What has been an important success in your career? Have you had a key breakthrough moment? In every organization where I have worked I have been successful at influencing the culture. I believe that by harnessing the collective talents at all levels of an organization it is possible to create a powerful competitive advantage. At UCSF Health, leading the creation of our Lean management system has been fun and rewarding. Bringing clarity to our work, helping leaders create systems to organize and prioritize their work, and aligning the work to our True North has been a worthwhile endeavor.

Can you tell us about an important struggle you have overcome in your career? I have sadly experienced gender as a barrier. I had to leave one organization after hitting a glass ceiling that wouldn’t budge.

What advice would you give to a woman entering your field today?  Find mentors to guide your career. Continually learn and don’t be afraid of failure: use these experiences as launching pads to continually improve yourself and those around you. As a woman, reach out to women leaders to learn how they have advanced their careers. Stay curious and listen deeply.

What’s on your reading list? I am an insatiable reader and learner (and now with Audible my workouts and  commutes are way more enjoyable!). I read/listen to about 5 books each month. I am a student of leadership, organizational culture and history. I’m a big fan of Ron Chernow biographies. I recently plowed through Grant and Hamilton, and now George Washington is my current Audible book. “The Knowing-Doing Gap: How Smart Companies "Turn Knowledge in to Action” by Jeffrey Pfeffer and Robert Sutton is my current Kindle read. And Carol Dweck’s “Growth Mindset” is one of my favorite personal development paperbacks. 

Get to know the rest of our Women of UCSF Health team here.