eLABorate Topics

In this episode of the eLABorate Topics podcast, Lona Small interviewed Jesse Day as he spoke about his work in grassroots advocacy for the medical lab profession, the success it garnered, and the formation of a collaborative grassroots organization the National Coalition for the Advancement of Laboratory Professionals.

Guest Bio
Jesse Day is a Medical Laboratory Scientist, board-certified by ASCP who has been involved in laboratory medicine since 2013 when he started working as a global health volunteer in Haiti and later as a phlebotomist in 2015. Jesse graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University’s College of Health Professions (Medical Laboratory Sciences, Bachelor of Science) and at the time of this recording was soon to be graduating with my Master of Healthcare Administration. Jesse can be reached at [email protected] or via LinkedIn.

 The National Coalition for the Advancement of Laboratory Professionals (NCALP)
 The mission of The NCALP is to provide direct advocacy for medical laboratory professionals in the areas of education, certification, licensure, and wage-equity to assure long-term quality excellence in the practice of laboratory medicine. Our fundamental work will build upon a strong integrated network of clinical and community-based resources that strengthen and promote laboratory professionals and their value to medicine - expanding public knowledge of the field to generate interest in the profession among young adults and further increasing public attention and revenue for professional development. 

Listeners to follow the Facebook page for the latest updates. There is a temporary home page up on our website, ncalp.com. Individuals, universities and educational programs, laboratory organizations, and more should reach out to us at [email protected] for volunteer opportunities and partnerships.  

Key Topics of the interview: 

1. How to get involved with advocacy
2. How has the journey been successful
3. What is the NCALP and why are organizations like this important 
4. Ways other Medical Laboratory Professionals can get involved in lab advocacy

Listen to this full episode of eLABorate Topics podcast to get more details on this topic.

 Be an eLABorate Supporter! 

1.    Listen on directimpactbroadcasting.com, Spotify, Apple Podcast, or your favorite podcast platform

2.    Don’t forget to subscribe to the show on your phone, tablet, or notebook so you never miss an episode! 

3.    Be sure to leave a comment and share it with a fellow medical laboratory professional!

4.    Join our eLABorate Topics Group on LinkedIn

Be a Guest on our show!

If you have a leadership or laboratory message to share and would like to be a guest on the show, please reach out to us by completing the guest interest form or send us an e-mail us at [email protected].

Please tune in next week to hear another amazing episode of eLABorate Topics!

It's easy to underestimate the importance of personal branding and actively avoid participating. The truth is branding occurs whether you participate in it or not. In today's world, it's important to take your personal brand seriously if you want others to take you seriously. Define your brand or it will be defined for you .

In today’s exciting episode co-host Tywauna Wilson discuss using your personal brand to fast track your career success. 

Listen for tips on understanding the importance of personal branding, defining your own personal brand, and ways to market for greater career success. 

Key Points:

• Your personal brand is your reputation
• Chart your own direction
• Take inventory of your strengths
• Discover your unique super power to distinguish yourself from colleagues
• What benefits do you bring to the table 
• Who are you in 15 words or less

Call to Action:

Do you have a personal brand? If so, how would you describe it?
If you are unsure ask yourself:
1. What do you want to be known for?
2. What are you known for?

Share your favorite takeaway from today's podcast here: Video Review

Be an eLABorate Supporter! 

1. Listen on directimpactbroadcasting.com, Spotify, Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast platform
2. Don’t forget to subscribe to the show on your phone, tablet or notebook so you never miss an episode! 
3. Be sure to leave a comment, and share with a fellow medical laboratory professionals!
4. Join our eLABorate Topics Group on LinkedIn
5. Leave us a Video Review and we will feature you on our Social Media: Video Review

Be a Guest on our show!

If you have a leadership or laboratory message to share and would like to be a guest on the show, please reach out to us by completing the guest interest form or send us an e-mail us at [email protected].

Please tune in next week to hear another amazing episode of eLABorate Topics!

In today’s exciting episode the co-hosts  Lona Small, Stephanie Whitehead, and Tywauna Wilson discuss the difference between Mentoring versus Coaching. Are they the same or are they different? Often, these terms are used interchangeably but there are fundamental differences. 

