Why did you decide to join Women of UCSF’s team of volunteers? I saw other Bay Area organizations take on a deliberate effort to support women and the impact that it had on individual women that I knew personally. It made me think about how great it would be if UCSF could have that same impact for women in our community. With the group of volunteers leading this effort, I am certain that is the case!
What’s your role at UCSF and what is your favorite part about it? I’m the Chief Strategy Officer for UCSF Health and in this role get to work with the most amazing colleagues to design and implement an exciting vision for our future. I love everything that has to do with the growth of our missions - especially insuring that those who are the most sick - can find their way to us for care when they need it.
Can you tell us about an important role model or mentor in your life? I’ve been fortunate to have many great role models and mentors throughout my career. Each of them had more confidence in my ability than I had in my own and helped me to grow into new roles with tremendous support and coaching. The most important advice I have been given by a mentor was to find an organization that shares your personal values and mission and then stick to these values everyday. It is much easier to face tough challenges and remain motivated when you believe in what your organization is trying to accomplish.
What advice would you give yourself early on in your career? ...
What do you like to do outside of work? I recently got back into gardening which I love because it’s an activity that involves planning. You need to have a strategy, educate yourself, gather your ingredients and then go for it. Some things come together, which is lovely, and some plants don’t work. It’s part of the learning. In particular, I love growing orchids because orchids require patience, and in healthcare we have to have patience. We have to have a sense of urgency, but patience is important as well.
As many people know, I’m a total dog lover. Right now I’m doing agility training with my dog Salsa because he is older, and we have to keep his brain going, just like I'm older and have to keep my brain going! It requires him to have a sense of balance on a balance beam or go through poles or tunnels. I see him figuring out the best way to get there for the treat. And it’s just like how I need to always figure things out and get better - continuous improvement. I think animals provide such a great balance to people's lives
I also love coffee and not just for drinking, I truly admire the art of making coffee and what it brings in terms of social needs. Coffee helps create moments, whether it’s enjoying a morning coffee or how it might uplift you in the afternoon.
What's an issue you think remains overlooked or under-addressed in terms of women in the professional world? People think we have arrived when there’s one woman at the table or on a committee, and that’s not the point...