50 Leading Women: Wendy Hanna

In honor and celebration of our Women’s Division‘s 50th Anniversary, we will be spotlighting 50 Leading Women making an impact, raising their voice, and leading the next generation of women in the workforce and Plano community.

Introducing, Wendy Hanna, Executive Director of The Turning Point Rape Crisis Center of Collin County. The Turning Point’s mission is to provide counseling, education, and advocacy for those impacted by sexual violence. For the last eight years, Wendy has served as the Executive Director as she leads a team of volunteers and advocates to work with victims and survivors of sexual violence. Through Wendy’s leadership, The Turning Point has added a satellite location in South Dallas serving survivors at Methodist Dallas Hospital, advocacy and forensic nursing services at Children’s Medical Centers in Dallas, Plano and the University of Texas at Dallas, a law enforcement training program, and implemented a state recognized Primary Prevention Education program. Additionally, North Texas’ FIRST community clinic for survivors of sexual violence, Courtney’s SAFE Place, found it’s home at The Turning Point. Courtney’s SAFE Place is a free clinic that provides forensic exams, evidence collection, and advocacy for people who have experienced sexual assault within the last 120 hours. Last year alone, The Turning Point received 1,693 calls to their crisis hotline, provided 3,899 counseling sessions, accompanied 402 medical appointments, and performed 472 forensic exams.

Prior to her current role, Wendy spent two  plus decades working in the healthcare industry. Most recently she spent 12 years at Children’s Medical Center of Plano serving in various roles such as the Director of Anesthesiologist for Children’s and Director of Ambulatory Services. She grew up in Dallas, TX before heading up north to earn a Bachelor’s degree in sociology, with an emphasis in social work from Oklahoma State University. Wendy has a passion for volunteerism and has worked with many local agencies including Body & Soul homeless mission, Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County, Ronald McDonald House and various other charities through Outreach Mission. We thank you for your service and for the safe place you have created here in Plano.

1. Describe your leadership style and how you lead others

I feel, especially in a smaller agency, it is important to have an inclusive leadership style.  Creating a strong management/leadership team is critical.  Program leaders have the insight and knowledge to lead but you need to allow them autonomy and decision-making abilities in order to excel.  Transparency is important too. Telling your staff the “why” when you have to make the big, important agency-wide decisions in order to gain the buy-in you need to make change successful.

2. How can women develop their leadership skills in the workforce?

Find a great mentor and meet regularly!  You can read all the leadership books, subscribe to the best podcasts and leadership sites but seeing and learning from someone who you admire as a great leader is the best education.

3. What are the most important decisions you make as a leader?

Balancing the needs of our clients verses the need to protect staff from burnout.   When you work in a direct client services field, and especially one that provides 24hr crisis intervention, you have to be mindful as a leader that this work can come at a very high cost to your staff.  You must create an environment of trust that allows for vulnerability and open communication about their needs – a safe space for them as well as the clients.

4. What has been one of your biggest joys as a leader?

Opening Courtney’s SAFE Place is definitely the greatest. Our community-based forensic clinic for safe, trauma-informed sexual assault exams is a HUGE benefit to our community. It was a vision I shared with several staff and community leaders and it took a village to see it open in late 2018.  I’ve had the good fortune of having very fulfilling roles in my career, the least of which was at Children’s Health opening and operating several ambulatory sites in Plano and across the metroplex, but CSP is a first in North Texas and certainly the most fulfilling. Helping survivors of sexual assault seek survivor centered care in their darkest hours has been instrumental in ensuring their recovery. We are all very proud of this center.

5. What has been your greatest career disappointment? What did you learn from it?

Very early in my career I took a position because it offered me much greater pay. I was miserable. While there were some perks with the job, the least of which was the salary, I lasted only 1 year and not very good at it because I was so unhappy.  The organization was great, but I was not in a role that played to my strengths or passions.  For me, I have to not only love the mission, but love the role I play in it. I believe you have to follow your heart and recognize your aptitude and success will follow.

6. What strategies could be used to promote inclusion in the workplace?

I think it starts with the right hiring practices. Posting open positions with inclusive professional organizations, HBCs and colleges that promote diversity, and seeking candidates with diverse abilities and backgrounds is key.  Forming a Diversity and Inclusivity committee that brings learning opportunities to staff and centering your community outreach team on education within culturally specific groups.  Your organization should be a safe space that cultivates inclusivity internally and externally to attract diverse candidates then you have to continue to practice inclusivity daily.

7. What advice would you give your 25-year-old self?

Continually practice mindful affirmations. I wish I would have done that more in my earlier years.

8. What advice can you give to the next generation of female leaders?

It sounds cliché but believe in yourself above all else. Trust your instincts even if the advice you are getting seems counterintuitive to your gut. You know deep down what to do, you just have to listen to that inner voice.

 9. Who inspired you and why?

My great aunt Jo Million. She was a hoot. She was the happiest, most joyful person and had a job her entire life and she seemed to love her independence. She was single most of her life but enjoyed every relationship in her life. She passed away in her late 80’s when I was in college and I was blessed to spend those last few years with her. She was a real role model on how to find purpose in the small things.

10. What do you want to be remembered for?

Being the best mother. That is real purpose and success. IT’S HARD!