Listen to understand comparisons and figure out what you may need in your life to excel in your career.

Key Points:

• Identify the fundamentals of mentoring
• Identify the fundamentals of coaching
• What is the difference between mentoring and coaching
• Tips for mentors and mentees

Call to Action:

Analyze your personal board of directors or your support circle. Can you identify people who fit the role of mentor or coach in your life? Do they know they are serving in that capacity in your life? Use the tips discussed in this episode to have a discussion with your mentor/coach and with those you mentor/coach. 

Be an eLABorate Supporter! 

1. Listen on directimpactbroadcasting.com, Spotify, Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast platform
2. Don’t forget to subscribe to the show on your phone, tablet or notebook so you never miss an episode! 
3. Be sure to leave a comment, and share with a fellow medical laboratory professionals!
4. Join our eLABorate Topics Group on LinkedIn

Be a Guest on our show!

If you have a leadership or laboratory message to share and would like to be a guest on the show, please reach out to us by completing the guest interest form or send us an e-mail us at [email protected].

Please tune in next week to hear another amazing episode of eLABorate Topics!

Are you a military trained laboratory professional? This episode is for you so be sure to share it with your lab colleagues! 

In today’s exciting episode, co-host Stephanie Whitehead interviews Marcy Dufrene, MLT (ASCP) about her laboratory journey as a military trained MLT. Marcy attended the University of Texas San Antonio and decided to join the military to help with college expenses. She was swore into the Texas Air National Guard and sent to technical training courses to become a Medical Laboratory Technician. For the next ten years, Marcy worked in various hospitals across several states. With her military background and extensive clinical laboratory experience, Marcy has a unique perspective on how to make an impact in your lab regardless of your education, training or title.  

Tune in, listen as Marcy discusses her fascinating view on balancing her work life and home life, and learn how she is using her experiences in the military to advocate for the laboratory profession and inspire others. 

Be sure to post a comment and share your thoughts on what have you learned from working in different lab environments (both military and civilian) in our Linkedin eLABorate Topics Group. 

Be an eLABorate Supporter! 

1. Listen on directimpactbroadcasting.com, Spotify, Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast platform
2. Don’t forget to subscribe to the show on your phone, tablet or notebook so you never miss an episode! 
3. Be sure to leave a comment, and share with a fellow medical laboratory professionals!
4. Join our eLABorate Topics Group on LinkedIn

Be a Guest on our show!

If you have a leadership or laboratory message to share and would like to be a guest on the show, please reach out to us by completing the guest interest form or send us an e-mail us at [email protected].

Please tune in next week to hear another amazing episode of eLABorate Topics!

Is your team undergoing additional stresses due to drama caused by one person pulling your team in the opposite direction?

In this episode Lona Small gives tips on how to challenge a resister on your team.

She discusses the steps:

1.     Conversation.

2.     Identify strengths.

3.     Validate strengths.

4.     Share expectations.

5.     Highlight opportunities to improve (be specific of the issue)

6.     Provide opportunities to utilize strengths.

7.     Allow to create by participating or leading an initiative.

Build congruence, confidence, trust, and redirect by using the strengths to outshine weaknesses.

Allow to participate by creating. 
People support what they create!

Listen to this full episode of eLABorate Topics podcast to get more details on this topic.

You can reach Lona Small directly at [email protected] if you have questions or want to contact her regarding lab operational excellence coaching and training. You can also catch her on LinkedIn under Lona Gordon Small and follow hashtag #YouAreAnImportantPartOfTheWhole.

Sign up for free “Know your Core Role” Zoom call

https://calendly.com/lonasmall/discovery-call

 Be an eLABorate Supporter! 

1.    Listen on directimpactbroadcasting.com, Spotify, Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast platform

2.    Don’t forget to subscribe to the show on your phone, tablet or notebook so you never miss an episode! 

3.    Be sure to leave a comment and share with a fellow medical laboratory professional!

4.    Join our eLABorate Topics Group on LinkedIn

Be a Guest on our show!

