February 2024 marks Wendy Coyle's two-year anniversary as tango's Chief People Officer. In a recent interview, we had the opportunity to explore Wendy's impactful contributions over the past two years, particularly in the realm of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and her enthusiasm for shaping a robust company culture.
Tell us about your role at tango!
Wendy: I lead the strategic function of human capital and the employee experience to meet the needs of the business, overseeing our Human Resources and talent functions. This encompasses a spectrum from hiring, onboarding, employee relations, management, rewards, retention, and development, to culture, compliance, diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. Additionally, I manage benefits, payroll, and compensation.
What led you to join tango?
Wendy: I did not start my career in this space but I have a passion for healthcare since my mom was a nurse. I knew I wanted to help people just like her but I was not interested in needles, ha! Therefore, when I moved to Arizona, my first role was with a health plan, which eventually led me to tango. Even though I am not patient facing, I am part of the journey in patient care. When I met our CEO and COO, I knew this was where I wanted to be. I love having the opportunity to ensure our teams are connected to our overall mission.
What initiatives at tango are you especially proud of?
Wendy: I am proud of the teams that I have built and the success in our employee engagement, diversity and culture. tango was featured in Vistria’s 2023 Annual Impact Report for our efforts in DEI with our respect to recruitment. The HR team also started “Coffee Chats” this year, and our first conversation was centered around Black History Month. We can’t wait to have more!
We established our Culture Committee in 2022, which is comprised of dedicated individuals who are passionate about fostering an inclusive workplace. We work together to organize monthly events and initiatives. We’ve done everything from an online Secret Santa exchange to creating chat channels to discuss various topics such as Chinese New Year, Valentine's Day, Presidents Day, St. Patrick's Day, and more. The aim is to create a fun, engaging, and entertaining environment where everyone feels valued, heard, and included.
How have you kept a strong company culture with most of the team being remote?
Wendy: Even though the majority of our company works across the country, from the west coast to the east coast and in 26 states, we feel like a family. We are very intentional with getting together regularly in person to foster connection and collaboration. Our executive and senior leadership teams meet in person quarterly, and we love having teams visit our tango headquarters in Phoenix, AZ. When together, we always make sure to enjoy time with each other by doing team building events. It keeps us connected!
We also initiated “tango talks” in the middle of 2023 to improve company culture since we are 95% remote. The purpose of these talks is to get everyone to learn more about their leadership teams. Our CEO, Brian, attends every discussion. We have received great reviews from employees who attend. Everyone seems to value the quality, personal time with our CEO and leadership team, as well as getting to connect with team members they don’t interact with as frequently.
What are you most excited about when it comes to tango in 2024?
Wendy: I am excited to be a part of our continued growth and what we are becoming!