“Know who you are. If you don’t, plenty of people will tell you who you should be.” According to Angela Braly, former CEO of WellPoint, this is key for people looking to rise in their careers. She’s got other advice: be committed to your work, take on challenging assignments, and do the right thing the first time - but above all, a strong sense of self is what carries her through the endless challenges she faces.
Born July 2nd, 1961 in Dallas, Texas, Braly graduated from Richardson High School in 1979, going on to study at Texas Tech University. During her freshman year of college, her father was killed in an automobile accident by a drunk driver. While emotionally devastated by the tragedy, Braly was particularly impacted by its effect on her mother. Seeing her suddenly faced with running a household and raising five children on her own, Braly credits the experience with teaching her the importance of being able to take care of herself and her family. Braly continued her studies, earning an undergraduate degree in finance in only three years. She went on to attend the Southern Methodist University School of Law, graduating with a Juris Doctor degree in 1985.
After graduation, Braly practiced law in Fort Worth before accepting an offer to be general counsel of Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Missouri, eventually becoming the President and Chief Executive Officer of the company. WellPoint (now Anthem), the owner of the Missouri company, moved her to Indianapolis to serve as its general counsel and chief public affairs officer. Her rise continued, with Braly serving as WellPoint’s President and CEO from 2007 to 2012, and she assumed the title of Chairman in 2010.
While shareholder pushback led to her resignation from WellPoint in August 2012, she certainly hasn’t let it shake her commitment to herself and her work. She currently serves on the boards of directors of companies like ExxonMobil, Lowe’s, and Proctor & Gamble. In 2015, she also helped found The Policy Circle, a program that seeks to create opportunities for women to discuss public policy and feel confident in shaping those issues in their communities. She has been the recipient of numerous recognitions including the 2019 Sandra Day O’Connor Board Excellence Award and repeated “Most Powerful Women” awards from Forbes, and continues to serve on the boards of several major U.S. corporations.