Purpose became operating system for Rikki Harris, chief executive officer of TN Voices, whose charge is anchored by a concise mission statement to be the collaborative leader guiding mental health transformation.
A pivotal season reshaped her approach. During a board-approved sabbatical in 2018, Harris examined what families, clinicians and communities needed from a statewide nonprofit that had already served thousands. She returned with resolve to strengthen foundations, widen reach and build solutions that would endure beyond any one tenure. Structure, strategy and culture were aligned so teams could deliver consistent care while exploring fresh pathways to wellness.
Transformation at TN Voices centers on access and impact. Harris restructured for clarity around outcomes, modernized processes and reinforced a people-first ethos that treats every interaction as a chance to build trust. Partnerships deepened with schools, courts, health systems and grassroots organizations. The aim is simple and demanding: Make support easier to find, easier to start and easier to sustain for Tennesseans navigating mental health challenges.
Innovation carries forward in practical pilots. Harris is advancing work that tests new treatments outside tightly-regulated programming while honoring standards of safety and effectiveness. Focus areas include support for single mothers and families facing compounding stressors as well as fresh approaches in substance use disorder care. Lessons from those pilots inform broader offerings so progress scales without losing touch.
Growth for impact guides the next five years. Harris is positioning the organization to expand services responsibly, strengthen talent pipelines and design offerings that meet people where they live and learn. Technology will simplify intake and follow-up. Education will help communities understand options. Every initiative is held to a clear measure: Does this remove barriers for the next person who reaches out?
Recognition as a Titan 100 Honoree reflects influence beyond one organization. Harris is known for championing better compensation for the mental health workforce and for mentoring leaders who will carry the mission forward. Service in faith and civic settings underscores a belief that durable change requires many hands working together with humility.
Accomplishments include expansion into new initiatives that increased statewide impact, sustained acknowledgement from civic and professional groups and honors that speak to ethics and results. Harris points with particular pride to a top workplaces award because it reflects the team’s voice, and to recognition such as the ELYSIAN Circle women of excellence in philanthropy which affirms a life of service.
Consistent, people-first choices define Harris, coupled with an unflinching demand for accountability. She listens deeply, acts with speed and engineers frameworks that remain useful long after attention moves on. Blending steady resolve with inventive thinking, Harris has become a catalytic force in behavioral health, lifting TN Voices into a statewide hub for collaborative change.
