Read more about this year’s honorees on the Women of Influence page.
Name: Lisa Murphy
Company: Cambia Health Solutions
What it does: Health care
Title: Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff
Why we chose her: Lisa Murphy helps guide Cambia's efforts to make health coverage easier for more than 3 million members in the region, leading its long-range strategy and execution. She also has a reputation within Cambia as a go-to mentor for up-and-coming women leaders, at one point working with 15 mentees and establishing informal networking groups. Her community involvement includes board service for the Portland Metro Chamber, Cambia Health Foundation and LifeMap Assurance Co.
What achievements are you proud of in the past year? Professionally, leading a team of colleagues and friends (Murphy's Mission Possible) that raised a record amount for the Oregon chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Visionary of the Year campaign. Personally, learning a new sport (tennis).
What trait has served you best in your role? Being upfront, open and approachable. Also, being the one who says what others are thinking, or clearing a path so they can do so themselves.
What's your hidden talent? Facing difficult conversations head on — saying the hard thing in a kind way.
Give an example of how you've used your influence for good? Externally, my participation in various community-related or civic efforts, including leading the committee for renewing the Portland Business Alliance's long-term strategy, serving on nonprofit boards such as March of Dimes, Dress for Success and Friends of the Children and raising money for causes close to my heart.
Internally within my company, I have often connected talented employees to opportunities elsewhere in the company — usually opportunities that they either did not know about or did not view themselves as qualified for. Sometimes this meant losing valuable talent from my own team, but it was rewarding to see their professional growth and the value they brought to the company in their new roles.
If you could send a text to your younger self, what would it say? Make sure that the people you encounter always feel seen, acknowledged, and valued. Also, stay in touch with people as you go through life.
Women Lisa admires:
Katherine Cowan, Fortier Solutions
Peggy Maguire, Cambia Health Foundation
Jessica Getman, Brown & Brown