Colin McDonald

Chief HR Officer Colin McDonald (he/him) has enjoyed every day of his nine years with Cross Country Healthcare. Promoted five times during his tenure, he feels grateful for the opportunities that have been afforded him — especially those involving DE&I initiatives, a true passion for him. “I grew up in the Bronx, and there weren’t a lot of opportunities for young men of color unless you went off to college — so that’s what I did,” he says.

McDonald has put career advancement and pay equity at the forefront of his career, and he makes sure to share that philosophy with all of Cross Country’s leaders. “One of the things that I’m most proud of is working on pay equity within the company. We have equitable salary bands [ranges] within the company, and we’re able to promote this and provide this information to our executive leadership and make an impact for our employees within the company,” he explains.

In 2020, McDonald started Cross Country Impact, an enterprise DEI initiative that identifies opportunities for Cross Country employees to advance their understanding of what diversity, equity and inclusion means in the workplace as well as in society. Cross Country Impact presents workshops, shares external reports and studies, and establishes webinars and internal events the organization can utilize to strengthen internal relationships and promote positive and productive conversations around sustaining a truly inclusive environment.

One of the things that I’m most proud of is working on pay equity … we’re able to … make an impact for our employees within the company.

Outside of Cross Country, McDonald is just as active in advocating for DE&I rights. He is a member of the Broward County NAACP chapter as well as an active member in the graduate chapter of his fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi, through which he serves his community by participating in efforts such as food drive fundraisers and résumé writing for veterans.

Going forward, McDonald plans to start a group for women of color within Cross Country, as well as enhancing the other diversity programs. He aims to ensure that Cross Country is not just involved in DE&I programs but serves as a model organization for enacting real, actionable change.