Beyond accommodation: Empowering team members to thrive

Imagine a workplace where your unique journey isn't just accommodated but celebrated and nurtured. For Jenny, that place is Highmark Health, where her family's legacy intertwines with her own remarkable career growth, proving that authentic support transforms lives.

A family legacy forged at Highmark

Jenny's connection to Highmark Health began long before her own career journey. It started with Joyce Bender, who founded Bender Consulting Services to champion individuals with disabilities in the workplace and help them find jobs. The first person Joyce ever placed into a position was Jenny’s father, and the company that hired him was Highmark Health. This foundational link foreshadowed a remarkable career path for Jenny – one built on unwavering support and growth.

Overcoming challenges: Jenny's path to Highmark

Jenny gained valuable experience working at Bender Consulting throughout high school and summers in college, providing her with an intimate look at the challenges and triumphs of living with a disability. But for Jenny, it meant more than just any after-school job. Like the individuals who Bender helps find jobs, Jenny also has a disability. Jenny has bipolar disorder and PTSD, but she didn’t realize how much that impacted her life until she got to college.  

“All of the things that were in place for me in high school that kept things in line – because I had to have a set schedule and I had to do all of these things – were gone,” Jenny said. “I did not do well in college. I think if anyone would've looked at my grades coming out of college, I probably wouldn't have found a job. My mental health really deteriorated and that impacted my school.”

So, when it came time to find a job, Jenny knew exactly who to turn to. Bender Consulting, who helped Jenny’s father find a job at Highmark Health, also helped Jenny find a job here. The position was through “Careers To Be,” which is a one-year contract program. After only 8 months in the contract role, Jenny’s manager decided to offer her a full-time role as a business analyst with enGen, a healthtech company within the Highmark Health enterprise, and her career has been on an upward trajectory ever since.

“I went from being an associate business analyst to being an associate project manager to being in more strategic roles,” Jenny said. “I haven't even been here too long!”

A Culture of Unwavering Support

As Jenny has grown in her career, her team members and managers have been there to give her the support she needs. By being able to talk with her managers about her disability, it has made all the difference.

“I can have open conversations with my managers about what's going on with me right now, here’s what support I might need, and have them say OK,” Jenny said. “They don't really question it. They don't try to poke and pry and get every single detail, which I appreciate. They've been able to adapt to where I am at and manage not just based on me as a person but based on where I'm at emotionally at given periods of time.”

While this level of understanding from managers may seem straightforward, it's far from common.

“When I was working with Bender Consulting, I did interviews with people who are looking for work and I heard so many stories of companies and managers that didn't do that, that were not supportive, that did not care,” Jenny said. “I've never had that feeling. I've always felt as though the people around me genuinely care about one another. That's unique to Highmark, I would say.”

Beyond disability: Empathy for every team member

“We know that people just need help sometimes. That’s not even just a disability thing, that's a life thing,” Jenny said. “Life gets you sometimes, and sometimes you just need that help. That same empathy that we see with how we treat our employees with disabilities trickles over into anyone who has a life situation. It's just that open environment where the people around you help whenever you need it.”

While Jenny is open about her experiences, she knows many people are not.  

“So many people go their life almost never having told anyone that they have a disability,” Jenny said. “They just struggle all the time because of it. By giving space for people to just ask for what they need, to share their experiences, that goes beyond disability. Not every company would talk about those things. Highmark allows that space for you to exist as you are.”

Advocating for an inclusive future

Jenny has experienced this supportive and open environment now for almost seven years, and the pride that Jenny has for this organization makes her want to help others with disabilities.

“It helps me advocate for others who may not know how to advocate for themselves the way that I do,” Jenny said. “I can share the experiences that I've had with my team, and for people who are not as comfortable talking about their disability because maybe they've had bad experiences. I can help them feel this place is safe. And now they get to experience those same things.”

Inspired by Jenny's story? Explore career opportunities at enGen and discover how you can make a difference.