This week on the Swaay.Health Podcast, I had the honor of sitting down with my friends Amy Oliver and Carol Flagg, this year’s Community Members of the Year at the 2025 Swaay.Health Awards. I loved hearing about their journeys into the Swaay Community and why this space has become so meaningful. Not just for them, but for so many of us. From meerkats to hummingbirds to koalas, we even debated which mascot best represents the spirit of Swaay—a mix of curiosity, energy, and heart. What would you choose as the Swaay.Health mascot?

• Community is the heartbeat of Swaay. Both winners emphasized that true value comes from giving, connecting, and showing up authentically.
• Vulnerability fuels connection. Sharing failures, being open, and supporting each other makes this community stronger.
• Relationships come first. Building trust before you “need” it creates opportunities, friendships, and long-term professional growth.

Their paths into the Swaay Community may have looked different, but both found lasting connection and value along the way. For Carol, her connection stretches back to the very first Swaay.Health LIVE conference, (called the HITMC conference at that time)  when sessions were small, sponsors shared tables, and conversations flowed freely. “It was clear right from the get-go that even from the first year, the value of the conference was there and there was no place to go but up,” she recalled. Amy, on the other hand, connected with the community post-COVID, describing how quickly it became a lifeline. “I just feel like I had no idea what I was getting into, but in the best way possible.”

After reminiscing about their journeys into this community, the conversation turned to what it felt like to be honored as Community Members of the Year. When asked what the award meant to them personally, both Amy and Carol shared heartfelt reflections that spoke to the true essence of community. Amy shared, “It’s proof that consistent engagement in the community is seen and recognized. That’s not why I do it, but it’s such a lovely surprise.” For Carol, the recognition underscored her philosophy of giving without expectation: “I don’t ever see it as, ‘What am I going to get out of this?’ It’s about giving back. And if I give back, things come full circle. That’s the karma of life.”

As the conversation wrapped, both offered advice for newcomers and those eager to make an impact in healthcare marketing. Carol encouraged attendees to “be a meerkat”—curious, social, and unafraid to jump in. Amy stressed the importance of building genuine connections before you need them: “The best opportunities come from people who already know and trust you.” Together, their stories are a reminder that what makes the Swaay Community special isn’t just the events or the content, it’s the people.

It’s that time again, nominations for the 2026 Swaay.Health Awards are officially open! Check out this year’s categories and put forward a nomination for yourself, a colleague, or a friend who deserves the spotlight.