “Yes” because my T-shirt said, “Taking up space.”

[Anu laughs, audience applauds]

But the lesson that I learned from that is to be authentically you. And if you can’t be authentically you in the organization or the place you’re at, then there is a place where you can be authentically you and go find that place.

END

 

Leading with intention and authenticity can be a challenge, even for seasoned leaders like Karen Lynch, CEO of CVS Health.

Recalling a time earlier in her career at this year’s JPMorgan Chase’s Leadership Day, Lynch recounts a time when the office elevator was out of service, so she walked up the seven flights of stairs as opposed to waiting for it to be fixed. This small action that seemed fairly meaningless to Lynch turned into the talk of the office amongst employees. “What it taught me was that people are watching. It’s really important as a leader to recognize that your words matter, your actions matter. Thinking about that as you're making decisions is critically important,” says Lynch.

As Lynch moved up the ranks, eventually landing her current role at CVS Health, she learned another key lesson: no one gets anywhere alone. “That’s an important passion of mine: making sure that I'm giving back, that I'm sponsoring and I'm mentoring. I'm a firm believer that women need to help women. People need to help people in their careers, and none of us can do it by ourselves,” says Lynch.

“There is a place where you can be authentically you. And go find that place.”

JPMorgan Chase shares this value in mentorship, offering internal mentorship programs to employees that give senior team members the chance to advise those earlier on in their careers, includingWomen on the Move in Technology theOffice of LGBT+ Affairs  Navigator Circles,

Interested in the diversity, equity, and inclusion work being done at JPMorgan Chase? Learn more about our DEI initiatives here and check out our career opportunities here.

 

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The views and opinions expressed are those of the speaker and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of (or endorsement by) JPMorgan & Chase. JPMorgan Chase and its affiliates assume no responsibility or liability for the content, or any errors or omissions. The information shared by the speaker is provided on an "as is" basis with no guarantees of completeness, accuracy, usefulness or timeliness.  

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