What do men know about menopause?
That’s what Elif Eracar thought to herself as she listened to her peers, mostly men, share their opinions about a new virtual care solution that offered menopause support for women over 50. She worked at a previous employer, and the year was 2019 — but in her mind, it felt more like 1994.
While Eracar admits that she has seen the workplace improve significantly since beginning her tech career in the 1990s, she recognizes there’s still more to be done to empower professional women. That’s why she strives to work for employers that prioritize women’s growth and access to leadership roles.
Three months ago, Eracar joined Cohere Health — an organization that has women in more than 50 percent of executive roles — as its chief client experience officer. Throughout the past few weeks, she shared, she has broadened her understanding of the clinical intelligence space while settling into a community that encourages women to thrive in every sense.
This focus on advancement inspires many women at the company, including SVP of People Lindsay Simpson. Drawn toward “strong missions, market opportunities and fantastic people,” she saw the company as a purveyor of her professional dreams when she joined a year and a half ago.
“For nearly nine years, I’ve been a part of mission-driven, growth-stage organizations seeking to disrupt the market with tech, and I’m still hooked,” Simpson said.
While Simpson has found space to grow in the HR field, Engineering Manager Kriti Gautam has been able to evolve her acumen. Gautam said the company has granted her the opportunity to lead a team in designing, deploying and maintaining scalable systems, enabling her to strengthen both her technical and leadership skills.
At Cohere Health, Gautam has witnessed the power of women supporting each other. As she continues to grow as a leader, she aims to bring this same level of empowerment to those on her team.
“I’m committed to creating an environment where everyone feels valued and has the opportunity to succeed,” Gautam said.
Cohere Health has enabled Eracar, Simpson and Gautam to evolve in a tight-knit community that empowers women to harness their talents, forge powerful connections — and make an impact.
ABOUT COHERE HEALTH
Founded in 2019, Cohere Health offers intelligent prior authorization in an effort to align patients, healthcare providers and health plans on an optimal care path that drives the best possible outcomes without high costs and burdensome administrative tasks. The company’s platform can be leveraged to improve utilization management performance, adjudicate complex requests and more.
‘Breaking Barriers and Old Norms’
There are some moments that seem to define one’s career. For Eracar, this moment arose when a startup CEO professed that Eracar had changed the CEO’s life.
“She shared, ‘Seeing how you managed your high-pressure job and your family gave me and my co-founder the courage to start our business, knowing it’s possible,’” she recalled.
This experience was groundbreaking for Eracar, demonstrating just how important it is for women to lead by example.
“How you carry yourself and behave as a leader, especially as a woman leader, is crucial,” she said. “You’re breaking barriers and old norms without even realizing it.”
“How you carry yourself and behave as a leader, especially as a woman leader, is crucial. You’re breaking barriers and old norms without even realizing it.”
Eracar added that she has joined various communities, such as the women leadership network Chief, and consulted with executive coaches in the past to continuously build a supportive community of women around her. Buoyed by the encouragement she has received over the years, she also strives to pay it forward by helping women transition into executive roles.
In Eracar’s mind, empowering women in the workplace is largely about helping them break through the barrier of imposter syndrome while giving them the tools they need to succeed; just as a strong woman mentor once did for her.
“When I joined her staff, she told me, ‘Elif, you are good with me, now go out there and be confident that you got this,’” she recalled. “Her vote of confidence and support meant a lot. I never looked back after that.”
This forward-facing mindset inspires Eracar to pursue her work with vigor. As she dives further into the nuances of prior authorization and its impact on patient care, she shared, she’s eager to see the company push the boundaries in order to stretch its influence.
“I believe we need to always challenge ourselves, keep learning and never be afraid to make mistakes,” Eracar said.
Committed to Encouragement
“There’s nothing better than when others recognize in themselves what you already see in them,” Simpson said. “I’m committed to encouraging and advocating for future leaders, helping them recognize their achievements and potential.”
“I’m committed to encouraging and advocating for future leaders, helping them recognize their achievements and potential.”
Throughout the different roles she has held at other organizations, Simpson has found many opportunities to evolve. And while Cohere Health is no different in this respect, she shared, there’s one key differentiator that sets the company apart: a focus on transparency.
She explained that, by amplifying the opportunities women have to flourish professionally, the company is embracing its commitment to positively impacting others’ lives, regardless of their backgrounds.
“If we’re going to deliver on our promise to patients and physicians, our organization must reflect the diversity of the patient populations we serve,” Simpson said. “We’re committed to understanding and respecting the uniqueness of every patient journey and, more broadly, every human journey.”
Inspired by this sense of honesty, she aims to have candid conversations with other women in which they can help one another navigate challenges.
“Whether it’s community internally or externally, honest conversations are at the core,“ Simpson said. “Having a network of people I look up to is something I’m forever grateful for.”
For Simpson, building connections with other women is tantamount to career success. That’s why she encourages women to prioritize the bonds they build together, just as they would any other aspect of their careers.
“These relationships can help you to avoid some mistakes, overcome obstacles and inspire you as you write your own story.” Simpson said.
The Greatest Source of Motivation
To thrive in her role as an engineering leader, Gautam draws inspiration from real life.
In other words, she finds other people to be her greatest source of motivation.
“Leaders and peers have played a significant role in my career development by providing mentorship, guidance and opportunities for growth,” Gautam said.
Early on in her career, she encountered a woman leader who didn’t simply show her the way, but gave her the tools to leave her own mark.
“She inculcated the spirit of experimentation, failing fast and learning quickly,” Gautam said.
While she has encountered her fair share of challenges over the years, she has had powerful women to lean on. And with this, Gautam shared, she has also discovered a passion for driving diversity and inclusion in tech.
“I believe that diverse perspectives drive innovation and lead to better outcomes,” she said.
“I believe that diverse perspectives drive innovation and lead to better outcomes.”
At Cohere Health, Gautam has been able to pursue her professional goals — and more. She shared that, after becoming a mother, the company ensured she had the resources and support she needed to maintain a healthy work-life balance, such as flexible working hours and a comprehensive healthcare plan.
Gautam believes that this holistic approach to empowering women, coupled with opportunities to grow, has made the company a true milestone in her own career journey.
“Compared to other organizations where I’ve worked, Cohere Health stands out for its commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive work environment,” she said.
