Blue Cross Blue Shield

A strong advocate for diversity and inclusion, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan’s continued support of MCWT enables us to impact more women and girls as we work toward our vision to make Michigan the No. 1 state for women in technology. To learn more about the impact BCBSM is making within MCWT, click the button below.

By encouraging their own employees to become MCWT members (80 and counting), sponsoring professional networking and development initiatives, and creating technology badge events for our Girl Scout collaborations, BCBSM is a long-time partner in helping us to expand our reach.

As a Diamond Elite sponsor, BCBSM contributes significantly to MCWT programs. The company has hosted Camp Infinity and Summer Virtual Learning sessions to spark and nurture tech interest for middle and high school girls, and has facilitated the Girls Rock IT program that inspires young girls to receive technology, cybersecurity, or digital awareness badges. Its employees are a key part of our network, with many actively volunteering on our Board, Advisory Board, and other committees that advance our programming and events. MCWT is proud to collaborate with this organization, which demonstrates a deep commitment to Michigan families, invests in the community, and uses technology to drive healthcare innovation.

Here we talk with BCBSM leaders and team members about their company’s commitment to our mission and advancing inclusion and diversity.

Why is inspiring and growing girls and women in technology important to BCBSM?

With the healthcare model dramatically changing and given BCBSM’s social mission to ensure Michigan citizens have access to quality and affordable healthcare, virtually every aspect of how we operate, develop, deploy, and enable healthcare is being transformed. Foundational to all this change is technology. With this high demand for innovation, we need the brilliant young minds of the next generation to help build the healthcare ecosystem of the future.

“The unfortunate reality is that young women simply lose interest in technology after a certain age, and we want to change that. When women have access to education, mentorships, scholarships, and communities it makes a substantial difference throughout their academic and professional careers.” We strongly feel our partnership with MCWT is a key enabler to growing our talent and inspiring girls and women to a career in technology.” – Kathryn Ramsay, BCBSM IT Systems Analyst & MCWT Advisory Board member

What are some of the steps your company is taking to advance inclusion and diversity?

Blue Cross is committed to ensuring a workplace as diverse as the communities we serve, an environment that is inclusive and provides an opportunity for everyone to be their very best and share their talents and skill. “From our highest level of leadership to the individual contributor, our company has made a commitment to inclusion and diversity. Our actions apply this commitment across the enterprise from addressing health disparities in maternal health to creating divisional diversity councils and employee resource networks which support diverse team members and educate allies.” BCBSM’s Women in STEM event, often supported by MCWT, highlights the contribution of women and provides the chance for newly inspired women to learn technology and other STEM fields. We have also built external partnerships that expand professional development opportunities for women across Southeast Michigan and nationally. – Vaneitta Goines, BCBSM IT Systems Analyst and Diversity Employee Committee Co-Champion

What is your advice to other companies seeking to attract, advance and retain women in technology roles?

Blue Cross has used our partnership with MCWT to provide volunteer opportunities for our women team members to both grow and give back. We have also taken advantage of the many career and leadership initiatives offered by MCWT like the Leadership Clinic where our CIO was an executive coach sharing insights with female leaders on a path to executive management. – Laura Marble, BCBSM Vice President and MCWT Board member Other advice, includes partnering with local universities and participating in college competitions to meet the brightest young women in technology. Each year, BCBSM participates in Central Michigan University’s ERPSim competition, where we have the opportunity to see talented students, including young women, solving complex business cases in person. Within BCBSM, we offer “IT Boot Camp” for many of our “first job” new hires. This program introduces our new resources to business operations and what to expect in a career in technology at BCBSM IT. We’ve found that many young, women graduates from the program have remained active to guide new entering classes, become mentors, and contribute/participate in many MCWT events. – Amy Krause, BCBSM Director, and MCWT Advisory Board member