Phreesia’s Allison Hoffman: A Top Woman Leader Who Gives It Her All

Everyone has heard of The Golden Rule – treat others how you would like to be treated. 

For Allison Hoffman, General Counsel at healthcare technology company Phreesia, this simple yet profound statement is the foundation for how she leads her team.

“I believe if I create that kind of working environment, I’m able to give people really interesting work opportunities and allow them to stretch themselves,” Hoffman said. “I can focus on what drives each individual rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, and I can deliver constructive feedback so they can improve at their jobs. Phreesia is excellent at allowing me to do just that.”

Hoffman says her leadership style has been shaped by her own managers, both at Phreesia and at previous companies. However, she attributes the driving force behind her successful career to two people. 

“From the very beginning, my parents instilled a strong work ethic in me, and frankly, there was no other option for us growing up. You worked really hard and gave it your all in whatever you did,” Hoffman says. “Thankfully, I quickly found something that I really loved in legal work. If you love what you do and the people you work with, it makes for a fun, interesting and fulfilling career.”

It should be no surprise, then, that Hoffman’s career has been full of notable accomplishments. With more than 25 years of legal and people-management experience, Hoffman has held several leadership roles at companies in a variety of industries, including as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary for the lifestyle company Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, culminating in oversight of the company’s sale in 2015; as Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer for ALM Media; and as Chief Legal & Administrative Officer for Intersection, a digital technology company focused on improving life in cities and public spaces.

In August 2020, she joined Phreesia and currently oversees the fast-growing Legal, Compliance, Risk, Privacy and Security teams for the SaaS-based health technology company. In fact, since Hoffman joined Phreesia, her teams have grown more than 180%.

Hoffman says she feels incredibly lucky to be at Phreesia, due in large part to the company’s mission and the people around her that make it all possible. “Everybody is so smart and passionate about creating a better, more engaging healthcare experience,” she explains. “There’s so much opportunity to use technology in the healthcare space to further patient care. It’s exciting that Phreesia plays a big role in making that happen.”

In addition to her primary responsibilities at Phreesia, Hoffman recently became the executive sponsor of the Phreesia Women’s Network, an employee resource group aimed at fostering a healthy and supportive workplace for those who identify as women. Her role in the PWN has allowed her to mentor other women at the company. “I love being able to network with women in other departments I may not otherwise interact with. Being surrounded by intelligent and talented women is a big part of what makes Phreesia an incredible place to work.”

When asked her professional advice for other women, Hoffman replied: “Don’t be afraid to seek out new challenges and chances to learn new skills. It assures that you’re never bored and always growing your career -- even in ways that you never may have imagined.”