{"id":7758,"date":"2016-10-26T11:21:51","date_gmt":"2016-10-26T16:21:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dev.thechicagoschool.edu\/"},"modified":"2025-12-04T15:41:31","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T21:41:31","slug":"championing-a-diversity-of-voices-and-perspectives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/community\/championing-a-diversity-of-voices-and-perspectives\/","title":{"rendered":"Championing a diversity of voices and perspectives"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dr. Manika Turnbull\u2019s first lesson in psychology was watching her own parents bicker and battle their way through an unpleasant divorce. She was just a little girl in pigtails, watching\u2014and learning.<\/p>\n

She learned to watch body language. She learned which types of communication succeeded, and which ones failed. She developed a stronger sense of empathy. And she learned that behind every conflict, there is hope for compromise.<\/p>\n

Today, Dr. Turnbull\u2019s master\u2019s degree\u00a0in Industrial and Organizational Psychology<\/a>\u00a0and a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership<\/a> from The Chicago School have catapulted her to the top at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) doing exactly what she did as a child\u2014listening to people and helping to foster empathy in the corporate workspace.<\/p>\n

After serving as Chief of Staff of BCBSIL, Dr. Turnbull was promoted in 2015 to Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer of Health Care Service Corporation <\/a>(HCSC), BCBSIL\u2019s parent company. She also joined The Chicago School board of trustees and serves as an advocate for the school that helped her turn a life\u2019s passion for helping people into a fulfilling career.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve always tried to grow and develop myself so that I could help others grow and develop as well,\u201d says Dr. Turnbull, explaining how as a Division 1 basketball player for James Madison University, she built on her early interest in psychology by observing the complex emotional and psychological dynamics of leadership.<\/p>\n

Finding her niche<\/h3>\n

That experience as an undergraduate student fueled a passion for helping corporations infuse confidence into complicated group dynamics, and it was that passion that led her to The Chicago School\u2019s M.A. Industrial and Organizational Psychology program<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI learned how to listen,\u201d she says of The Chicago School program, adding that she was immediately impressed by the school\u2019s diverse student base and its commitment to implementing complex psychological theories into real world business environments. \u201cIt sounds simple, but the importance of knowing when not to talk, of knowing when to take a moment to absorb what is going on around you\u2014and really empathize with where your boss or co-worker is coming from\u2014can\u2019t be overstated.\u201d<\/p>\n

After graduating, she quickly rose up through the ranks at BCBSIL, blending her interest in behavioral research with a keen understanding of group psychology, continuing to \u201clisten\u201d along the way.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Chicago School prepared me to step into the workforce and add value, because of this knowledge and how I approach relationships, conflicts, and my overall development both personally and professionally. The Chicago School was the right institution at the right time (both times) for me and I’m proud to call myself an alumna.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

First, she improved efficiency and customer-service protocol in the company\u2019s coding division and then moved on to human resources, helping enrich BCBSIL\u2019s corporate culture, both inside and outside the organization.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, she entered The Chicago School\u2019s Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership<\/a> program, tapping her growing insight to pen a dissertation on the importance of servant leadership and emotional intelligence in leadership positions.<\/p>\n

“There seems to be a misconception that psychology is the “soft stuff” and thus the soft stuff is easy, so it doesn’t require as much time, effort or resources within organizations. What The Chicago School taught me was that the hard stuff is <\/em>the soft stuff,\u201d Dr. Turnbull explains. \u201cThe Chicago School prepared me to step into the workforce and add value, because of this knowledge and how I approach relationships, conflicts, and my overall development both personally and professionally. The Chicago School was the right institution at the right time (both times) for me and I’m proud to call myself an alumna.”<\/p>\n

Leading the way<\/h3>\n

The thought leadership she cultivated at The Chicago School continues to play out in her daily life and growing list of accolades and service.<\/p>\n

In 2013, Dr. Turnbull was named to Diversity MBA Magazine<\/em>\u2019s Top 100 Under 50 <\/a>Diverse Executives & Emerging Leaders List. In 2015, she became a Leadership Greater Chicago<\/a> Fellow. Meanwhile, Dr. Turnbull continues to serve as a member of the United Way Women\u2019s Leadership Council<\/a>, and in addition to her new role as a Chicago School trustee, sits on the boards for Facing History and Ourselves<\/a>, an organization that teaches children about racism and prejudice, and Playworks Illinois<\/a>, which aims to improve the health and well-being of children through physical activity.<\/p>\n

The little girl who watched and listened has come a long way. And yet, the former Chicago School adjunct professor remains humble.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe all grow together,\u201d says Dr. Turnbull of her teaching and mentoring work. \u201cI get the most joy out of helping other people fulfill their own destinies.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Learn more about The Chicago School<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Chicago School offers a range of academic programs that can prepare you to positively impact mental health. Fill out the information below to request more information, or you can apply today through our application portal.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dr. Manika Turnbull is using her degrees from The Chicago School to help corporate culture function more harmoniously.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":107228,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[191],"tags":[],"coauthors":[1062],"class_list":["post-7758","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nChampioning a Diversity of Voices and Perspectives<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn how Chicago School alumna Dr. Manika Turnbull has successfully applied understanding and exploring diversity in her career.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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