#WomenCrushingWednesday w/ Sue Glass

Name: Sue Glass

Organization: YMCA of Metropolitan Denver

Title: President and CEO

Community work (board service, volunteering, mentoring, etc.): Currently, I serve on MSU’s Health Institute External Advisory Board, Downtown Denver Partnership Childcare Taskforce and serve as a MSU Health Scholar Mentor. Highlights of previous community involvement include Women Inspiring Leaders Board, Governor’s Council on Exercise, Colorado, Wyoming and Montana Diabetes Advisory Councils, Colorado NDPP Advisory Board, Metro Denver Health and Wellness Commission, HEAL Committee, Colorado Kids with Diabetes Collaborative, Colorado Business Group on Health Culture of Health Planning Committee, Community Health Charities Board Member and University of North Florida College of Health Advisory Committee.

CWCC Involvement: New CWCC board member!

The Why: Why do you do what you do/ why are you passionate about your work in our community? I’m driven by the motivation that I can serve as a catalyst to transform lives and organizations as well as have a profound impact on humanity. As a lifelong health advocate, I’m passionate about helping others optimize their health and well-being, physically, mentally and spiritually.

What is one of your biggest challenges that you have overcame, and how did you overcome it? Joining the YMCA of Metro Denver in late 2018 and leading a 147-year-old non-profit as a startup only to be faced with a pandemic in 2020. As the Y’s first female CEO and CEO of color this was no small feat. In 2019, we embarked on a new strategic plan with significant change-management process. The pandemic caused us to accelerate the change process to pivot the organization in order to respond to the community needs. In some respects, COVID worked to the Y’s benefit; it provided the team an opportunity to band together, serve the community in an incredible way, modernize our facilities, accelerate technology adoption and emerge as a stronger organization. 

What is your personal motto? I have several; failure is merely a stepping stone to success, be confident in your competence and serve others.

Advice for others in business based on what you have learned on your journey. No matter how hard work or life gets, things will work out as a long as you know and focus on your north star and are persistent. Also, recognizing we’re multi-dimensional beings, we should not neglect our mental, physical and spiritual health. Selfcare is other-care.

What are you most proud of from the last year? How our team responded to the crisis. They did  not bat an eye at working through the pandemic to meet the needs of the community. We were the largest provider of emergency childcare for essential workers and first responders in Colorado, distributed over 250,000 pounds of food to those in needs, served as blood donation sites and conducted over 4,000 senior isolation prevention calls to ensure their well-being. 

 

Thanks to our #WomenCrushingWednesday Partner: