CEO Today Business Women of the Year Awards

USA 33 www.ceotodaymagazine.com CEO Today Business Women of the Year Awards 2019 Mary Flipse, Chief Legal and Administrative Officer of Tivity Health, has been with the organization since 2011. Throughout the last eight years, Mary has been a critical member of the executive team and an advisor to the CEO during a period of significant change, growth and transformation. With a legal career spanning more than 25 years, Mary is an advocate for women both in and out of the office. Most recently, Mary was one of a small team of Tivity Health executiveswho steered the company through theannouncement of a definitive agreement to acquire Nutrisystem in December 2018. Her guidance as an officer of the company and advisor to the CEO, her legal expertise navigating a complex deal between two public companies, and her influence with other members of the Executive Leadership Team and the board of directors were paramount to successfully announcing the agreement and completing the acquisition. Prior to the Nutrisystem deal, Mary was instrumental in the divesture of Tivity Health’s population health division in 2016, a move that redefined the company’s strategic direction and added nearly $1 billion of valuation to the company. As a liaison between executive leadership and the board of directors, Mary’s influence extends far beyond her legal expertise. “ Mary was by far one of the most talented executive colleagues I met when I first joined the Healthways board and later as Chairman and now CEO, she has demonstrated the key characteristics of a Compassionate and Influential leader, ” said Tivity Health Chief Executive Officer, Donato Tramuto. “ Since that first day, all the way through the critical role she played in the acquisition of Nutrisystem, Mary has proven each and every day that she is collaborative, and she wants to work with people and help them develop, especially women .” Mary’s commitment to helping women advance has contributed to the growth of her own leadership within the company and her influence on Tivity Health’s strategic growth.At Tivity Health, she has organized regular dinner sessions between high potential women with the company’s women board members and has focused her colleague development efforts on education and training on key leadership attributes and skill sets necessary to supervise, manage and serve as positive role models. During her tenure, the Tivity Health board of directors has experienced a full refresh of its membership and in that time, the board has intentionally added women to the board, reaching almost 30% in 2019. Not only did the company refresh its board during that period, Mary worked with the board through several other significant corporate events: an activist campaign in 2014, an historic change in the company’s leadership by bringing in Tramuto as CEO in 2015, through the divestiture of its total population health business in 2016, and most recently the Nutrisystem acquisition. Mary’s successful navigation of the recent transformation of the organization required close coordination not only ABOUT MARY FLIPSE with the directors, the CEO and senior executive peers, but also with multiple colleagues with whom she has developed relationships through influential leadership and mentoring. Mary not only mentors women, she also does that with her male colleagues, taking the time to educate and advise on the need to support women for advancement into management and executive positions. Mary’s Lao heritage led her to start her legal career by establishing the first international law offices in Laos and Cambodia. That legal training and experience coupled with her upbringing on a farm in Middle Tennessee has made Mary a strong advocate for women and minorities and she takes special pride in supporting their advancement in the company, as well as supporting outreach and recruitment efforts and counseling on external job positions. She has played a key role in ensuring that the Tivity Health CEO and colleagues support, recognize, and benefit from partnerships and active participation in various women’s organizations such as Women’s Business Leaders of the U.S. Healthcare Industry (WBL) where Mary serves on the strategy committee. In 2019, WBL named Mary a Woman of Inspiration and Influence for her inspirational contributions to the healthcare industry. Mary is also actively engaged as Vice President of the board and President-elect of Renewal House. This non-profit organization helps women with intensive addiction treatment and provides shelter, counseling and support for women and children. Mary has provided financial advice, fundraising expertise and leadership support for their CEO, a passionate woman leading change at Renewal House. It is just one example of Mary’s passion to help and mentor others. Mary also serves as a member of the board of directors and the strategic planning committee of Alive Hospice, a non-profit provider of grief counseling and in-home hospice support. Alive Hospice is one of the country’s oldest hospice organizations, located in Nashville, Tennessee. Mary’s influence is continually felt by the leaders she is fostering at Tivity Health and in external groups and organizations. Her willingness to share her expertise, education and strength inspires others to try harder, reach for new horizons and to practice the power of sisterhood – for both men and women. Mary inspires those around her because of her passion for mentoring women and minorities. Her willingness to share her time and encourage empowerment and skill developmental of women is outstanding. She takes the time to “brag” about the accomplishments of others and rarely takes credit for her achievements or leadership – she always attributes success to her team and to the group. Mary truly is an inspirational leader and influences those around her to live their passion and to follow their purpose.