Sandra Mackey
When Sandra Mackey, chief marketing officer for Bon Secours Mercy Health, learned she won the John A. Eudes Vision & Excellence Award, she said she was completely surprised.
But for those of us who know Mackey well, it wasn’t that surprising. That’s because throughout her three-decade career, she’s embodied the essence of what this award stands for.
Caring. Risking. Dreaming. Setting high expectations.
That’s what this award and Mackey are all about.
Before joining Mercy Health in 2017 as chief marketing officer, Mackey served as senior vice president of marketing and communications for the Arthritis Foundation. Previously, she was the executive director of market strategy for Emory Healthcare in Atlanta. She also served in public relations roles in the public and private sectors.
She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing at Birmingham University, United Kingdom and is a graduate of the Woodruff Leadership Academy.
Mackey was named “2018 Chief Marketing Officer of the Year” by the Cincinnati Business Courier and was listed as one of the top 60 CMOs to know by Becker’s in 2023 and 2024.
She serves on the board of directors at Catholic Charities USA, Brado, Mercy Neighborhood Ministries and is board chair for FC Cincinnati Foundation.
“I was drawn to Bon Secours Mercy Health because it allows me to bring together two of my greatest passions — my spirituality and lifelong love of God, and dedication to engaging people through authentic connections,” Mackey says.
This values-driven approach extends to how she views her role as a leader.
“People don’t work for me, they work with me,” Mackey says. “And I think my constant quest for learning has enabled me to achieve all that I have in my career.”
One of Mackey’s most distinctive leadership traits is her commitment to empowering her team to work independently.
“If you don’t empower your team to make decisions and work independently while establishing accountability, you may be missing one of the greatest leadership principles,” Mackey says. “ demonstrating the belief you have in your team rather than simply giving orders that people are following allows for growth. I want people coming up after me that are well prepared to do the job that I’m doing today because they have learned, they’ve fallen and they’ve gotten up."
Mackey's leadership philosophy includes an element that many leaders struggle with: creating space for failure.
“I expect people to make mistakes,” Mackey says. “And if they are penalized for making those mistakes or if the environment is punitive, then they’ll never stretch themselves far enough to explore and learn and master the capabilities required to advance.”
As Mackey reflects on receiving the award, her gratitude extends beyond personal achievement.
“As much as this award is for me, I consider this an award that I share with friends and colleagues who inspire me every day,” Mackey says. “To receive this award at this stage in my career means more than you can imagine. And it is by God’s grace that I have been able to work in a career that I love so much and give back to the community something meaningful.”
Four tips for future healthcare marketing leaders
Always thinking about the next generation, Mackey shared these tips for our Millennial and GenZ audience:
1. Surround yourself with growth-minded people: “If you want to grow, you have to surround yourself with people that have a growth mindset,” Mackey says. She says this applies both to your team and your professional network, as these relationships will inspire and challenge you. Mackey says her success at Bon Secours Mercy Health has been supported by what she describes as exceptional leadership from her peers, and in particular from the organization’s CEO, John Starcher. “He has given me the freedom and the support throughout my career here to do innovative things,” Mackey says. “And he has never held me back. I don't go to him to ask for permission. I go to him as a thought partner.”
2. Looking for a new job? Wait just a second: Mackey acknowledges there’s a lot of unrest in the healthcare job market right now. That’s why she suggests testing the waters where you’re at now, before rushing into something new. “If you want to constantly grow and you’re not getting it in your organization, try to push it in your organization to see if it's possible,” Mackey says. “But if it’s not possible, start to look at other options.”
3. Keep learning: Don’t rely on a single source for professional development. “There’s no one trick pony that will lead you to success,” Mackey says. “It’s a combination of carving out space and time to help you grow and learn — whether it’s through podcasts, books or conferences.”
4. Build your professional network: Mackey credits much of her success to her strong industry connections. “Gone are the days when it used to be that you are not sharing because you didn’t want anybody else to be as good as you,” Mackey says. “I think of creating a better health care experience as a team sport. Everyone has to play a part in our quest to improve the way healthcare is delivered.”