Generations of Grace: How Dr. Airica Steed Honors Legacy Through Leadership
For Dr. Airica Steed (MBA ’06), education has always been more than a personal goal—it’s been a generational promise. Born into a family that believed deeply in the power of learning to break barriers and create change, Dr. Steed was raised on stories of resilience, grit, and service. Her great-grandmother, a nurse midwife in segregated Alabama, delivered babies under impossible conditions at a time when Black women were excluded from formal nursing programs. Her grandfather broke barriers in the business world by founding one of Chicago’s first Black-owned insurance agencies. These family legacies taught her that education was not just about personal advancement, but about uplifting entire communities.
Yet it was her mother—a gifted and compassionate nurse—who became her most profound inspiration. Her mother dreamed of earning a doctoral degree, but her life was tragically cut short by a misdiagnosed illness before that dream could be realized. Dr. Steed made a silent vow to fulfill that vision, and when she earned her own doctorate, it was not only a professional milestone—it was an act of legacy, love, and healing. That commitment continues to shape her leadership philosophy today: one that is rooted in purpose, compassion, and accountability.
Although she is not a first-generation college graduate, Dr. Steed became the first in her family to earn a doctoral degree. Her journey through higher education was far from traditional. As a young single mother, she juggled raising a child, working multiple jobs, and pursuing her degrees simultaneously. She has held nearly every role in the healthcare ecosystem—unit secretary, dietary aide, bedside nurse, executive leader—and it’s that lived experience that fuels her empathy and resilience. It also gave her a deep understanding of the barriers that many students and professionals face, especially those balancing work and family while pursuing their education. These experiences now inform her teaching and mentoring, including time spent as a faculty member at several academic institutions, including her alma mater, Governors State University.
Dr. Steed chose Governors State University for its balance of academic rigor and real-world relevance. As a working professional and mother at the time, she sought a program that valued her lived experience and prepared her to lead in practical, impactful ways. The MBA program at GovState met that need. It sharpened her strategic thinking, enhanced her financial and organizational leadership skills, and gave her the confidence to lead authentically in spaces where diverse representation remains limited. For Dr. Steed, the GovState experience played a vital role in shaping her voice as a leader—one who is people-centered, purpose-driven, and grounded in impact.
During her time at GovState, Dr. Steed was particularly inspired by Dr. Rupert Evans, the former leader of the Master of Healthcare Administration program. Though she was enrolled in the MBA track, Dr. Evans’ presence as a senior Black academic leader left a lasting impression. “He was one of the first leaders I saw who looked like me and held both academic and administrative authority,” she recalls. His mentorship and example helped plant the seeds for her eventual transition into higher education and executive leadership.
In 2024, Dr. Steed was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the College of Business Alumni Hall of Achievement. For her, the recognition was deeply personal. It wasn’t just a celebration of her accomplishments; it was a tribute to the generations of perseverance, sacrifice, and purpose that came before her. The award was especially meaningful as it coincided with a historic moment in her career: her appointment as the first Black person, first woman, and first nurse in nearly 200 years to serve as President and CEO of MetroHealth, one of the largest public health systems in the United States. For Dr. Steed, this milestone symbolized what’s possible when institutions embrace inclusive leadership and when success is measured not by conformity but by community impact.
Being a fourth-generation nurse is an honor she holds close to her heart. The legacy of the women in her family—who led with care, courage, and humility—shaped her leadership style long before she ever entered the boardroom. Even as she advanced to oversee billion-dollar healthcare operations, she never left her nursing roots behind. “Nursing was the first lens through which I learned to lead,” she says. “I lead with empathy, proximity, and a deep sense of humanity.” In fact, she has returned to the bedside during times of need—not as a regression, but as a reaffirmation of what leadership is ultimately about: service.
Her passion for equity is not theoretical—it’s personal. Dr. Steed lost her mother to a misdiagnosis. She lost her younger sister to a preventable illness after being denied a mammogram. And she weathered high-risk pregnancies that required her daughter to spend four months in the NICU—all while working in leadership roles in the same healthcare system that failed her. These painful experiences shaped her mission: to redesign healthcare systems from the inside out, making them more equitable, accountable, and just. Today, she is a nationally recognized voice on health equity and inclusive leadership, advising systems, payers, government agencies, and universities on how to institutionalize equity into strategy, governance, and operations.
To further this work, Dr. Steed founded Breakthrough Innovation Partners, a consultancy that helps organizations move from intention to impact. Through this firm, she partners with hospitals, academic institutions, and private equity firms to lead equity-driven transformation and strategic innovation. Every engagement is rooted in data, shaped by purpose, and informed by lived experience. Her goal is simple but profound: to build systems that serve everyone, not just the privileged few.
Dr. Steed’s influence continues to grow. She was recently appointed to the Board of Trustees at Roosevelt University, an institution known for its legacy of social justice and equity. In this role, she helps shape the future of higher education while advocating for policies and practices that reflect the realities and needs of today’s diverse student populations.
Outside of her professional life, Dr. Steed finds strength and grounding in her faith and her family. A proud mother of four, she draws inspiration from her children and remains deeply committed to causes such as maternal health equity, youth empowerment, and mentorship. Whether she’s speaking on global platforms, teaching in academic classrooms, or mentoring the next generation of leaders, she remains focused on the reason she entered healthcare in the first place: to serve.
Reflecting on her journey, Dr. Steed offers a powerful insight: “Purpose will always outlast perception.” Throughout her career, she has faced challenges not because of performance, but because she represented a new model of leadership—one that didn’t conform to traditional expectations. But she stayed rooted in her values and committed to the people and communities she serves. “Leadership isn’t always easy, especially when you are the first or the only,” she says, “but it is always worth it when tied to something greater than yourself.”
Carrying the legacies of her ancestors, the wisdom of her community, and the unwavering belief that leadership should be grounded in service, Dr. Airica Steed is a shining example of the transformative power of education, purpose, and persistence. Through every chapter of her career, she reminds us that while titles and accolades may come and go, the true measure of leadership is the lasting impact we make on others.
Author: Jocelyn Bell, Alumni Relations Communication Coordinator