Faith, leadership, legacy: recognizing Black trailblazers at AdventHealth

Faith, leadership, legacy: recognizing Black trailblazers at AdventHealth

ORLANDO, Fla. — During times of challenges and systemic barriers, stories like those of Womack “Mack” Rucker and Sandra Randolph stand as powerful reminders of what can be accomplished when leaders commit to opening doors for others. Their journeys as leaders within AdventHealth highlight how faith, determination, and mentorship can create lasting change.

“I wanted to change the system” — Womack "Mack" Rucker

Mack Rucker’s entry into health care leadership was rooted in persistence. “I would go to the hospital every day as a college student and apply for a job,” Rucker, a retired AdventHealth vice president, recalled. “Every day, I heard the same thing: ‘We don’t have any jobs.’ Meanwhile, my classmates — who didn’t look like me — were getting hired. I knew it wasn’t fair, but I also knew I couldn’t give up.”

Eventually, Rucker’s persistence paid off, and he was hired at Washington Adventist Hospital as a messenger in the late 1960s. But even in that role, he noticed something glaring. “There were no Black leaders in the departments I worked in,” he said. “I decided if I ever got the chance, I would help create opportunities for others like myself. I wanted to change the system.”

His determination carried him to the very leadership positions he had once admired from afar. “I would walk by the administrative office as a young messenger and think, ‘One day, my name is going to be on that door.’ And years later, it was.”

Faith, Rucker said, was a cornerstone of his success. “When I started in this field, I wanted to work for a faith-based organization because I knew it would align with my values. I also knew that prayer and faith would guide me when things got tough.”

“The person that hired me was the CEO, Mack Rucker” — Sandra Randolph

Sandra Randolph, a retired vice president and current board trustee for AdventHealth’s Central Florida Division, is among the countless professionals whose lives were impacted by Rucker’s commitment to mentorship.

“After I finished graduate school, my first role was with Washington Adventist Hospital. It was a new leadership position where Mack was the VP, and he suggested my name to the CEO of that hospital,” she said. “Later, in 1981, I was called to help run a small, historically Black hospital in Nashville, Tenn., and the person who hired me as the VP was the CEO: Mack Rucker.”

Randolph recalled how that opportunity ultimately opened doors for her at then Florida Hospital. “Every opportunity achieved, every earned perspective, every experience, prepared me for the next one. I've often been, from high school on, the only person in the room that looked like me. In hospital administration, I was also the only person that looked like me. Female and Black.” The experience helped shape Randolph’s own philosophy on leadership. “One of the things that I learned along the way was, you don't have to prove, you have to perform.”

Mentorship as a lifelong commitment

Rucker views mentorship as a calling.

“I always tell people, ‘If you’re in the chair, help someone else get in the chair,’” he said. “I know what it’s like to have doors shut in your face. That’s why I’ve spent my career helping others get through those doors.”

He credits his mentors for teaching him the importance of lifting others up.

“My first job after college didn’t come because I filled out an application. It came because someone recommended me. That taught me early on how powerful it is to have someone in your corner.”

Randolph echoed this sentiment and emphasized the difference between mentorship and sponsorship.

“A mentor guides you,” she explained. “But a sponsor speaks up for you when you’re not in the room. Mack was both for me.”

Faith as the guiding force

For both Rucker and Randolph, faith has been the guiding force behind their leadership. “I prayed constantly throughout my career,” Rucker shared. “There were times I felt like I wasn’t moving forward, but I’ve learned that God opens the right doors at the right time. You don’t have to force it.”

Randolph said her faith has helped her navigate the challenges of leadership, especially in moments of uncertainty.

“There are times when you feel like you’re alone, making tough decisions that no one else fully understands. For me, prayer has always been a source of strength and clarity.”

“If not me, then who?” — Sandra Randolph

One of Randolph’s guiding principles is a sense of responsibility. “If not me, then who?” she asks. “Sometimes it’s uncomfortable to push for change, but that’s part of the work we’re called to do. We must ensure that inroads are embedded for the next generation.”

Her advice for future leaders is straightforward: “Work smart, build relationships, and always look for ways to lift others up. Performance matters but so does trust. People will advocate for you if they trust you.”

Rucker adds, “Be prepared when opportunities arise. Sometimes, that means taking the hardest jobs or stepping outside of your comfort zone. And never forget to help others prepare for success.”

A legacy of opportunity

This Black History Month, the legacies of Mack Rucker and Sandra Randolph remind us of the power of mentorship and faith. Their stories are about more than breaking barriers — they’re about building bridges for others to cross.

“The success we achieve is not ours alone. It’s for the people coming behind us,” Rucker said.

“I appreciate the journey, the hills and the valleys.” Randolph added.

Their journeys inspire us to dream bigger, lead with faith and leave a legacy that empowers generations to come.