Very few topics impact both our personal and professional lives. Healthcare is one of the few. Yet, for so many, it feels like a burden rather than a benefit.

In this episode, host Chris Fredericks is joined by Emily Bopp, Chief of Staff at EV, and Kim Dinwiddie, VP of Human Resources at EV, to unpack the realities of healthcare today and how Empowered Ventures is tackling these challenges head-on. Chris, Emily, and Kim discuss the launch of “Healthcare for Us,” a collaborative initiative to transform how we approach healthcare benefits. They share how they navigate confusing insurance terms and created Healthcare Avatars that reflect their team's diverse needs. Emily and Kim also shared how listening to employees and fostering open conversations drive meaningful change.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. Reframing Healthcare Benefits as a Partnership: Emily and Kim share how Empowered Ventures redefines healthcare benefits through collaboration, making it a shared responsibility rather than an isolated decision.
2. Understanding the Evolving Landscape of Insurance: Kim explains the shift from employer-covered benefits to employee-driven choices and how this impacts how people engage with healthcare.
3. Simplifying the Complex World of Healthcare: Emily introduces “Healthcare for Us,” an initiative that demystifies insurance terms and creates tailored profiles to meet the diverse needs of employees.
4. The Role of Employee Ownership in Shaping Culture: Emily and Kim highlight how the employee ownership model fosters open communication and empowers employees to take an active role in healthcare decisions.
5. Building a Collaborative Future for Healthcare: The team discusses how leaning into healthcare challenges together can spark innovation, drive solutions, and create a culture of trust and support.

Jump into the conversation:
(00:00) Introduction to Emily Bopp and Kim Dinwiddie
(02:20) Emily and Kim’s one-word reactions to health insurance
(03:27) Kim’s reflection on the evolution of healthcare benefits and employee perceptions
(06:33) Emily discusses the shift from healthcare as a benefit to a necessary challenge
(09:32) The Healthcare for Us initiative: creating personas to meet diverse employee needs
(12:21) How Empowered Ventures listens to employees to guide healthcare changes
(17:21) The cultural shift: building a collective mindset to "lean into healthcare together"
(18:53) Advice from Emily and Kim on transforming challenges into opportunities through collaboration