When asked what she hopes young women might take away from her story, Yasmene McDaniel does not point to her many prestigious titles or accolades.
“There is absolutely nothing special about me. Not a single thing,” she said during a recent visit to Ivey.
You might not expect that level of humility from the CEO of HCA Houston Healthcare Southeast, who leads more than 22,000 employees and is the protagonist of The Longest Job Interview, an Ivey case that placed third in the inaugural Ivey Women Investing in Leadership case-writing competition.
But that contrast is exactly her point.
“My goal, or my hope, is that young girls will see that the doors will be open for them as well,” she said. “Everyone has a journey and a pathway. You just have to be open to it.”
Connecting with students at Ivey and Western
McDaniel visited Ivey before heading to Toronto for the Girls E-Mentorship (GEM) x Ivey event organized by the John F. Wood Centre for Innovation in Business Learning on February 28. While on campus, the centre introduced McDaniel to members of the Black Students at Ivey Collective and Western students participating in the University Pathways Program (UPP).
UPP provides mentorship and scholarships for academically excellent Black high school students in the Greater Toronto Area to access business education with case learning. Now at Western, many look forward to the possibility of joining Ivey’s HBA program.
For McDaniel, those conversations matter.
“I’ve been doing this just long enough to be a little bit jaded. So when I see people come in and say, ‘I’m going to conquer the world,’ it is energizing,” she said. “I tell them, ‘You absolutely can do those things. Just don’t forget the energy and passion you have now when you hit those stumbling blocks – because you will. That’s just life.'”
(Photo above) Yasmene McDaniel and Zoe Kinias (front row, centre) with Ivey and Western students and Ivey faculty members Mohamed Satti and Hayden Woodley
Off the page and into the room
The next day in Toronto, more than 80 participants – high school students and mentors – gathered for the GEM x Ivey event, presented in partnership with Ivey’s John F. Wood Centre for Innovation in Business Education (JF Wood Centre).
Zoe Kinias, an associate professor of organizational behaviour and sustainability and John F. Wood Chair, designed the morning with Ivey staff members Maggie Weller and Kim Miller in collaboration with Girls E-Mentorship (GEM), whose own Executive Director is Ivey alum Sarah Morgenstern, MBA '93. Participants explored leadership, career pathways, and the realities behind executive success. The discussion began with The Longest Job Interview, based on McDaniel’s experience leading through uncertainty, by Felicia Henderson and Kinias.
Barnini Bhattacharyya, assistant professor of organizational behaviour, skillfully led the discussion, which was many of the participants’ first experience discussing a case. Using inquiry and different perspectives, participants explored McDaniel’s leadership at a pivotal career moment.
Bhattacharyya also encouraged the participants to continue developing as mentors and allies. She emphasized centring the person in front of them, recognizing differences in power, and taking tangible steps – not simply relying on good intentions.
“What this case is about is how individuals build strong relationships, show up authentically at work, and let that be a strength,” she said.
McDaniel built on that message during the Q&A that Kinias facilitated. Reflecting on setbacks in her own career, she encouraged participants not to dwell on disappointment.
“It’s the whole concept of ‘fail faster.’ You’re going to fail,” she said. “But you get to decide if you’re going to fail and sit there for six months, six days, six minutes. Acknowledge the mistake, figure out how it could be done differently, learn – and move on.”
Drawing on sports psychology, she compared leadership setbacks to missed shots in a basketball game – part of the process, not the end of it.
(Photo above) Barnini Bhattacharyya leading the case discussion. Photo credit: Shlomi Amiga
Growth beyond titles
Now as CEO, McDaniel continues to focus on growth – not only horizontally, but also vertically.
One strong lesson for current and aspiring leaders is to focus on learning through every career stage. She has challenged herself to look beyond titles and focus instead on strengthening culture, developing future leaders, and improving areas where she sees room to improve.
McDaniel has been unambiguously successful.
Still, she doesn’t see her journey as extraordinary and credits mentors for supporting her along the way.
“I believe you need a mentor for every phase in your life,” she said.
That commitment to mentorship – both receiving and offering it – was central to the GEM x Ivey event.
After creating the GEM x Ivey event in 2024, Kim Randall, EMBA ’25, Associate Director, Executive MBA Recruitment & Admission – and a GEM mentor for seven years – enthusiastically continues to contribute. She shared information about Ivey’s HBA and EMBA programs, highlighting the School’s commitment to expanding access to business education.
For McDaniel, access is only the beginning.
Opening doors matters, she said, but so does the work that follows. Earlier in her visit to Ivey, she spoke candidly about what she hopes young women will do as they grow into leadership roles.
“What I would hope they would actually do is go and find someone to say, ‘Where are my gaps?’ And then be open to the feedback – not angry or defensive. That’s a hard thing to do,” she said.
View more photos from the GEM x Ivey event below. Photo credit: Shlomi Amiga
Kim Randall gave an overview of Ivey's programs
Barnini Bhattacharyya leading the case discussion
Participants analyzing the case
A group discussion
Yasmene McDaniel speaking with students
An engaged group
Time to connect
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