Susan Illman

Experience

• 

  New York State Health Foundation

  Feb 2013 - Sept 2014

  Executive Assistant to Founding President and CEO

  Served as the executive office gatekeeper, fostering essential communications and coordination between the CEO, the Board of Directors, and senior staff, while also managing special projects.• Ensured smooth operations and communication within the leadership team, enhancing organizational efficiency and effectiveness.• Organized and prepared materials for board meetings, ensuring meticulous execution and effective follow-up on critical action items.• Supported the CEO’s public communications, assisting in editing high-profile publications like Huffington Post blogs and healthcare textbooks, thus broadening the Foundation’s educational impact. Show less

• 

  Columbia University Department of Psychiatry and New York State Psychiatric Institute

  Sept 2014 - Jul 2016

  Executive Administrator to Division Chief

  Managed the bustling day-to-day operations of a division that included 185 faculty and staff, leading multiple projects to maintain operational efficiency in a fast-paced setting.• Acted as the primary liaison between the Division Chief and top executive leadership, enhancing partnerships with prestigious institutions like NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and Columbia University Medical Center.• Directed the division’s external communications, elevating the division's public profile through strategic correspondence and presentations.• Contributed to strategic planning and executive committees, playing a key role in high-level decision-making and maintaining strict confidentiality.• Secured over $1M annually in funding through diligent grant proposal development and effective management of NIH child psychiatry research training grants.• Managed the Chief’s private practice, coordinating comprehensive care for families which significantly improved patient satisfaction and continuity of care. Show less

• 

  International WELL Building Institute (IWBI)

  Aug 2017 - now

  Reporting directly to the CEO, plan and execute strategic initiatives to support health, equity and well-being of global teams, and enhance organizational culture. Develop multi-year plans to evolve employee well-being and DEI&B, design learning and professional development curricula, source expert speakers, facilitate staff panel discussions on sensitive topics and work with executive leadership and senior management to develop employee resource groups. Craft both internal and external communications to nurture unified work environment.● Engaged 100% of employees in health, well-being and DEI&B programming '21-'23, and over 50% of employees in more than six programs in '23.● Enhanced management sensitivities to diverse employee groups by introducing a management skills training series, Mental Health First Aid, and neurodiversity skills-building programs.● Co-led the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Committee, achieving the WELL Equity Rating and elevating health and well-being across IWBI.● Planned and implemented celebrations of diverse culture and heritage year-round, featuring employee experiences of commemorative days, arranged anti-racist peer education, storytelling and facilitated staff panels on neurodiversity and other sensitive subjects.● Facilitated strategic communication for WELL customers, crafting toolkits that improved recruitment and retention by clearly communicating the benefits of the WELL Building Certification.● Achieved certification for headquarters in the WELL Building Standard, Health-Safety Rating, and Performance Rating, maximizing building health and employee well-being.● Inspired global staff through written communications, presentations, and facilitating cross-team collaborations, and, with HR, develop policies and services responsive to staff needs (e.g. better health insurance coverage for chronic medical needs.)● Analyzed staff data to proactively address workforce challenges and maintain stellar working conditions Show less In my earlier role at IWBI, I executed strategic initiatives in alignment with overarching organizational goals while providing extensive administrative support to the CEO. This role was pivotal in managing and synchronizing activities across four Product Development teams, enhancing communication with customers and external stakeholders.• Streamlined the CEO’s schedule and priorities, managing intricate calendars and travel arrangements which bolstered precise project execution and strategic decision-making.• Boosted accountability within teams, significantly enhancing the timeliness and quality of deliverables.• Onboarded new employees, familiarizing them with product team functions and boosting overall team performance. Show less

  • Director, Workplace Well-being & Culture

    Oct 2019 - now

  • Executive Assistant to President

    Aug 2017 - Sept 2019