Entry-level positions for aspiring Operations Excellence professionals at Sharp HealthCare
Entry-level positions in performance improvement often begin as associate roles in finance or within specific healthcare areas, allowing individuals to "gain some expertise in their field." Building a portfolio of projects showcasing initiative beyond daily tasks, as Myron describes with "using that 20% to grow," is key to transitioning into more senior roles like Operations Excellence Manager, which typically requires demonstrating expertise first.
Project Management, Healthcare Operations, Entry-Level Positions, Career Development, Problem-Solving
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Myron Soyangco
Manager of Operations Excellence
Sharp HealthCare
UCLA
UCLA Anderson SOM - MBA
Chemistry
Healthcare, Medical & Wellness
Operations and Project Management
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, Immigrant, Worked 20+ Hours in School, LGBTQ, Transfer Student
Video Highlights
1. Many entry-level positions exist in fields like finance and healthcare that can lead to a career in operations excellence. Consider associate roles in finance, consulting firms (like Accenture or PWC), or entry-level healthcare positions to gain expertise.
2. To stand out, focus on mastering your initial role and dedicate some time to developing a portfolio of projects showcasing your initiative and ability to think strategically. This proactive approach can increase your visibility and open doors to more advanced roles.
3. Operations excellence roles are rarely entry-level. Instead, build your expertise and demonstrate your capabilities in a specialized area, then gradually transition to a more generalist role over time. A background in nursing, pharmacy, administration, software engineering, or IT can all be valuable paths.
Transcript
Speaking of entry-level positions, what are some positions in this field that an undergraduate college student might want to consider?
If you want to get into the performance improvement space, you can look at associate roles. Many people start out as associates in finance, especially if they want to learn to be a project manager in that financial sector.
You might hear about people wanting to join consulting firms like Accenture or PWC. That's actually a path into what I do.
If you specifically want to be in healthcare operations, then I would say the entry-level positions are simply entry-level healthcare positions. Gain some expertise in your field where you can be an early specialist.
When I came into Sharp Hospitals, I came in as an expert in the lab, even though I'm a generalist now. My colleagues in my role are also generalists and can handle projects. I have colleagues who are nurses, pharmacists, administrative specialists, software engineers, and IT hardware specialists.
It's about finding your space and becoming really good at it. In an entry-level role, I always subscribe to the 80% rule. If you can do your daily job using 80% of your energy, you can use the remaining 20% to grow within your role.
Use that 20% to build a portfolio of projects or work that shows you can think beyond the day-to-day. This allows you to move into the strategic planning side when opportunities arise.
Opportunities don't easily arrive for entry-level jobs, but if you keep your eyes peeled, you can join a team or show your worth. From there, you can transition into my role.
You don't typically enter an Operations Excellence Manager role as an entry-level person. You show your worth in your smaller area of work first, and then you become a generalist in due time.