Candice Fobb has spent her career at the intersection of workforce strategy, organizational leadership, and behavioral health operations. As Founder & Chief Human Resources Officer of The Caydence Company and Foundation Healthcare Partners, she helps mission-driven organizations — particularly those in behavioral health and intellectual/developmental disabilities services — strengthen culture, improve operational alignment, retain talent, and build sustainable systems that support both performance and people.
“I’ve always been deeply interested in the human side of organizations — how leadership, culture, communication, and systems influence not only business outcomes, but people’s lives,” Candice said. “Early in my career, I recognized that many organizations were struggling not because they lacked passion or vision, but because they lacked the infrastructure and workforce strategy necessary to sustain growth and effectively support their people.”
That realization became even sharper within behavioral health and IDD services, where workforce instability, burnout, compliance pressures, and operational gaps can directly affect vulnerable populations. The Caydence Company was built from a desire to help organizations lead more intentionally, and Foundation Healthcare Partners was created as an extension of that mission — focused specifically on strengthening behavioral health systems and support services for underserved communities.
“One pivotal realization for me was recognizing that many organizational challenges were rooted in leadership and workforce infrastructure — not just operational issues alone,” she said. “That shifted the way I approached leadership entirely. I stopped viewing HR, operations, and organizational culture as separate conversations and began treating them as interconnected drivers of long-term impact.”
The work isn’t without its challenges. “In behavioral health and healthcare-adjacent spaces, leaders are balancing workforce shortages, burnout, compliance demands, funding limitations, and increasing community needs all at once,” Candice explained. “Building sustainable organizations in those environments requires resilience, adaptability, and strategic leadership. At the same time, that is also what makes the work incredibly rewarding — knowing that stronger leadership, healthier workplace cultures, and better operational systems can directly improve outcomes for employees, organizations, and the communities they serve.” One of the most fulfilling parts of her career, she added, is helping leaders realize that workforce strategy isn’t separate from organizational success — it’s central to it.
Her advice to other women leading from behind the scenes is pointed: “Stop underestimating the value of your expertise simply because it comes naturally to you. Many women spend years operating at high levels — solving problems, leading teams, building systems, driving results — without fully recognizing the authority they already carry.” She also pushes back on the instinct to wait for perfect readiness. “Growth rarely happens inside comfort zones. Leadership is not about perfection; it is about clarity, consistency, and courage. Most importantly, build sustainably. Too many women are praised for overextending themselves while silently carrying the emotional and operational weight of everyone around them. Sustainable leadership requires boundaries, delegation, strategic thinking, and the willingness to prioritize your own wellbeing alongside your ambition.”
For women newer to the IAW community, Candice encourages intention and participation over polish. “Visibility and opportunity are built through relationships, consistency, and showing up authentically. Don’t wait until you feel fully polished before engaging. Be willing to introduce yourself, ask questions, support other women, and share your expertise openly. Some of the most valuable opportunities come from conversations and relationships you never expected.” She also encourages members to think beyond immediate transactions: “Communities like IAW become most powerful when women actively contribute value to one another rather than simply seeking visibility for themselves.”
Looking ahead, Candice’s goal is to become a recognized voice in behavioral health leadership, workforce strategy, and organizational sustainability — continuing to expand Foundation Healthcare Partners while helping organizations build systems that support both people and performance. She’s also growing her visibility through speaking engagements, strategic partnerships, podcast features, and thought leadership focused on healthier workplace cultures and more sustainable behavioral health infrastructure.
“I want women — especially those who have spent years building, supporting, and leading behind the scenes — to understand that their experience, perspective, and leadership matter,” she said. “There is power in operational leadership, strategic thinking, and people-centered work, even when it is not always the most visible role in the room. I believe the future of leadership will belong to organizations and leaders who understand that sustainable growth is built through people, culture, and purpose — not just performance metrics alone.”
On what IAW means to her: “IAW represents visibility, connection, and expansion. As someone who has spent much of my career leading behind the scenes, IAW has provided an environment that encourages women to step forward, own their expertise, and build influence intentionally. For me, this membership is about more than networking — it is about becoming part of a community that challenges women to think bigger about their voice, leadership, and legacy.”
Connect with Candice:
Website: https://www.caydenceco.com/
IAW Inner Circle: https://innercircle.iawomen.com/u/3907f726
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candicefobb/
Want to build a community like Candice’s? IAW is open and waiting for women from all around the globe to join our community of professional women who want to expand their horizons just like you.
