By Joy King, 2025 TRUST President
Recently, my life reminded me that a leadership path is deeply personal. No two journeys are identical, and leadership is not confined to the boundaries of one’s initial path.
The Women’s Health Leadership TRUST has always championed the view that great leaders come from various backgrounds. We have members who are clinicians, accountants, marketers, philanthropists, teachers and more—all with a passion for the broad health care industry and a desire to uplift women leaders. Our members have thrived across various sectors, demonstrating that the essence of leadership transcends any one industry.
I share this with news regarding my professional journey, which continues to be inspired by the values we cherish in our TRUST community. I recently accepted the position of CEO at the Animal Humane Society. This role resonates deeply with my longstanding commitment to leadership, care and compassion—principles that fuel my personal and professional life. Although this position steers my career path slightly from direct involvement in human health care, my dedication to advancing women in leadership remains as strong as ever.
While working on my new chapter, I am deeply committed to my role as President of the Women’s Health Leadership TRUST. I believe the experiences and insights I will gain from the Animal Humane Society and the animal side of health care can enrich the TRUST mission and continue fostering leadership qualities that transcend the boundaries of any single industry. I remain dedicated to empowering women and promoting leadership, and I am eager to bring this passion to both the Animal Humane Society and the TRUST.
I encourage all TRUST members to remain courageously open to new possibilities and embrace leaps of faith with confidence. We never know where our leadership skills and networks will guide us.
As we look forward to another year of growth and inspiration, I extend my gratitude to all TRUST members whose dedication and passion make the TRUST a beacon for women leaders. Special thanks to our committees, board members, mentors and sponsors whose efforts and generosity ensure our vision for empowering women will continue to flourish.
And I am incredibly grateful to Dr. Lisa Saul for her exceptional leadership as 2024 TRUST President. Under her guidance, the TRUST has advanced critical conversations and initiatives empowering women health care professionals across the region. Dr. Saul’s ability to bring together diverse voices and perspectives has made a lasting impact on our collective mission. I am inspired by her vision and tireless dedication, which have helped the TRUST reach new heights. Dr. Saul’s legacy of leadership will continue to inspire and guide us as we move forward.
Looking ahead to 2025, I am filled with hope and excitement. Our vision is one of growth—expanding our reach, deepening our impact and providing even more opportunities for connection and advancement for women in health care. I am honored to build upon the incredible foundation we’ve created together for the future of women leaders in health care. I know the TRUST will remain strong for years to come. Here’s to another year of collaboration, growth and lasting impact.
Joy King serves as the 2025 TRUST President and is the CEO of the Animal Humane Society (AHS), one of the nation’s leading animal welfare organizations. Prior to AHS, Joy spent nine years at NMDP (formerly the National Marrow Donor Program and Be the Match), where she was Chief Advancement Officer and Executive Director of the NMDP Foundation. Joy spent 16 years in leadership roles at the American Cancer Society, ultimately serving as Senior Vice President of Operations for the organization’s Midwest division. Joy has served on the board of Kappa Delta Chi Sorority Inc.’s Emerald Foundation and Jeremiah Program. She has been recognized by the Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal as a 2015 Women in Business, Twin Cities Business Magazine’s Best In Class Healthcare Executives, Greenspring’s 500 Most Powerful Business Leaders in Minnesota, and Marquis Who’s Who Top Executives.