Maxine Carrington currently serves as Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer for Northwell Health, New York State’s largest healthcare provider and private employer.
In her role, she leads the people strategy for the 85,000+ team member organization with a focus on maximizing organizational effectiveness and performance — in support of its mission and strategic direction.
New Hyde Park-based Northwell is the largest health system in New York, with 21 hospitals and about 900 outpatient facilities.
She has been with Northwell since 2008 and has served in progressively responsible leadership roles. Prior to Northwell, Maxine was a manager and attorney with the New York City Mayor’s Office of Labor Relations.
Like her Northwell teammates, Maxine is committed to service beyond her core responsibilities. In addition to mentoring, she is an instructor with the Center for Learning & Innovation, Northwell’s corporate university and serves as a co-sponsor of the organization’s business employee resource groups.
She is also a trustee of the 1199 Pension Fund serving employees for the New York Region, serves on the board of the National Center for Healthcare Leadership – a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing healthcare leadership and organizational excellence, and on the New York Urban League’s Project Ready Mentor Program Advisory Board.
Maxine holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and African studies and a master’s degree in Educational Administration and Policy Studies from the University at Albany in New York.
She obtained her Juris Doctor degree from New York Law School. She is a graduate of Northwell’s High Potential Leadership Development Program, a prestigious succession preparation and leadership development program and the Health Management Academy’s GE Fellows Program.
Her recognitions include the Human Resource Executive Magazine’s Rising Star in HR award, Crain’s Notables in Healthcare list, and Modern Healthcare’s Top 25 Women in Healthcare.
Maxine and her family reside in Stamford, Conn.
What are the most significant challenges you have as a woman in your industry?
I am fortunate to serve in an organization that generally employs a high percentage of women, and I would say that this represents the healthcare industry.
Our president and CEO, Michael Dowling, has been incredibly intentional – for decades now – about identifying and advancing women into leadership roles.
Additionally, we have recognized that we must intensify our efforts to diversify our leadership to serve our business objectives best, including leaders from historically underrepresented groups, veterans, people with disabilities, and more.
Among other attributes, being a woman, black, a mom, an immigrant and an industry leader, at this stage in life and career, I am clear on my obligation to share my lived experience and perspectives with others to raise awareness of the value of diversity and inclusion.
I am also committed to mentoring and sponsoring people who have not historically had access. This, of course, comes with some challenges, including capacity, like the ability to “be there for many” in the context of competing personal and professional priorities.
As a solution, I enlist the help of willing others like me and allies who can support talented team members and leaders requesting mentorship and support.