If you have a leadership or laboratory message to share and would like to be a guest on the show, please reach out to us by completing the guest interest form or send us an e-mail us at [email protected].

Please tune in next week to hear another amazing episode of eLABorate Topics!

Whether you are starting a new career or working on building momentum in your current position, expanding your professional network gives you the ability to increase your credibility, interact with likeminded individuals and develop professionally.

In today’s exciting episode the co-hosts offers a few do’s and don’ts on networking that are sure to help you succeed. Improving your career starts with stepping “outside the box”, putting your best foot forward and saying “hello”!

Tune out the distractions and turn up your volume to hear some impactful career wisdom on how to network your way to success!

Key Points:

· What is networking and why is expanding your network so important

· Ways to be successful when building a new professional relationship

· Things to avoid while growing your professional circle

Call to Action:

Seventeen laboratory medicine organizations support the laboratory medicine profession!

We encourage you to take the time to visit the certain laboratory websites like the ASCP, AABB, AACC, CLMA, ASCLS to investigate how you can get actively involved in all the discussions that affect our profession.

Be an eLABorate Supporter! 

1. Listen on directimpactbroadcasting.com, Spotify, Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast platform
2. Don’t forget to subscribe to the show on your phone, tablet or notebook so you never miss an episode! 
3. Be sure to leave a comment, and share with a fellow medical laboratory professionals!
4. Join our eLABorate Topics Group on LinkedIn

Be a Guest on our show!

If you have a leadership or laboratory message to share and would like to be a guest on the show, please reach out to us by completing the guest interest form or send us an e-mail us at [email protected].

Please tune in next week to hear another amazing episode of eLABorate Topics!

Retaining prepared and developed talent can be a challenge.... but it doesn't have to be. Are you interested in finding ways that you can retain and develop the staff that you already have? Career growth opportunities for internal talent may be just the solution you are looking for.  

In today’s exciting episode co-host Tywauna Wilson, offers a formula for developing your internal talent. 

Key Points:
Benefits to Developing Your Internal Talent:

1. Saves the organization money
2. Reduce Turnover
3. Keep Top Talent
4. Reduce Hiring Risk
5. Help reach organizational goals

Ways You can develop talent/create talent development program:

1. Align with the business strategy
2. Offer e-Learning
3. Coaching and mentoring
4. Leveraging diversity
5. Recognize potential
6. Collaboration
7. Broaden your perspective

Call to Action:
As a manager or frontline leader, what can you do today to start developing your team?
As a future manager or emerging leader, how can you advocate for your professional development?
Drop in the the comments or let us know on LinkedIn: eLABorate Topics Group your feedback

eLABorate Topics Episodes References:

• Episode 78: Laboratory Professional 2.0
• Episode 76: Ways to Grow In Your Career
• Episode 25: Defining Your Leadership Career Roadmap

Be an eLABorate Supporter! 

1. Listen on directimpactbroadcasting.com, Spotify, Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast platform
2. Don’t forget to subscribe to the show on your phone, tablet or notebook so you never miss an episode! 
3. Be sure to leave a comment, and share with a fellow medical laboratory professionals!
4. Join our eLABorate Topics Group on LinkedIn

Be a Guest on our show!

If you have a leadership or laboratory message to share and would like to be a guest on the show, please reach out to us by completing the guest interest form or send us an e-mail us at [email protected].

Please tune in next week to hear another amazing episode of eLABorate Topics!

Special Guest Bio:

Blessing Ijeoma Ugwumba, MLS (ASCPi), MPH. is a research student with an interest in public health research, transfusion medicine, cancer research, and health system services. Her love for research stems from her histopathology internship posting. Blessing is from Nigeria (in West Africa), where she obtained a bachelor’s in medical laboratory science. Currently, she is branching out into other areas of interest in science and medicine. In obtaining her MPH, Blessing found that Health-related social disparities is universal. Her dream is to impact change through evidence-based practices especially toward the minority group and people that cannot advocate for themselves. 

Show Highlights:

In this episode, co-host Stephanie Whitehead interviews Blessing Ugwumba, MLS (ASCPi), MPH. As an internationally educated and trained medical laboratory scientist, Blessing has had a unique opportunity to practice and experience perspectives of the laboratory profession (both internationally and nationally). 

