Title: Administrator, UTMB Health Clear Lake Campus
How long at UTMB: Four years
Was there a defining moment in your career when you realized that you wanted to pursue a position in leadership?
I don’t think there was one particular moment but rather a culmination of many. During my administrative residency, I had the opportunity to see and experience the amazing role that health care leaders had in bringing people, services and strategy together. I found this to be extremely rewarding and challenging at the same time—thus, leading to a career with many years in a variety of different health care leadership roles.
What obstacles have you faced in your career as a woman in leadership or working your way up to a leadership position? How did you overcome them?
Although that can potentially be true, women must learn to speak up. Share your career goals with a mentor or sponsor and seek new opportunities to meet and engage with people outside of your circle. After recognizing I was guilty of this syndrome in my own personal thinking, I became more vocal around the right people on what I wanted to experience and do in my career. This helped afford some exciting opportunities in my leadership journey.
How has being a woman shaped your leadership style?
Most women are naturally more empathetic and compassionate than our male counterparts. People are at the core of everything we do—whether it is our patients or employees. I feel that being a woman in leadership allows me to easily integrate these important components into my work so that we never forget who we are serving and why.
Who are your mentors and how did they impact the course of your career and you personally?
I have had (and continue to have) some amazing mentors and sponsors throughout my health care career—both when I was practicing OT at the bedside and throughout my leadership journey.
My list would be too long if I called out each person, but I do want to recognize two gentlemen who 20 years ago jump-started my health care leadership journey: Dave Bleakney and Bill Garwood. Both gentlemen challenged me, pushed me, called my name out in rooms when I wasn’t present for new opportunities and believed in me. Just like these two, I can go through a list of people who stand out throughout my leadership journey in the past and even today. To these individuals, I am forever grateful.
What was the best advice you were ever given?
Try and fail—but never fail to try. Staying within your “comfort box” will never afford you the opportunity to grow and reach your full potential. Try new things even when you’re not exactly sure how you’re going to do it; it will only make you a better person.
What advice would you give to women who want to rise to leadership positions?
Don’t underestimate your potential, your contributions and the impact you can make. Think twice before saying “no” to opportunities; you don’t have to know everything before saying “yes." Each experience in your journey will teach you important lessons that will only make you more skilled, competent and bolder for the next opportunity.