eLABorate Topics

Where do you want to go in your career? Let's come up with a game plan to get you there. Together we will design the essential components needed to get to the career of your choice!

In this episode, co-host Tywauna Wilson discusses strategies for defining your leadership career roadmap. When you think about where you want to be in the next five years, it allows you to obtain the required education, secure needed skills, form your personal board of directors, get the necessary work or volunteer experience.  If you are prepared for the position prior to getting it, you will be a more desirable candidate, feel more confident in the role once you get it, and will feel more successful along the way.

4 Key steps to defining your leadership career roadmap:

1. Define your personal vision statement 
2. Determine your career decision/goal
3. Know your strengths 
4. Plan your success and stay focused

Once you have designed your Leadership Career Roadmap, let us know! Leave us a comment on the directimpactbroadcasting.com website! We would love to walk alongside of you on your journey!!

Most importantly, Stay  focused and start taking action NOW!! If it is not on your Roadmap, ask yourself, does it make sense with my end goal? 

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

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

Please share with a friend!!

To connect with Tywauna, find her on LinkedIn at Tywauna Wilson or visit SomeLeadersWearLabCoats.com

In this episode, co-host Stephanie Whitehead interviews healthcare professional, Kendra Lange. Listen in as they discuss essential tips to improve your career development process and broaden work skills. If you are just looking for advice on how maximize your career growth or how to shift your perspective about valuing your current position– this podcast episode is for you! 

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast platform

Don’t forget to subscribe to the show on your phone, tablet or notebook so you never miss an episode! Be sure to leave a comment, and share with a fellow medical laboratory professionals!

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.

Special Guest Bio:

Kendra has more than a decade of experience in health care that includes Patient Care, Process Improvement, Quality, Compliance, and Accreditation in stand-alone hospitals, large systems, and micro-hospitals. She currently works with hospitals and health systems around the country to enhance their approach to quality by challenging the way they look at Accreditation. She is also a public speaker and social media presence with topics that include all things Health Care, finding your way in your career, joy in the everyday, and knowing your worth.

Kendra holds a B.S. in Health from Texas Tech University and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Business Administration from Tarleton State University, slated to graduate in December! Most importantly, she is the mom to 3 boys, 10, 7 & 5 and is married to her high school sweetheart. 

Lona Small MBA, PMP, CPBPM, MT(ASCP) sat down and spoke with Heidi Hanes, BS, MT (ASCP) and Peggy Coulter, MDE, BS, MT(HEW) both Senior International QA/QC Coordinator and Technical Specialist at Patient Safety Monitoring in International Laboratory (pSMILE).

Heidi and Peggy discussed their journey from building up a wealth of experience as Clinical Lab Scientists in hospital labs to now supporting laboratories in developing countries through pSMILE.

Heidi and Peggy work involve ensuring a high quality standard of pSMILE labs and ensure the integrity and reliability of tests to monitor safety and efficacy of experimental products investigated as the labs monitor analytes of patients involved in Clinical trials to ensure patient safety.

pSMILE evaluates and develops capability of laboratories in developing countries through the National Institute of Health (NIH) - Division of AIDS (DAIDS) - supported prevention, vaccine and therapeutic clinical studies.

Peggy discussed some of her experience travelling to many countries to perform audits and set up laboratories to meet standards. Peggy and Heidi both discussed ways other Clinical lab Scientists can be prepared to take on similar opportunities to expand growth when these opportunities arise. Peggy and Heidi also discussed the role of mentors on their journey and how the audience could learn more about pSMILE.

Listen to hear full episode!

You can get more information about pSMILE and support them by visiting website at psmile.org https://psmile.org/team.cfm

For more information, you can reach Lona Small directly at [email protected] and reach us at eLABorate Topics at [email protected].

Please subscribe to eLABorate Topics at directimpactbroadcasting.com and your favorite podcast platform.

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast platform and subscribe to the show.

Are you among the 500 million members on the LinkedIn platform? Does your profile position you for career opportunities? Are you fully maximizing the opportunity that LinkedIn offers? 

