What happens when two powerhouse women step away from the corporate playbook to build something the healthcare industry desperately needs?
In this episode of RedefineHER, we sit down with Rachael Jones and Emily Walker, the co-founders of Syntax Health, a groundbreaking platform that’s bringing transparency and trust to value-based care.
With decades of experience in healthcare leadership and analytics, these women aren’t just talking about change—they’re building it.
We dive into:
✔️ Why healthcare’s biggest problem isn’t cost—it’s lack of trust and transparency
✔️ How Syntax Health is redefining value-based care to work for both providers and payers
✔️ The bold risks they took to launch a startup in a male-dominated space
✔️ Why women in leadership need to step out on the skinny branch and take up space
✔️ How to scale a mission-driven company without burnout—hiring slow, building systems, and leading with purpose
Timeline:
000:00 Breaking Barriers in Healthcare Leadership
02:55 The Genesis of Syntax Health
06:09 Understanding Value-Based Care
09:06 The Challenges of Contract Transparency
12:13 Navigating the Healthcare Landscape
15:03 The Role of Community Health Centers
17:54 Women in Leadership: Overcoming Challenges
21:01 Redefining Leadership Traits
23:54 Creating a Collaborative Environment
27:09 The Impact of Syntax on Patient Care
29:57 Decisiveness in Leadership
32:53 Building Trust and Accountability
36:05 The Future of Value-Based Care
43:04 Decisiveness and Flexibility in Leadership
45:08 Learning from Failures: A Leader's Journey
51:14 Hiring for Culture and Expertise
57:25 Maintaining Team Culture and Preventing Burnout
01:08:11 The Importance of DEI in Healthcare Leadership
01:13:15 Future Aspirations for Value-Based Care
Connect with our guests
Website: https://www.meetsyntax.com/ Championing the vital role of CHCs in delivering care to underserved communities: https://www.nachc.org/venture studio driving innovation in healthcare, including Syntax’s early development: https://www.redesignhealth.com/A LinkedIn: Rachel - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachaelmcjones/ Emily - https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilyjowalker/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SyntaxHealthRedefineHER Podcast Credits
Host: Brenda Armstrong - https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendaarmstrong1/ Producer: Tarryn Long - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tarrynlong/ Sponsor: ITEOM Talent Partners search and placement experts | connecting purpose -driven organizations with top-tier talent to create thriving, impactful & diverse teams.More Details on RedefinHER Podcast:
www.iteomtalent.com/redefineherpodcast
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