05/30/2026
For Jo Alvarez and Joan Mah, leadership goes beyond the workplace - it’s engrained in who they are.
These sisters, leaders, and long time Kaiser Permanente employees have a story that is rooted in something deeper: Culture, community, and the legacy of the people who came before them.
Jo, a HR Strategy and Design Consultant V in Enterprise Learning and Development and management co-lead for the National LMP Learning Program, and Joan, an optometrist, the IFPTE Western Area vice president and Local 20 regional capacity union partnership representative, have spent decades strengthening the Labor Management Partnership by leading with care and mentoring others to do the same.
But their journey started long before their careers.
It started with their mom.
“Our mom set the legacy for our family at Kaiser Permanente,” Alvarez says.
Their mother, Jovita Torio, worked in both Payroll and HR for Kaiser Permanente and was connected to the Summer Youth Program. She encouraged all her children to pursue careers at KP.
“Being Filipina, family is a big deal, and we really are a KP family,” says Mah.
That foundation shaped everything, from their commitment to teaching and mentorship to the way they show up as leaders. It’s also why representation matters so deeply.
“When I look at what my sister and I have done, I think about what it would’ve been like to have had more role models that looked like us,” Mah says, adding that her experiences as an Asian woman influence how she leads. “I want to inspire others to see us and believe that they can do it too. It’s a lot of work, but the only limitation you have is the one you set for yourself.”
“It’s important for new folks to see people that look like them in positions of influence,” says Alvarez. “That’s how you know what’s possible.”
Together, they’ve built careers grounded in partnership: Supporting teams, mentoring others, and opening doors for the next generation. As Joan describes it, “I want to lead, and I want things to be better than how I found them.”
Their story is also one of gratitude for the opportunities they’ve had, the lives they’ve touched, and the organization they’ve helped shape.
“Working at KP has been good for our family,” Mah says. “And we want to make it even better for the people who come next.”
This AAPI Heritage Month, Jo and Joan are honoring that legacy - especially the one who made it all possible.
“If it wasn’t for our mom, we wouldn’t be here.”
Pictured: Joan Mah (left) and Jo Alvarez (right), with a photo of their mom, Jovita Torio.