In this episode, co-host Tywauna Wilson discusses strategies for standing out and being visible on LinkedIn by doing a few simple updates. All of these can be done with the basic free profile. The premium memberships give you additional tools but to get started, the basic membership and a commitment to being an avid user on the platform is all that you need.

Keys to designing a standout profile:

1. Edit your headline
2. Update your summary
3. Choose your profile photo and background/cover image
4. Add keywords specific to your industry so that recruiters and automated tools can find you
5. Personalize your URL

Once you have designed your standout profile, start making connections! If you don't have at least 500 quality connections strive for that. Don't forget to add a personal note. Join Industry related groups. Publish articles to showcase your expertise.

Most importantly, Consistency is key!! Post and engage with fellow members at least 3-4 times per week. Nothing works unless you do, so get started taking action and stand out today!!

Be a Supporter!

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast platform

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

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.

In this episode of eLABorate Topics podcast Lona Small, MBA, PMP, CPBPM, MT (ASCP) introduces the BIMS model to help you with Self- Care and be a High Performer at work. This way you can excel with projects, stand out, and position yourself for promotions and other recognitions.

Lona discusses in detail how the below result in a High Performance

1. Body

• Physical Health
• Image and Aesthetics
• Posture

2. Intelligence

• Intellect
• Emotional Intelligence

3. Mind

• How you think about yourself
• How you think about others
• How you protect your mind
• How to build your mind

4. Spirit

• What energy are you projecting to others
• Are you affecting your environment in a positive way?

For more information, you can reach Lona Small directly at [email protected] and reach us at eLABorate Topics at [email protected].

Please subscribe to eLABorate Topics at directimpactbroadcasting.com and your favorite podcast platform.

In this episode, co-host Stephanie Whitehead interviews corporate business consultant and community leader, Anastasia (Stacy) Penright on her Ted Talk entitled “5 steps to remove yourself from drama in the workplace”. No matter what field you work in, chances are that you have experienced “drama” in the workplace. In her highly viewed and relatable Ted Talk, Anastasia offers five strategies to overcome “drama” in the workplace and shift your focus to what is truly important. 

If you are a laboratory professional seeking guidance during this challenging time in healthcare or if you are just looking for advice on how to shift your perspective about your work environment– this podcast episode is for you! 

Listeners can reach out to this special guest on her LinkedIn or Instagram at Anastasia Penright. 

Be a Supporter!

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast platform

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

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.

Co-host Tywauna Wilson and Qiana Cressman discuss the intangibles of leadership, things people don't see that cause leaders to rise to the top.

Qiana Cressman has 20+ years of professional experience and has generated over $20MM in overall revenue. In 2018, she founded Emerge Enterprise Media, LLC: A multi-media organization that produces Emerge Woman Magazine, which is published in 3 countries, reaches thousands of readers and has featured over 200 womens’ stories. Currently, Qiana serves as Executive Director of Donor Operations at Miller-Keystone Blood Center. She is the youngest and first woman of color appointed to this role managing a team of more than 150 employees and managers. She holds board seats on the MTS Sickle Cell Foundation, Inc., Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, and serves as a national spokesperson and keynote speaker. In 2020 she was selected as a Woman Of Influence awardee by Lehigh Valley Business. Qiana has a B.S. in Management and a degree in Clinical Laboratory Science.

Key takeaways from this show:

• Create your own definition of success
• Invest in a coach
• Develop yourself as a leader
• Feed your potential
• Learn what you are great at
• Schedule time to think and replenish
• Give yourself the freedom to go and grow to the next level
• Give yourself permission to be confident

 Please leave questions, comments, or subjects you would like to hear on this show!

Be a Supporter! Listen on DirectImpactBroadCasting.com, Spotify, Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast platform. Don’t forget to subscribe to the show on your phone, tablet or notebook so you never miss an episode! 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 connect with us on Direct Impact Broadcasting through Social Media.

