Author: Kari Knight Stevens, SVP, Chief Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Cigna

What excited you about participating in Power’s Career Conversation and what’s the most useful piece of career advice you’ve ever received?

I’m inspired by POWER’s mission and this community of current and future female leaders. It’s important for us all to remember we are not alone and POWER provides a great space for us to learn, connect and support each other as we navigate our personal and professional lives.

I’m really looking forward to sharing my story and hopefully inspiring the next generation of leaders to fulfill their potential and make a difference – whatever that means to them.

A mentor of mine once told me, “If you want to succeed, you can’t be shy about asking for help.” It’s such simple advice, but it has carried me through some big challenges over the years. Even recently, as my role changed and my responsibilities expanded significantly, I reminded myself that I can, and should, ask for help and lean on my colleagues, family and community for support.

What advice do you have for the next generation of female leaders?

First, take advantage of the doors that have been opened by prior generations of female leaders. These doors will reveal themselves in different ways and at different times throughout your career – you’ll know them when you see them, so keep an eye out and be prepared to step in and explore what’s inside.

Second, remember it is okay, even encouraged, to be vulnerable and ask for help along the way. We could all benefit from more honest and transparent dialogue about what it really means to be a female leader – the challenges and sacrifices, the juggling of work and life, and debunking the myth that we can do it all.  

Third, and perhaps my most important piece of advice, is to stay resilient! Being a leader is tough – no matter the gender. Being able to stay resilient and weather challenges is the key to ensuring future success for yourself and for those you lead.

As a leader, how do you stay mindful of who’s at the table and who’s missing? And how do you work to correct gaps in representation?

Early in my career, it was not uncommon for me to be the only woman at the table. Thankfully, times have changed. The shift in representation is refreshing, but there is still work to do.

Now, I use my position to ensure we have diverse representation at the table – I’m deliberate and intentional when making hiring decisions, staffing projects, and deciding how to work with external partners. These things matter. Holding ourselves accountable when it comes to representation is the only way to drive change.

Why did you make the career choice you did? Why this industry? Why this role?

From a young age, I knew I wanted to practice law – although, I certainly never anticipated the path my career would take, or that I would ultimately end up in my current role.

I loved learning about history. Many of my role models had law degrees and used them to change the course of history. As it happens, my law degree is what led me to Cigna and my passion of working to improve the healthcare system. It has been tremendously rewarding. 

I recently assumed responsibility for Cigna’s Environmental, Social and Governance program, where we work to expand the reach of our mission and support better health for all. This role is personal to me, having witnessed members of my own family struggle with their health and try to navigate a complex system. I have found renewed meaning and purpose in my work and I’m honored that I can use my role and my platform to help those who need it most.

What gets you up in the morning?

In the spirit of transparency, most days I’m woken up by my three-year-old daughter, my five-year-old son, or one of my two dogs – and usually early than I would like. We have a busy and lively household, but I would not have at any other way.

Figuratively, I draw a lot of my energy and motivation by simply wondering what I might learn from the day – from my kids, from new challenges at work, or just random things that may eventually help me in one of the various facets of my life. Staying curious and adapting a growth mindset drives the way I approach my day-to-day and has helped me continue to evolve personally and professionally.