Meet New Madeline Society Member Elizabeth Russell ’69

Elizabeth Russell, one of the founders of the successful startup agilon health, which went public last year, reflects upon being a female leader in a male-dominated field.

Entering the insurance and health-care field in the early ’70s, when few women held leadership positions, Elizabeth entered a management training program, which led to various management positions. She was prompted to earn her MBA when she discovered she was paid 50% less than her male peers. With her MBA, Elizabeth flew to the top of health-care management leadership, usually the only woman at the corporate table, moving from director to vice president to senior vice president, chief operations officer, and CEO.

“Throughout my career, being a woman has been an asset, and if it was not, I changed companies, finding mentors and partners who appreciated my strategic thinking, creativity, and detailed nature,” she said.

Elizabeth believes it is our responsibility as women to be authentic and perform at the highest standards. She credits her success to Westridge for teaching her to develop her position with facts and logic, and to speak up without fear.

“Women would ask for mentoring and wanted to know how I moved up so quickly, why men listened when I talked, and why I wasn’t intimidated in rooms full of men,” said Elizabeth. “I would tell these wonderful women ‘Why wouldn’t they listen?’ If your ideas are good and backed by data, they listen.”

A lifelong reader who enjoys ceramics and designing homes, Elizabeth lives in San Diego with her husband, John. Retired from the health-care industry, she maintains several philanthropic interests, including financing projects to provide housing for the underserved, and growing support for financial aid at Westridge.

Involvement in the Class of 1969’s 50th reunion fueled a desire to give back the education she received. As a co-founder of the Forever Fund Endowment for financial aid, Elizabeth was inspired to support the changes she wanted to see in the world by supporting Westridge girls.

When asked why she became a member of the Madeline Society by including Westridge in her will, Elizabeth replied, “Westridge provided an education that allowed me to thrive. Why not pay it forward?”

Like Elizabeth, you can make a difference in the lives of future Westridge girls through your estate plan or by making a gift to the Forever Fund. Please contact Diana Bernal O’Leary at 626.799.1153 or doleary@westridge.org for more information.