 Co-Hosts Tywauna Wilson, Lona Small, and Stephanie Whitehead discuss various strategies for overcoming the pressures of laboratory leadership.

Key Takeaways from the show:

Challenges for Role Based Leaders (Supervisory positions)

1. Asked to do more with less
2. Under pressure to follow the status quo even when not beneficial to your team
3. Barriers when trying to support team
4. Inadequate training to perform in that role
5. Inadequate support from Administration

Challenges of Informal Leaders (No formal title)

1. Not aware that you are a leader
2. Not being accepted by formal/role based leaders
3. Not being empowered to lead
4. Don’t have authority or courage to enact changes

How to Overcome Challenges

1. Training
2. Coaching and mentoring
3. Practice and experience

Benefits of Leadership

1. Ability to carry out positive initiatives
2. Improves the lives of patients and staff
3. Promotes career and personal growth

Be a Supporter!

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast platform

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

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.

In this episode Lona Small discusses how you can use process solutions to address people issues that lab leaders encounter. Think about your current situation of stress and overwhelm, and make a commitment to do something different, which may take a little extra time up front, but will result in a more lasting change.

The Process steps discussed in details were:

• Create a Vision of How You Want Your Team To Be
• Assess the Current Situation with your team and Identify the Gaps
• Plan Adjustments to fill the gaps and build your current team.
• Reassess to see if there are additional needs.
• Hire to complement or fill the gaps remaining after adjustments  
• Reinforce culture through the same methods used to build team- 

You can reached directly at [email protected] if you have questions regarding this subject or you want to contact me regarding leadership coaching. You can also catch me on LinkedIn under Lona Gordon Small.

Remember to send us an email at [email protected] learn more about this topic and others or to be a guest on the show. 

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

Co-host Stephanie Whitehead sits down with Joycelyn Jones & Kristine Talamante to discuss the power in being an essential worker.

Kristine Talamante is currently working as an Assistant Director of a Palliative Care team for a large hospital. Kristine is a strong advocate in Self-care, team morale and ensuring that staff feels safe. She has focused her passion on working with healthcare professionals and teams about compassion fatigue and burnout, moral distress, and most recently, Trauma Informed Care. Listeners can reach out to Kristine at [email protected]. 

Joycelyn Jones, MSHRM, PHR, SHRM-CP is a Certified Human Resource Professional with over 15 years of HR Management experience. She serves as an expert in consulting, executive coaching, employee relations, and conflict management with advanced knowledge of HR policies and employment laws.  Listeners can reach out to Ms. Jones using Facebook at “Joyce Jones” or Instagram at “1ladyjones”. She also has a Facebook Group entitled “Virtuous Women”.

Key takeaways from this show:

Tune into this episode as returning special guests Kristine Talamante and Joycelyn Jones discuss the influential power in being an “essential worker”. 

This episode offers crucial solutions to:

·         Understand your potential to impact your communities, influence positive change, and drive effective, safe practices 

·         Learn to appreciate the value of “team” and “team morale” as essential workers

·         Recognize the signs of work and/or life fatigue and offers strategies to combat these feelings.  

·         Identify the need for human connection and  learn some alternative ways to express feelings during times of social distancing

·         Appreciate the importance emotional skills have in our daily work and how to practice using them

If you are a healthcare worker looking for leadership tips or for ways to connect with your staff– this podcast is for you!

For a deeper dive into conversations with Kristine and Joycelyn, tune in to their previous episodes on eLABorate Topics wherever you listen to podcasts!

·         Episode 7, “The Secret” featuring Joycelyn Jones 

·         Episode 11, “When Compassion Hurts; Hope for the 2nd Victim” featuring Kristine Talamante 

Please leave questions, comments, or subjects you would like to hear on this show!

Be a Supporter! Listen on Direct Impact Broad Casting, Spotify, Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast platform. Don’t forget to subscribe to the show on your phone, tablet or notebook so you never miss an episode! 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 connect with us on Direct Impact Broadcasting through Social Media.