Emily Shields dropped her kids off at school this morning—an eighth grader, a fifth grader, and a toddler—before stepping into her role as Chief Strategy Officer at OSF HealthCare. It's a balance she's perfected through years of strategic career moves and honest self-assessment about what matters most each week.

Starting as a physician recruiter at OSF, Emily built relationships across the entire health system that would prove invaluable. "I worked with leadership, hospital presidents, regional leadership in all of those markets. It uniquely positioned me to build trust and confidence across the system," she reflects.

The pivotal moment came when an executive sent her a simple note: "This person is retiring. You should think about this." That nudge toward the Vice President of Business Development role changed everything. "It was like something exploded in my office," Emily recalls. She seized the opportunity, moving from recruitment into mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures—territory she'd never navigated before.

"I'm definitely not afraid to say when I don't know something and to pull in a team to surround me to help," Emily shares. Under the mentorship of Michelle Conger (OSF's incoming CEO), she learned to distinguish between skills that can be taught and the innate hunger to learn that makes leaders successful.

In this candid episode of Inspiring Women with Laurie McGraw, Emily also reveals:

• Why "mission and culture always win"—even when walking away from lucrative deals


• How OSF's innovation committee fast-tracks partnerships and pilots


• The power of being "at the right place at the right time" AND seizing the opportunity


• Why asking for help isn't weakness—it's strategic leadership


• How to think in "week chunks" when balancing career and family


• The critical importance of always signaling you're ready for more

"You have to demonstrate you can do more than what you're currently doing. That does mean taking on projects outside your official job duties—that's how other people know you're capable," Emily advises.

Now overseeing marketing, planning, and business development as Chief Strategy Officer, Emily is bringing previously siloed functions together to drive strategic outcomes. Her latest achievement? A 100-bed behavioral health joint venture opening next spring, addressing a critical gap where 2,000 patients were leaving the service area for psychiatric care.

For women navigating their own career trajectories while raising families, Emily's message is clear: "Give yourself grace. Work hard and seize those opportunities when they're in front of you. Recognize that the path you set out for yourself in your head is not the one you're gonna take."

From recruiter to C-suite in one organization, while raising three children and driving multi-million dollar deals—Emily Shields proves that with the right support, strategic thinking, and self-compassion, you can build an exceptional career without trying to be perfect at everything, every week.

"There are weeks where work wins, and there are weeks where being a mom wins. And that's okay."

Chapters

03:23 - Asking for Help as a Strength

05:26 - From Physician Recruiter to System Leader

07:39 - Always Signal You're Ready for More

09:33 - The Power of Right Place, Right Time

12:38 - Building Strategic Partnerships in Behavioral Health

16:37 - When Mission and Culture Trump Growth

18:55 - Breaking Down Silos Through Collaboration

20:58 - Give Yourself Grace and Seize Opportunities

Guest & Host Links

• Connect with Laurie McGraw on LinkedIn
  

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