Careers
Revive Q&A: Jessica “Jay” Warren-Teamer, Director of Equity & Diversity, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska
Published: November 14, 2020
Congratulations Jessica “Jay” Warren-Teamer. Thank you for your commitment to racial equity, diversity and inclusion.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska recently announced the appointment of Jessica “Jay” Warren-Teamer as director of diversity and inclusion.
Warren-Teamer has more than 10 years of experience in community outreach. Her recent work experiences include key roles serving as the community affairs coordinator at Mutual of Omaha and the director of community investment and workforce readiness with the United Way of the Midlands.
Warren-Teamer simultaneously has been very active in the community as co-founder of I Be Black Girl Omaha, a number of Young Professional networks and other change focused initiatives.
In her new role at BCBSNE, she will direct and develop the company’s diversity and inclusion initiatives and programs.
Revive! had the opportunity to ask Warren-Teamer seven key questions regarding her new role and the current environment related to race, equity, diversity and inclusion in Omaha.
Congratulations Jay and thank you for sharing such powerful, important and timely insights with us.
What interested you in the new role at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska?
“I wasn’t actively searching for a new role at the time, but saw the job posting and it piqued my interest. I loved how the role was framed to not only support Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) internally at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska (BCBSNE), but also in the community. A lot of job descriptions for these roles tend to focus on more compliance or legal requirements around this work, but this one seemed very different.”
“As Director of Diversity and Inclusion, I have the awesome opportunity to lead DEI efforts for the company at a time when it is more important than ever. I’ll be creating and driving strategy, knowing the work I do will create real impact for our employees, our members, and our community.”
What attracted you to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska?
“BCBSNE has a strong brand, and that certainly extends to us as an employer. While exploring a potential job change as a working mom in the middle of a pandemic, it was important to me that if I made a move, it was the right one. I had conversations with a few former/current employees to get their perspective on their experience, and they had great things to share. As I progressed through the interview process, I was continually impressed about the commitment to DEI and the community. I’ve been in my role since August 31st and it feels like I’ve been here much longer. My team and the various stakeholders I work with welcomed me with open arms and got me up to speed quickly. I’m glad I took the leap – it is a great fit.”
What are your goals for the position?
“All too often in some companies, DEI tends to be something that lives off on the side of someone’s desk or feels like an afterthought. I will be working to proactively integrate DEI into all functions of our business so that we are thinking about it early and often as we develop products, design processes and make decisions.”
“Before being appointed to this role, BCBSNE’s Diversity Inclusion Group (DIG), in partnership with Malorie Maddox, chief marketing, communications and strategy officer (and D&I executive sponsor), and employees from across the organization, did an incredible job of keeping this work moving. It was completely volunteer led by people who care deeply about this issue. I am committed to honoring the work that’s been done – and to taking it to the next level.”
What will be your initial areas of focus?
I’ve identified four primary areas of focus:
- Attracting, hiring, and retaining talent from underrepresented populations
- Growing and sustaining our ERGs
- Solidifying our commitment to DEI as a part of our brand
- Equipping leaders with the tools they need to be inclusive
What are your general thoughts about equity, diversity, and inclusion in Omaha?
“Omaha has gotten tons of recognition as a best place to raise a family, best place for startups and lots of other accolades. On face value, our unemployment is low, and we have strong economic performance. However, when we pull the layers back and disaggregate the data, not all Omahans get to experience “The Good Life.” For our city and state to continue to grow and truly become a place where all people have equal footing regardless of their zip code or color of their skin, DEI is a moral, business, and ethical imperative.”
What impact has the last six months had on your approach?
“Unfortunately, for many of us from marginalized communities, the events of the last six months are nothing new. The impacts of racism and “other” -isms have impacted our lives in real ways. What this moment in time has solidified for me is that we all come into our own awareness about these issues, and it is a journey, not a destination. I have become more committed to using my voice to educate others. I’ve also started to acknowledge the emotional labor and psychological toll that engaging in this work takes on you. I intentionally carve out time to do things that bring me joy – and unapologetically unplug when I need to.”
Anything else you would want to share?
“I’ve always been committed to making sure that all people – especially those who have been impacted by systemic and systematic inequities – have what they need to reach their full potential. However, I became a mom in December and that became much more important to me. I hope that through this role and my work in the community, my son grows up in an Omaha that allows him to thrive.”
Source: Revive Omaha Magazine
Careers
2024 African-American Leadership Awards presented by Urban League of Nebraska
The Urban League of Nebraska hosted the annual African-American Leadership Awards on Saturday, August 24, 2024 at the Hilton Downtown Omaha. The organization celebrated thirteen extraordinary leaders in various fields with a beautiful, inspiring and wonderfully planned and executed event.
Dr. Andrea Jones
Health
Dr Andrea “Drea” Jones is an Associate Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at UNMC and Nebraska Medical Center.
Gregory Johnson
Business
Gregory A. Johnson is currently Senior Shareholder with Hayes & Associates, LLC CPAs and Consultants.
Jasmine Harris
Government
Jasmine Harris is the Director of Public Policy and Advocacy at RISE.
John Farmer
Community
John Farmer is Fire Captain for the City of Omaha’s Fire Department.
Marquisha Frost
Someone Special
Marquisha Frost is the Senior Vice President of Strategic Engagement and Initiatives for Nebraska Children and Families Foundation.
Latunya Sumpter
Education
Latunya Sumpter is a Kindergarten teacher at Bellevue Elementary with 30 years of experience as an educator.
Pastor T. Michael Williams
Faith
Pastor T. Michael Williams is the Senior Pastor of Mt. Moriah Baptist Church.
Tina Forte
Education
Tina Forte is the Director of Title I in the Department of School Improvement with the Omaha Public Schools.
Caroline McDonald
Youth
Caroline McDonald is a junior attending Marian High School in Omaha, Nebraska.
Ashlei Spivey
Advocacy and Empowerment Award – Presented by 2024 Urban League Young Professionals
Ashlei Spivey is the Founder and Executive Director for I BE Black Girl and candidate for State Senate.
Leontyne Evans
Young Professional
Leontyne Evans is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Founder of The Relationship Corner.
John Jackson
Community Catalyst Award
John Jackson is the Founder and Director of Black Student Leadership Council
Ty Nared
Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award
Ty Nared is the Director of Belonging, Diversity and Inclusion at Marian High School and Co-Founder of Melanin Market.
