HBA - San Francisco Chapter Meeting

I was so inspired by Ginger's presentation last night that I woke up early to share a few key messages with those of you looking for a job or wanting to advance your career.

1. You are employable. We all have several skills that enable us to do a lot of different jobs if we needed to find a way to survive. You don't have to look at every job as the perfect stepping stone on your career path. Think about all the things that you could do rather than all the things that you want to do. You just might stumble into a great new career.

2. Work hard and know more than anyone else. Most good things take time and hard work. When others give up, that's when you get ahead.

3. Take risks. Be willing to work on "hot topics". It will give you a chance to demonstrate your skills. Granted you might make some big mistakes but what's the worst that can happen. As her mom told her "they can kill you but they can't eat you". If that doesn't reasonate with you take comfort in the old adage that you might fall off the horse but what matters most is that you tried. In this economy, we need more people that try.

4. Pick your boss, not your job. To succeed you need honest feedback. You need to cultivate a relationship with your boss so that they know you want the truth and can handle the truth. Think about your last performance evaluation. Was it good for you? Was it easy for your boss? What do you need to do to build the relationship?

5. Treat others like you want to be treated. The healthcare industry in comparison to others is pretty small. To make her point she compared the total number of employees working in biotech to the number of GE employees. Guess which labor pool is bigger? Treat others with respect, extend yourself to help others get ahead and listen to your staff, use humor to build relationships and advance change and most importantly, be honest with yourself and others.

Who is Ginger Graham?
Ginger L. Graham is the President and CEO of Two Trees Consulting. She is the former President and CEO of Amylin Pharmaceuticals and the former Group Chairman, Office of the President for Guidant Corporation, a major cardiovascular medical device manufacturer. She currently serves on several boards including the board of Genomic Health, Inc., Proteus Biomedical Pharmaceuticals Systems Division, ICAT Managers, Sierra Neuropharmaceuticals, Inc., and the American Diabetes Association Research Foundation.

Why join HBA?
In short, the caliber of women involved is incredible. It's inspiring to hear their stories, learn from their experiences and gain the support of industry leaders. HBA is about helping women develop their leadership skills. Whether you attain the same degree of success as Ginger, we all have opportunities in our lives to lead. I encourage to attend a local chapter meeting and judge for yourself.