As vice president of Human Resources for Indianapolis Suburbs, Tamarah Brownlee works to help the organization thrive and help team members feel connected and engaged.
Written by Charlotte Stefanski, cstefanski@iuhealth.org, writer for IU Health’s Indianapolis Suburbs
As a mother of four, Tamarah Brownlee always starts with her children—her motivator.
After 23 years leading Human Resources (HR), Brownlee has worked in retail, education, transportation and healthcare. She has learned many lessons about creating a thriving work culture, but as a working mother, she is always thinking about her children.
“They help me think about the future that I am trying to create here for employees,” she explains. “My kids are new to the workforce and remind me of the needs and perspectives that emerge from our most recent generations, both Millennials and Generation Z.”
HR leadership is something Brownlee stumbled upon after receiving her master’s degree in Public Health. For the past six years, she has served as the vice president of Human Resources for the IU Health Indianapolis Suburban Area, which includes IU Health North, Saxony, Tipton and West hospitals.
“I am delighted to have come to IU Health, as it has connected me back to my mission and placed me in the space of making a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve, our patients and our team members,” she said.
In her role, Brownlee not only creates the region’s HR strategy, but also helps lead several types of programs, including recognition of team members, educational opportunities, and interest groups.
She works to help the organization thrive, to help team members give their best, to feel connected and engaged—all while working at their highest expertise. .
“Those are the things that create the experience for our team members,” she said. “That feeling of happiness really affects the patient as well.”
Help team members grow
As a purposeful leader, Brownlee seeks to draw meaning from every experience, whether it’s the work she does, the interactions she has, or the environment she’s in. It must mean something to her.
Since working in healthcare, she knows that many frontline team members feel connected to their purpose. That’s what many feel called to do.
“When you really connect with what you’re doing and you know what your strengths are, you can really be optimized in that area,” she explains.
She also knows that it can be difficult to figure out that purpose or “why.” And over the past few years, team members from every role have been challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic. At times, team members can feel lost and lose sight of the “why”.
The best part of her job is helping people get there.
Instead of waking up and saying, “I have to go to work,” Brownlee wanted to flip the script. She wants her team members to say, “I have to go to work,” with interactive excitement. She wants them to know that they are about to make a positive and potentially life-changing impact.
“You help people make those connections and you help them grow. That’s why I wake up every day to help remove barriers for everyone when it comes to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging,” she said.
“Research tells us that when people have a sense of belonging, they also have a sense of well-being. That has a huge impact on someone’s life.”
But Brownlee hasn’t always been easy. Being both a leader and a student can be tiring, and she’s trying to make time for herself.
This year, Brownlee is focusing on her nutrition and health, making sure she gives her body the energy it needs to do its job. She prays and meditates and she is also trying to do an exercise regimen.
Brownlee also doesn’t mind taking time off work because she knows a balance between work and home life is necessary. And she also encourages all of her leaders and team members.
She added: “As leaders, we have the diligence to be able to do those elements. “If I want to promote wellbeing within IU Health, I have to present those options to myself and my team members.”
Black History Month is an opportunity
For Brownlee, Black History Month is more than just a moment or a day. It is a time for free expression and reflection on the past, present, and future.
She notes that reflection is a form of learning and that when we reminisce about the past—yes, a lot of bad things have happened. But the resilience of Blacks has provided more opportunities for diverse perspectives to be included in today’s narrative and offers hope for future generations.
“For me, Black History Month is the embodiment of what has happened in history, a testimony of where we are today and the journey ahead, while still having opportunity and growth, ” she said.
It also provides an opportunity to ask two questions: What could we do differently? How can we be better?
During this time, Brownlee also likes to think about the pioneers before her, both famous and unknown heroes who paved the way.
For her, one of them was Rosa Parks, who made her mark on the civil rights movement during the Montgomery bus boycott by refusing to give up her seat.
“Despite what she may have faced, she made a decision that created a movement that changed the course of our country and our world,” Brownlee said. “With the simple act of, ‘I will boldly and courageously take this seat.’”
Brownlee aspires to take that humble courage and bring it into the IU Health culture. When opinions differ, she doesn’t want to polarize those around her, but instead creates a pause and offers a new perspective.
agency problem
That representation and diversity of backgrounds, cultures and perspectives matters in healthcare, both for patients and team members.
Connectivity is something we all strive for, and when it’s present in a work culture, barriers can be broken, says Brownlee.
“Many times people have come to me as a leader, as a woman of color, and said that because they saw me in my place, it prompted them to know that,” Brownlee explains. they also have a chance. . “Whatever hurdles I have to overcome, it gives them hope to say, ‘You know, if she gets over those hurdles, I can get over them too. ‘”
The same thing happens when minority patients are cared for by people who look and feel like them.
There have been times when it is possible that a patient has not had that and it is possible that assumptions or biases have been made and that patient must work with their provider to reach a common understanding. .
“In a way, a lot of things are out of control when you have that rep. “Representation can quickly enable that shared purpose, connection, and common sense,” she said. “While outside of that, there are certain barriers that people have to be intentional about and think about how to navigate those barriers to get to that shared connection.”
Seek variety in every situation
For those who see a little of themselves in Brownlee, she encourages young leaders to find diversity in the room.
Whether a team member is working in a clinical setting, in an office, or leading a team, she recommends finding diverse perspectives and harnessing it in a positive way.
“When everyone agrees, find something that will help you think out of the box,” she says. “That will help you see a perspective that you or the people in the room might not have considered.”
That will help leaders grow and see that there are many ways to achieve a particular outcome. Diversity is all around us, but if we don’t look for it, we could miss it, she added.
“Focus on the things that make you uncomfortable and ask questions. Ask as many questions as you can, out of curiosity, love, and compassion,” says Brownlee. “People will be more likely to share their background. Patients will be open about what matters most to them. Be the difference you want to see in the world.”
