A special advertising section championing our local women in business. In partnership with Cox Communications. Photo by Jessica Whitley.

Navicent Health Foundation, Inc.

President/CEO

3330 Northside Drive, Suite 100, Macon, GA  31210 

478-633-GIVE 

terrell.ellen@navicenthealth.org 

navicenthealth.org/foundation 

What is the mission of your business?

The Navicent Health Foundation encourages generosity to transform visions into reality. 

Your advice for women wanting to start their own business in Macon?

Go for it and surround yourself with people who have the experience you are seeking. Last year, the Navicent Health Foundation transitioned to an independent corporation and each time I had a question or a decision I wasn’t sure about, I would reach out to my peers and seek their advice and input. 

How do you define success?

Success for me is being able to look back and know that my work is making this community and our world a little better for others. 

What are you most excited about right now in our community?

I grew up in Macon and as a child can remember Momma dressing my siblings and me up before going downtown to shop. It was a pretty big deal and so much fun, so to see the revitalization of downtown is very exciting.   

You might be surprised to know:

I began my career at Navicent Health 38 years ago as the secretary of the Foundation and worked my way up to being named the CEO five years ago. With my team of five women (and one man) we have a combined 130 years of service, so the Foundation is anchored in Macon and continues to fundraise and award grants to improve the healthcare of our Central Georgia communities. 

What is the most gratifying part of your job?

Seeing first-hand the difference philanthropy makes. Lives are touched and literally changed by the work we do. 

What has been the most challenging part of being a woman in business?

While 80 percent of people in the fundraising field are women, there is still a gender pay gap with women making 10 percent less than their male counterparts. The gap is smaller than it has been, but we still have work to do. 

I admire women who:

Step out of their comfort zone, dream big and work hard to fulfill those dreams. 

What was the best business advice you ever received?

The importance of empathy as a leader. Many times, you hear of empathy as a soft skill, but I think it’s critically important in building a team and just as important when working with donors. I truly want to understand their perspective and what’s important to them. 

I hope more women will:

Find a network of women to share life with. I’m part of a book club that started six years ago. While I love my husband and family, I also love and need that night each month that I can laugh, cry and share anything and everything with those ladies. 

How could women better support each other?

Look for opportunities to network both professionally and personally. The Women in Business work days is a perfect example of this. If you can’t find that networking opportunity, make one yourself.   

I wish I had known:

Sometimes we’re tested not to show our weaknesses, but to discover our strengths.