Norma Jean Suarez Women in Business Award 2026

Norma Jean Suarez

Unity Health on Main

Executive Director

Greenville

Since 2017, Norma Jean Suarez has spearheaded Unity Health on Main’s mission to expand health care access. A strategic senior executive with an MBA and 20+ years of experience, she excels in nonprofit leadership and organizational development. Having secured millions in funding and scaled numerous organizations, Suarez is a recognized MDC-ILOC Fellow, Riley Institute DLI Fellow, and Calder D. Ehrmann award recipient. She is a leader in operational excellence and inclusive leadership for underserved populations.

How do you define leadership?

My leadership is defined by the stewardship of partner and community trust, blending strategic stewardship, relational equity, and operational excellence. Rather than a top-down approach, I prioritize capacity building and inclusivity. By balancing data-driven metrics with human-centric counseling expertise, I lead with both my head and heart. Ultimately, I define leadership through collaborative power, connecting resources to needs to create sustainable, resilient systems that elevate underserved populations and strengthen the nonprofit sector.

What makes you an effective leader? (Your greatest strength). What are you still working on?

My greatest strength is being a strategic humanist, bridging clinical data with my counselor’s heart to build deep partner and community trust. My goal is not to just manage systems, but steward people. Currently, I’m working on transitioning from operator to orchestrator. As we scale Unity Health through relocation and expansion, I’m refining how to delegate operational details to my team, ensuring the mission remains sustainable and impactful without requiring my personal oversight of every moving part.

Is there a mentor who has meant a lot to you in your career?

Mr. Leonard Gray of San Antonio, Texas, has been the steady hand and guiding light of my career. His fairness and transparency taught me that true leadership isn't about having all the answers, but about having the courage to be honest. More than anything, his unwavering belief in my potential gave me the confidence to lead with my whole heart. I am the leader I am today because Mr. Gray saw a spark in me and chose to fan it.

What is your greatest fear, and how do you manage fear?

My greatest fear is letting down my team and the community that relies on me (to ensure) that every person seeking care actually finds it. I manage this fear by leaning into the very partnerships I’ve built. Instead of carrying the burden alone, I trust in collective strength and strategy. By focusing on my purpose and the "why" behind the work, I turn anxiety into the fuel that drives our mission forward.

What’s the best advice you have received in business that you wish to pass on to our readers?

The best advice I’ve embraced is that mission is powered by people, not just plans. In the rush to scale and secure funding, never lose sight of the humanity behind the data. Build a culture where transparency is a given and leadership is shared. When you invest in the well-being of your team and community first, the organizational success will follow. Lead with a quiet confidence that empowers others to find theirs.

What would you say is your greatest professional accomplishment to date?

My greatest professional accomplishment isn't a single grant or building; it’s the restoration of hope and dignity for the families we serve. Seeing a patient receive quality care they once thought was out of reach, or watching my team grow into their own leadership, is my true "why." Building a sustainable, inclusive healthcare home where our community feels seen and valued remains the most rewarding work of my life.

What one thing have you learned that has served you well over the years?

I’ve learned that relational capital is more valuable than any budget. Programs and buildings are essential, but they are only as strong as the trust you build with the people and partners inside them. When you prioritize listening over being right and people over processes, you create a foundation that can weather any storm. Leading with genuine empathy and integrity transforms a community into a family, and that connection is what truly sustains our work.

If there is one thing you could go back and do differently what would it be?

If I could go back, I would tell my younger self to breathe and trust that I didn’t have to carry the entire mission on my own shoulders. Earlier in my career, I felt I had to be the engine for every solution. I’ve since learned that true impact comes through shared leadership. I would have leaned into the power of the collective sooner, realizing that vulnerability is actually a leader's greatest strength.