Significant Career Lesson From An Administrative Fellow At City Of Hope
Saba, a woman of color in healthcare administration, learned the crucial lesson of seeking out mentors who share similar identities to navigate career challenges. This involved finding "that person that can be your champion" and provide guidance, even if not within the same organization, ultimately boosting confidence and advocacy.
Mentorship, Networking, Career Development, Overcoming Challenges, Leadership
Advizer Information
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Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
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Traits
Saba Ansari
Administrative Fellow
City of Hope
Cal State Fullerton, graduated in 2019
University of Michigan, Masters in Public Health
Political Science, American Studies
Healthcare, Medical & Wellness, Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking
Operations and Project Management
Worked 20+ Hours in School
Video Highlights
1. Finding mentors who share your identity can significantly aid career navigation.
2. Mentors don't always need to be in the same workplace; shared experiences across fields (e.g., healthcare) are valuable.
3. Having a champion and advocate who provides confidence and support is crucial for career advancement.
Transcript
As someone who identifies as a woman of color, how has that impacted how you've navigated your career?
In many previous workplaces, and even where I am now, there have been many people who look like me. This has made it difficult to figure out who to go to for personal growth and who I want to learn from.
The lesson I learned early on was to find mentors who looked like me and shared identities with me. They could help me figure out how to navigate the workplace.
Most of these mentors haven't been in the exact same workplace, but they have been in healthcare and hospital administration. It truly makes a difference to share experiences with someone and figure out how they reached their career position.
Finding that person who can be your champion, give you a confidence boost, and be your advocate is crucial, whether they are in your organization or elsewhere.
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