Q&A with Tosha Hershey

We are thrilled to welcome back Tosha Hershey as our Chief People and Culture Officer (a reframing of the Chief Strategy Officer position) on July 1. Tosha was our Director of HR from 2016-2019 and brings a strong connection to mission, expertise in HR and executive leadership to the role. Since Health Care for the Homeless she has taken on c-suite positions at organizations in the DMV area, including Ashley Addiction Treatment and Unity Healthcare. Get to know more about Tosha and why we're excited to have her leadership back at Health Care for the Homeless. 

Five years after leaving your role here as Director of HR, what draws you back to Health Care for the Homeless?

So much of my best work was done at Health Care for the Homeless as the HR Director. I also had the most fun in HR that I've ever had in my career. I always hoped there would be an opportunity to return in some capacity and continue working to advocate for issues very near and dear to me.

How does the Chief People & Culture Officer position, where you will oversee Equity & Engagement and Communications in addition to HR, build off of your leadership experience with other health and nonprofit agencies?

After I left Health Care for the Homeless in 2019, I took an executive level role at an addiction treatment program. The company was mainly homogeneous (cis gen white males) and their patient population reflected that. The board and the rest of leadership wanted to change that, especially after George Floyd's murder and seeing what the pandemic had done to substance use disorder cases around the country. Having come from Health Care for the Homeless, I was able to spearhead racial equity work with staff, and we began having some very transparent conversations about disparities in treatment and recovery experiences. I was able to work with intake and clinical teams to assess our approach to intake, helped secure funds from our endowment specifically for the BIPOC community and even began a community partnership with a Baltimore based homeless program. In many of these initiatives, I created communication plans, collaborated with staff at all levels, built momentum and excitement through our REI committee to strengthen allyship and increased hiring people of color.

I also briefly worked at Unity Healthcare, the largest FQHC in DC. It was a lot of fun because they had so many employees (nearly 1,000) and locations (19 when you included places staff embedded like the DC Jail). There I began to recognize the power of communication—including how employee experience suffers when leadership doesn't communicate effectively.

I think these two roles were extremely helpful in growing me as a professional and as a person. I have learned so much about myself and my style of leadership that feels more authentic for me. More than anything, I've learned to enjoy working in teams. It is really helpful to collaborate with others and see how things look from a different angle.

What are one or two ways you will work to create an intentional and affirming workplace for and with people of color?

There's been this buzz word floating around called 'workplace incivility.' I learned about it a few years ago for the first time and have been reading about it ever since. Basically, it's those slights that we have all experienced that signal to us that we are not welcomed someplace. It's those incidents of disrespect, poor manners, or intentional hostility that can create dissatisfaction. It's triggering for many of us of color especially. It's my intention to work with others at Health Care for the Homeless to turn that environment into an intentionally affirming and safe place for people of color. Be it that one time of day in the lunch room, at a meeting, or even working with others to tackle a thorny client situation, I have always believed that we must feel physically and psychologically safe at work.

FOR STAFF WHO HAVEN’T WORKED WITH YOU BEFORE, WHAT SHOULD THEY (AND OTHERS!) KNOW ABOUT YOUR LEADERSHIP STYLE?

I have been told by my previous teams that I am easy to talk to. I work hard and have very high standards. I am also fair and genuine. I am very big on leading by example and role modeling for others. I also really enjoy learning from others. Communication is the most important thing any of us can do, so that's the biggest tool in my toolbox. Folks who have worked with me before know, I am someone who loves to plan things out. It's so fun to make a plan and see where the journey takes us. I have a strong sense of justice. It's why I got into HR in the first place. Finally, I am a strong believer in teamwork. There's never a time when I haven't rolled up my sleeves and helped the team get to the finish line.

What are you reading, streaming or podcasting these days that you’d recommend to others?

Okay, so I read a lot. I usually try to average 100-150 books a year—be it Audible or regular books—so at any given time, I've got 3 or 4 going at once. Right now, I am re-reading My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies by Resmaa Menakem. I met Resmaa at an event a few years ago, and he's incredible. I am a sucker for a good true crime story or documentary so if I have my AirPods in or I'm watching TV, it's because there's one of those I'm interested in. Always open to hear of new ones!

What is something that helps you find joy or balance outside of work?

My adult children are everything to me. I wouldn't be who I am without them. At the start of the pandemic, like many people, I had a bit of a life crisis and ended up building a house and its sanctuary. While prepping for the house, I picked up crocheting as a way to make blankets and throws for the new house. It's taken off into a little side business.

I adopted a senior-aged dog named Jax who is the most spoiled, pampered animal that's ever walked the earth. Last month, I gave him a little sister (much to his disapproval) who is a 3-month-old German Shepherd named Sasha. Just know, if we are on Teams, you will probably see or hear them, LOL.

Whether you are comparing notes on true crime or sharing puppy pictures, give Tosha a warm welcome when you see her next.