What would you do if you didn’t work in healthcare?
Studying history has always been a passion of mine and from a very early age; I wanted to be a researcher or even an archeologist. My interest areas are early civilizations, specifically in the Middle East. I enjoy learning about ancient people, their laws and the amazing buildings and structures during those time periods. In recent years I have been able to travel to Israel and saw many of these ancient structures firsthand.
Can you give a shout-out to someone who helped you at a pivotal time in your career?
I have had many people who have helped me throughout my career, but I would have to say it was the CFO at my very first job in New York who stepped in at the most important moment. She recognized that I had the potential to be so much more than the office manager and offered me the opportunity to work in the production department as the assistant to the agency production manager. In the first six months of this new role, I knew for the first time what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.
How has the pandemic reset the rules on your work-life balance?
I have been able to spend more time traveling with my husband and son. As much as possible we will jump into the car to visit family, take day trips, drive to the beach, or go anywhere the road will take us. We have found this to be a great way to disconnect from our daily routine and spend some time together.
Share a moment when you left your comfort zone; what did you learn?
When I was 22 years old, I decided to move to NYC. I had never been on my own and leaving my close-knit family was a difficult decision to make. I was cautioned by friends and family not to make such a big change in my life when I hadn’t thought the situation through. I knew it would be difficult to support myself in NYC, but I was determined to give it a try. My gut told me that this was the right decision. This experience taught me to always follow my instincts because my instincts have brought me to where I am today.
What do you find frustrating about working in healthcare marketing?
The mentality that healthcare advertising isn’t as engaging or exciting as it can be in other areas of advertising. When working in this industry you are being presented with an opportunity to help improve a person’s overall health and well-being. I find this to be very satisfying and I am proud to say I too help people live a better life.
What are you doing to send the career ladder back down?
Mentorship has been fundamental to my success because of this I tend to be a hands-on leader. I like to encourage people to ask questions and look for answers. Once you show someone the path forward, they can start to figure out what works best for them and eventually, they can share that experience with someone new. Over the years I have managed several new product launches and I have always brought on new team members who have never had that experience. I enjoy watching them learn, answering questions and then eventually being able to step away as they become the new leader.
What’s something your colleagues don’t know about you?
I am an open book and don’t think there is too much that people don’t know about me. I have found that most people are surprised when I tell them that for a short period of time I worked at a deli as a cook, and that I can make a mean cheesesteak.
What is one thing you would tell young women starting their careers in healthcare marketing?
It is important to be curious and remember you can learn something new from anyone. You don’t need to have all the answers and it’s OK to get it wrong sometimes, but to learn from the experience and share that learning with someone else is the most important lesson to learn.
Recount an experience with the healthcare system, positive or negative, that inspires you.
My son was born with a severe heart condition, and he had to have heart surgery at 5 weeks old. My husband and I were immediately introduced to a pediatric cardiologist and surgeon within days of his birth to plan for his surgery. These two doctors spent hours walking us through every step of what we should expect during the surgery, his recovery and what to expect in the following years. I never had any doubts in trusting my infant son with these two amazing healthcare professionals. This experience has inspired me to give everyone who comes in contact with my healthcare related advertising the same level of care and attention.
Favorite TV show/movie/song/book?
I like so many movies and books but one of my favorites of both is Gone with the Wind. It is a story of a strong woman in a man’s world, and I remember watching the movie with my mother when I was very young.
