In the world of healthcare, women make up the majority of the workforce—yet their presence in executive leadership remains disproportionately low. Across the healthcare staffing industry, only about 30% of CEOs and CFOs among the top 10 largest firms are women. But Medical Solutions is breaking that mold. With a leadership team composed of strong female executives, including its Chief Financial Officer, Denise Dettingmeijer

, the company stands as a testament to the power of representation and inclusion.

Both determination and a relentless pursuit of knowledge have marked Denise’s journey to the top. “I was drawn to finance because I didn’t understand it. I was fascinated by accounting, where debits and credits equal zero, how valuations and EBITDA multiples were determined, and how Wall Street worked,” she explained.

That curiosity led her to earn a master’s degree in finance from the University of Connecticut and, eventually, to serve as CFO of Randstad North America and Global Businesses before joining Medical Solutions in 2023.

Her role as CFO goes beyond financial oversight—she is a strategic driver of growth and an advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB). Through her leadership, Denise is helping to ensure that women, including those from underrepresented backgrounds, have a seat at the table. “I had a choice: ignore it or embrace it. With his support, I chose to embrace it. I came to understand the importance of representation—how vital it is for others to see people who look like them in leadership roles.”

The Power of Representation in Healthcare Leadership

For an industry where women comprise 77% of the workforce, the absence of women in executive leadership can be disheartening. Denise emphasizes the importance of role models: “If you can’t see someone who looks like you in leadership, it’s harder to believe it’s possible for yourself.”

Her perspective is shaped by personal experience. As a woman in finance, she faced challenges that many women in male-dominated fields know well. “Whistles when I wore skirts, hands over mine when I pointed at reports, unwanted shoulder rubs—things that had nothing to do with my work but happened anyway,” she recalls. “My instinct was to shut it down immediately. I stopped wearing skirts, slapped hands away, and made it clear I wasn’t there to be touched or dismissed.”

Her advice? “Don’t sit back and hope your hard work speaks for itself—make sure you’re seen and heard. The reality is, leadership spaces often don’t look like you or reflect your experiences, which makes it even more important to advocate for yourself.”

Nurses as Natural Leaders

Denise’s appreciation for healthcare professionals runs deep—especially for nurses. My mom was a night-shift bedside ER nurse, and to really understand what a nurse goes through, you either have to be one or watch one. I watched.” She believes these same qualities make nurses exceptional leaders in business. “Nurses are natural leaders in patient care, and so many of the qualities that make them exceptional also translate into business leadership.”

“She absolutely loved her job—never wanted to move into leadership, no matter how many times she was asked,” Denise remembers. “She thrived on the unpredictability, the adrenaline, the life-or-death moments. No two nights were ever the same.”

Her leadership philosophy is rooted in trust and empowerment. “The person doing the job knows it best,” she says. “There are occasions where if they don’t know the job, then you didn’t hire the right person, but most often, if they’re in the role, they know it better than anyone else.”

Breaking Down Barriers for Future Leaders

Denise’s commitment to DEIB isn’t about quotas—it’s about ensuring that talented, qualified individuals from all backgrounds get the opportunities they deserve. “DEIB isn’t about giving opportunities to unqualified people—it’s about offering chances to those qualified people who might not normally get them because they don’t fit the typical mold.”

One of the ways she pushes for this change is by requiring diverse candidate slates in hiring decisions. “If you network only with people who look like you, you’ll end up hiring people who look like you,” she explains. “Starting with requiring a diverse slate is a game-changer for companies when it comes to increasing diverse representation.”

As she looks to the future of healthcare leadership, she hopes to see a shift happen sooner rather than later. “Both the workforce and the people receiving care should be able to see leadership that reflects them, and those in leadership positions can connect with their teams and patients.”

Work-Life Integration: A New Era for Healthcare Professionals

Denise recognizes that balancing a demanding career with personal responsibilities can be overwhelming for many women in healthcare. The solution, she believes, lies in flexibility. “Since COVID, there’s been a big shift in how we think about work-life balance. People are realizing that if you need to step out for 20 minutes to pick up a child or take care of something personal, it doesn’t mean the whole day is lost.”

“This isn’t just for women—it applies to everyone. When organizations offer flexibility, employees feel supported, and that makes them more productive and engaged.”

Inspiring the Next Generation of Women in Healthcare

Denise may not have had many formal female mentors in her field, but she has become the leader she once wished to see. “That’s a tough question because I didn’t have many formal female mentors, especially in finance and manufacturing, where women were rare,” she says. “But I’ve been fortunate to have an unlikely ally, along with awesome peers and teammates who’ve guided me, and I consider them all mentors.”

“One quote that really stuck with me was from Eleanor Roosevelt: ‘Nobody can make you feel bad without your permission.’ It was a game-changer for me early in my career.”

As she continues to pave the way for future female leaders, she offers one key piece of advice to nurses and healthcare professionals looking to step into leadership roles: “Take care of yourself the same way you take care of others. We often give great advice to those around us but sometimes forget to follow it ourselves. If you’re working hard to help your patients or teammates succeed, make sure you’re doing the same for yourself.”

This Women’s History Month, Denise Dettingmeijer stands as a powerful example of resilience, leadership, and advocacy for women in healthcare. Through her work, she is shaping a future where leadership reflects the workforce, diverse perspectives are valued, and every woman knows she belongs at the table.

The post Leading with Impact: Denise Dettingmeijer’s Journey to Empowering Women in Healthcare Leadership first appeared on Daily Nurse.