Women’s History Month Alumni Spotlight: Meet Lori Herndon, MBA ’94

In honor of Women's History Month, SJU News is talking to students and alumni of Saint Joseph's University to learn more about their leadership journeys and why female voices matter. This week, we're talking to Lori Herndon, MBA ’94, about her role as an organization leader and what Women’s History Month means to her. 

What company do you hold a leadership position for? Can you explain your role and responsibilities? 

I am currently the founder of Herndon Bayside Health where I provide consulting services in the healthcare industry in areas such as system clinical integration, physician-provider relationships, leadership mentoring and development, and more. I recently retired from AtlantiCare Health System after 40 years, starting as a registered nurse to becoming a CEO. Aside from my current business, I continue to participate in a variety of non-for-profit volunteer work. 

Why is it important to see women in leadership? 

I believe that women bring a unique perspective to the leadership table and it's important that there's a great representation of that perspective. Eighty percent of the workforce in healthcare is female, so it's important for women to be in those leadership roles, since they hold the majority of the field. 

Who is a woman Saint Joseph’s who has inspired your leadership journey, and why?

I was in the early MBA programs at Saint Joseph’s so I was among just three other women in a class of 15 students. I was inspired by the other women in my class because all of us were going to school in a very male-dominated field. It took a lot for all of us to master our challenges and fight our concern of “what are we doing here? Are we supposed to be here? Is this the right place to be?” Ultimately, it was really helpful in my career to obtain my master’s degree and gain significant leadership roles. I am proud to be a Hawk and watch the development and workforce of the future.

What challenges have you faced in your career and how have you overcome them? 

There are always going to be challenges, and in healthcare, you don’t have a lot of time or choices, you just have to figure it out. So, it’s finding the best people to work beside you. Understanding what really matters, being very open to finding the solutions and listening to other people's perspectives is what makes the team work. 

What skills or qualities do you possess as a leader? 

My optimism and belief that we can figure this out and focus on believing that there always is a better way. In healthcare, we are friends and family taking care of friends and family. It was my secret sauce to always staying centered and focused on the task, and the responsibility at hand.

What advice would you give to other women looking to become leaders? 

My advice would be to have the willingness to raise your hand, ask questions and be confident in yourself. It is important to have the “why not me?” mentality. Never think you are not fit for a role or position, you just have to take the risk and put in the work for the difficult tasks to achieve what is important to you.

Can you provide one example of a project or initiative you are proud of? 

We built clinical programs local to the South Jersey community that allow patients and families to stay close to home and receive the care they need whether it be cardiac, orthopedic or maternity care. We enhance clinical programs for the underserved and uninsured patients of Atlantic County.