Lachandra Baker
Senior manager, employee engagement, CoverMyMeds
Lachandra Baker Tim Johnson | Columbus CEO
About: Award-winning communicator and motivational speaker Lachandra Baker is mentor, TedX performer and dedicated community volunteer. Across roles at Cardinal Health, Mount Carmel Health System and now CoverMyMeds, she has brought her special brand of optimism and inclusion, rising to quickly become one of the most respected leaders at CoverMyMeds since joining in 2018. La, as she is known, has a mission to make every space more diverse, equitable and inclusive.
Those in power, and who have been fortunate enough to have privilege, should champion those who have been overlooked and underestimated.
Outside of work: Board member of Healing Broken Circles; Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Council member for Besa; Certified Tourism Ambassador for Experience Columbus; board member of Film Columbus; 11-year volunteer for Pelotonia; 2019 Stefanie’s Champion; IABC Grant Committee member and chair; 2020 Rela Leadership Event chair; 2014 Canal Winchester School District levy chair; Communications Advisory Board member at Franklin University.
What does Columbus need to thrive? Ensure all voices are heard. Systems of historical and present-day racial injustice permeate our communities, from redlining to food deserts to underrepresentation in government and business. Those in power, and who have been fortunate enough to have privilege, should champion those who have been overlooked and underestimated. As we look to the future, we must fight to ensure that life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are accessible to all. Now is the time for positive change.
Baker’s idea: To identify, educate and prepare an inclusive slate of candidates to run for every open public office in every election. We often see elected officials who are career politicians and look very homogenous. There are also many elections where the ballot is uncontested. This does not provide a way to hold those running for office accountable to the issues they claim to be advocating for, nor does it help to truly remove many of the barriers and structures of inequality that have been created over time. By having a development program that we can create, support and innovate, we would take a tremendous step forward.