Hartford Business Journal

8 Hartford Business Journal | March 22, 2021 | Women In Business A s provost of Post University, Elizabeth Johnson leads the academic affairs initiatives and strategy focused on ensuring the quality and effectiveness of the teaching and learning offered to 1,000 main campus students and 14,000 online students. In the past five years, she has overseen the implementation of 10 new academic programs, earned two new programmatic accreditations (NAEYC and CCNE), deployed a quality-assurance process for the university's online course design and instruction and greatly increased cross- departmental collaboration to build out a meaningful and personal student experience from enrollment to graduation. What's been your biggest professional accomplishment so far? In the past five years, Post has increased enrollments from 6,000 to 15,000 students. This means we are providing 15,000 students - most of whom are adults with competing priorities - with the opportunity to learn, grow and change their lives through education. Leading the academic initiatives that supported that growth is one of my greatest points of pride. What's the next big goal you want to accomplish professionally? I am in the process of collaboratively designing a new School of Continuing Education. This school will offer non- credit courses and certificates that reflect community needs and industry trends in professional upskilling. My next big goal is designing this school to support yet another student population - those looking to prepare themselves for the next opportunity in all levels of the workforce. What's one of the biggest professional challenges you've overcome? Work. Life. Balance. I have never encountered a challenge so difficult. I would not say I have overcome it, but I have found a routine that ensures both my work and home life have my undivided attention during certain times of the day. And most importantly, that my family knows that they will always come first. How has the COVID-19 pandemic forced you to adapt as a leader? Since working remotely precludes water- cooler conversations, the pandemic has forced me to become a better communicator. I check in more frequently with my team, and those check-ins often extend beyond work topics and into personal concerns. Even though we do not see each other, I am as close as ever with my team. What do you like to do outside of work? My happy place is 60 feet deep in the tropical waters of the Caribbean! The only sound is my breathing and diverse, playful schools of fish replenish my senses. It is where I find peace and tranquility in my crazy life. Of course, it doesn't hurt that it is the one place where my phone doesn't ring! A s chief financial officer and treasurer at Middlesex Health, Martin is responsible for the organization's financial functions, including accounting, audits, treasury, revenue cycle, procurement and financial reporting. A certified public accountant, she earned her MBA from the University of Hartford. She serves on the board of directors of the Community Foundation of Middlesex County; Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority; and CHART Risk Retention Group and is also a corporator of Liberty Bank. Martin serves on committees at Connecticut Hospital Association and is a member of the Governor's Certificate of Need Task Force. What's been your biggest professional accomplishment so far? I'm very proud that I hold an executive- level position at my community hospital. Having worked my way up through our organization, and now being responsible for all its financial aspects, I feel tremendous pride and responsibility to ensure that Middlesex County will continue to have a high-quality, safe and fiscally sound hospital. What's the next big goal you want to accomplish professionally? It's important to me that I continue to ensure continued high-quality, safe care in Middlesex County. As I advance into the later phases of my career, it is also important that I serve as a role model to younger women. I want them to have courage and confidence to step outside their comfort zones, with a desire to continuously learn, so that they too, can achieve their goals and make a difference in their chosen field. What's one of the biggest professional challenges you've overcome? Often faced with being the only woman at the conference-room table, I felt enormous pressure to always have detailed knowledge and complete answers on all issues. Whatever I said or did would be remembered long after the meeting ended. I had to develop the confidence in myself and in my skill set to stay true to myself and be heard. How has the COVID-19 pandemic forced you to adapt as a leader? C-Suite-level leadership requires the ability to influence others to achieve change. The pandemic has made this skill even more important. Despite the uncertainty, many timely decisions have had to be made in very short time frames, making the ability to generate buy-in even more critical. What are your keys to maintaining business success? The key to maintaining business success is to love what you do. Make a plan, but be flexible. Learn from others and your own past experiences. Always strive for more. Don't be afraid to ask questions or share a different perspective. Figure out a work- life balance that allows you to be fulfilled in all aspects of your life. Women In Business Awards 2021 Elizabeth Johnson Employer: Post University Title: Provost & Chief Academic Officer Susan Martin Employer: Middlesex Health Title: Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer

• Cover