On International Women’s Day, we are proud to celebrate the achievements of women and raise awareness for gender equality. At Medicus Healthcare Solutions, it is an honor to be able to work with incredible healthcare providers, partners at healthcare facilities, and our very own coworkers who are women. In the spirit of celebration, we have asked some of the influential women whom we work with each day to share any advice in the hopes of inspiring other women around them. 

 

Kim Williams, Vice President of Delivery at Medicus Healthcare Solutions 

What advice would you give to new female leaders?

I have been lucky enough to have wonderful female leaders as role models to look up to throughout my career. To newer female leaders I would say “Speak up!” Speak your mind confidently. Don’t let the makeup of the room you are sitting in or audience that you are speaking to influence your behavior or quiet your voice. You have a seat at the table for a reason! Remember that.

 

Beeba K., Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist 

What advice would you give to new female leaders? 

Be true to yourself always. Even if it is unpopular or you are afraid.

What do you wish you knew earlier in your career that would help make you successful? 

You have the opportunity for service to be your vocation! Focus on being the best for your patients, instead of what others are thinking of you.

The theme this year is #BreakTheBias – a call to action to help break gender bias and stereotypes in our communities and workplaces, creating a world where difference is valued and celebrated. Have you faced any barriers in your career due to being a woman? If so, how did you overcome them? 

The assumption that I’m not as strong or intelligent as male counterparts comes up a lot in medicine. But I have nothing to prove, and I let my work be the demonstration of my skill. I stay focused on my purpose of service and giving my patients the best care.  

Why is it important for women to lift each other up? 

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” – African Proverb

 

Heather Croke, Vice President of People/HR/Risk at Medicus Healthcare Solutions 

What advice would you give to new female leaders?  

Don’t view yourself as a female leader. If you view yourself as less, it gives others to the opportunity to view you as less.

What do you wish you knew earlier in your career that would help make you successful? 

When leading you need to be vulnerable. Only when you are vulnerable do others feel they can be vulnerable around you and true growth happens. The trust and feedback loop that can then be created is invaluable to your future growth.

The theme this year is #BreakTheBias – a call to action to help break gender bias and stereotypes in our communities and workplaces, creating a world where difference is valued and celebrated. Have you faced any barriers in your career due to being a woman? If so, how did you overcome them?  

The biggest challenge I have faced, like many females, is how to balance a successful career with being a successful mother. The biggest advice I have here is to set boundaries and stick to them.  For me, that means shutting down work from when I leave work to when my kids go to bed.  I have found that these boundaries make me feel successful at home, and sharing these boundaries has led to support at work. The other challenge is mental … and has to do with feeling like an outsider in a room full of men.  Whenever I get into this mindset, I remind myself of the above, in that if I view myself as a “lessor” or “an outsider,” I open the door for others to view me the same way. To me it’s all about shifting my mindset in this situation and remembering to be confident in the value I bring to the room. 

Why is it important for women to lift each other up? 

It’s important for everyone to lift each other up.  Great teams are built on supporting one another and making each other better, not tearing each other down.

 

Beth, Client Partner at a Healthcare Organization in Oklahoma 

What advice would you give to new female leaders?  

Always lead by example.  The best and most respected leaders understand that respect goes both ways.  In healthcare, things are always changing, so being open to learning new ways of doing things is so important. I’ve found that being resistant to change will hinder your chances of moving up the ladder. Also, never be afraid to speak up and ask for what you want or need.

Why is it important for women to lift each other up?  

If we don’t lift each other up, who will? As sad as it is, women still struggle for equal footing in the workplace. When we encourage our female colleagues to reach higher, speak louder, and to learn more…it empowers all of us.

 

Megan, Vice President of Hospital Medicine Service at a

Healthcare Organization in New York

What do you wish you knew earlier in your career that would help make you successful?

Relationships matter as much as results, the ability to gain trust of others will be the key to your success.

What advice would you give to new female leaders?

Seek out mentors that are different from you, learn from them, they have something to offer you.

The theme this year is #BreakTheBias – a call to action to help break gender bias and stereotypes in our communities and workplaces, creating a world where difference is valued and celebrated. Have you faced any barriers in your career due to being a woman? If so, how did you overcome them?

Figure out what is important to you and do not compromise.  Work life balance is up to you to figure out, and build into your day.  Each day is different, some days work gets more, some days home gets more.  If you look back over a stretch of time and it is somewhat even then you have succeeded.

Why is it important for women to lift each other up?

Very often women are taught to compete for everything – friends, grades, place in society…  it is easy to forget to work together, that we did not get here alone, we got where we are by standing on the shoulder of those before us, and we need to remember to let others stand on ours.  They are not our replacements, they are proof that we were once there.

Thank you to the women who contributed to this post for International Women’s Day. We are appreciative of the work you are doing to impact the women around you each and every day!