Tune in as Blessing discusses her fascinating view on laboratory medicine and learn how she is using her broad educational experiences to enhance her career. 

If you are just looking for advice on how maximize your experiences and expand your career aspirations– this episode is for you! 

Be a Supporter! 

1.      Listen on directimpactbroadcsting.com, Spotify, Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast platform

2.      Don’t forget to subscribe to the show on your phone, tablet or notebook so you never miss an episode! 

3.      Be sure to leave a comment, and share with a fellow medical laboratory professionals!

Be a Guest!

If you have a leadership or laboratory message to share and would like to be a guest on the show, please reach out to us at [email protected] or Direct Impact Broadcasting on Social Media. 

Have you ever wondered how some leaders seem to have it together? They have such confidence, professional presence and they’re respected by their team. “How can I get to be that type of leader?”

In this episode Lona Small gave 10 Traits of a Lab Operational Excellence Leader and discuss how you can be such a leader.

1.     Have a Clear Vision  of who you want to be 

a.     For yourself

b.     Your Team

c.     Your Environment

2.     Align Action with your Core Value

a.     What is important to you

b.     Do not compromise your core value

3.     Network and Exchange ideas

a.     Lunch and Learn etc.

4.     Collaborate and Contribute Expertise

a.     Join committee etc.

5.     Operate at your highest levels using your unique skill set

a.     Know Core Role

b.     Call to know Core Role

c.     https://calendly.com/lonasmall/discovery-call

6.     Innovative and be Flexible

a.     Adjust to changes in the environment

7.     Share Knowledge

a.     Build competency and capacity in team

8.     Push against the status quo

9.     Advocate and Bring Visibility to the profession

10.  Role Model

Listen to this full episode of eLABorate Topics podcast to get more details on ways lead without a title.

You can reach Lona Small directly at [email protected] if you have questions or want to contact her regarding lab operational excellence coaching and training. You can also catch her on LinkedIn under Lona Gordon Small and follow hashtag #YouAreAnImportantPartOfTheWhole.

Sign up for free “Know your Core Role” Zoom call

https://calendly.com/lonasmall/discovery-call

 Be an eLABorate Supporter! 

1.    Listen on directimpactbroadcasting.com, Spotify, Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast platform

2.    Don’t forget to subscribe to the show on your phone, tablet or notebook so you never miss an episode! 

3.    Be sure to leave a comment, and share with a fellow medical laboratory professionals!

4.    Join our eLABorate Topics Group on LinkedIn

Be a Guest on our show!

If you have a leadership or laboratory message to share and would like to be a guest on the show, please reach out to us by completing the guest interest form or send us an e-mail us at [email protected].

Please tune in next week to hear another amazing episode of eLABorate Topics!

Are you disappointed in your current position? Does the expectations you have for your career match what you have been able to achieve so far?

Improving your career starts with improving your mindset! In today’s exciting episode the co-hosts offer tips on how to grow at work, increase your impact and chart a unique career path. 

Tune out the distractions and turn up your volume to hear some impactful career wisdom!

Key Points:

• Why is career growth important?
• The benefits of focusing on your “next steps” and setting career goals
• How to create momentum and accomplish the growth you want to see

Call to Action:
Are you a mentor helping others achieve their career goals?

Are you a lab professional seeking guidance on how to advance in the laboratory field?

Drop in the the comments or let us know on LinkedIn: eLABorate Topics Group your feedback

Be an eLABorate Supporter! 

1. Listen on directimpactbroadcasting.com, Spotify, Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast platform
2. Don’t forget to subscribe to the show on your phone, tablet or notebook so you never miss an episode! 
3. Be sure to leave a comment, and share with a fellow medical laboratory professionals!
4. Join our eLABorate Topics Group on LinkedIn

Be a Guest on our show!

If you have a leadership or laboratory message to share and would like to be a guest on the show, please reach out to us by completing the guest interest form or send us an e-mail us at [email protected].

Please tune in next week to hear another amazing episode of eLABorate Topics!