This document provides tips from Cyndy Flores and Janet Young on how women can climb the leadership ladder in healthcare. Some of their key recommendations include: 1) Engage by finding ways to contribute your strengths and passions, whether that's joining a committee or saying yes when opportunities arise. 2) Seek out mentors who can provide different perspectives and support, and actively cultivate relationships instead of waiting for mentors to come to you. 3) Take risks such as moving locations for new opportunities, as this can lead to growth even if it doesn't work out.

1. Helping Women Climb
Healthcare’s Leadership
Ladder
Cyndy Flores, PA-C, and JanetYoung, MD

2. When it comes to healthcare,
women usually call the shots.
94%of working moms make healthcare
decisions for their families.

3. Our industry leadership should
reflect the patients we serve. And
women do make up 73% of health
service managers.
But they represent
only 4% of industry
CEOs.

4. Why do so few women climb
the leadership ladder?
The answers are probably different for everyone.

5. Some of these factors you can’t
do anything about.
But many are within
your full control.

6. So how do you start climbing?
That’s where we come in.

7. Cyndy Flores
PA-C
Director of PA/NP Strategy and
Innovation
Janet Young
MD
Operations Vice President

8. We want to share some tips
from our own leadership
journeys so you can climb
Higher and Faster
(And avoid our mistakes, too.)

9. 1. Engage
It sounds obvious. But to climb the
leadership ladder, at some point you
need to step onto the first rung.
For Janet, it was joining and later chairing
CEP's New Partner Committee …

10. “You can't just hang around
waiting for responsibility.
Find ways to contribute that
highlight your strengths and
passions.”
JanetYoung, MD

11. 1. Engage
For Cyndy, it was saying yes when a
friend invited her to a California Academy
of Physician Assistants board meeting.
(At that moment, she was relaxing next to
the pool. “I never saw the pool again,”
Cyndy says.)

12. “Sometimes you get lucky
and someone taps you on
the shoulder. But if not,
you just have to go for it.”
Cyndy Flores, PA-C

13. 2. Seek Out Mentors
Mentors are powerful, so don't wait for
them to come to you. Actively cultivate
relationships with people you admire.

14. “There were two women in CEP
who commanded a lot of respect.
I wondered what they had that I
didn't. So I reached out to both of
them and asked which actions
had been most helpful in
developing their careers. That's
how it all started.”
Cyndy Flores, PA-C

15. 2. Seek Out Mentors
If possible, have multiple mentors.
Different mentoring styles balance one
another. Some days you need a
cheerleader. And other days you need
someone to challenge you.

16. 2. Seek Out Mentors
You can also have mentors in
different areas:

17. 3. Take Risks
When she had been with CEP for just a
few years, Janet moved from California to
Chicago to serve as Medical Director of
CEP’s first Midwest practice.
It was a risk for her and her family. But
she also realized it might be a stepping-
stone to bigger, better things. And it was.

18. “If you're hesitant to make the
leap, remember that nothing is
forever. Some people try
leadership and decide it's not for
them. But for others, it
completely changes their life and
practice for the better. So don’t
be afraid to take a chance."
JanetYoung, MD

19. 4. Solicit Feedback
Leadership development is all about
multiplying your strengths and
strengthening your weaknesses. But first,
you need to know what they are.
Get in the habit of asking mentors,
supervisors, and colleagues specific
questions about your performance.

20. 4. Solicit Feedback
What’s one thing I
could have
improved about that
presentation?
What numbers
could I produce that
would really wow
you?

21. “Getting emotional was one of my
big challenges when I was starting
out. I cry when I hear certain radio
commercials or the Star-Spangled
Banner at hockey games. So I
actually took a class about
controlling emotions, and it's really
helped me to accept feedback and
grow from it."
Cyndy Flores, PA-C

22. 5. Ask
What can you ask for that will help you
climb the leadership ladder?

23. “I used to supervise nine Medical
Directors: five women and four men.
Three of the four men asked for a
raise at some point. But not a single
woman asked about compensation
unless I brought it up first. No matter
who you are, never be afraid to ask
for what you're worth.”
JanetYoung, MD

24. 6. Treat Failure Like a Bruise,
Not a Scar
No one likes to fail. But if you're going to
be a leader, occasional failures are
inevitable.
Confronting your failures is one of the
fastest ways to grow.

25. “People are so concerned about
doing something wrong when they
move into leadership positions. I
wish they could see some of the
bonehead moves I've made over
the years. And gosh darn it, I'm still
here. It's important to remember
that we all put our pants on one leg
at a time.”
Cyndy Flores, PA-C

26. 7. Find Something That
Balances You
Invest in areas of your life that are
outside of your job. When you're
balanced, you feel more resilient. It's
easier to keep work setbacks and failures
in perspective.

27. “Sometimes leadership can be a
form of balance in itself. What we
see day-to-day in clinical practice is
incredibly humbling. We deal with
people when they’re at their worst, at
their sickest. An administrative role
allows you to step back and
contribute in a different way.”
JanetYoung, MD

28. 8. And Finally, Be You
Don’t feel you have to change in order to
lead.
Don't feel you have to become perfect.
The best leadership comes from a place
of authenticity.

29. “I was practicing my leadership
presentation for our women's forum
at home. My 9-year-old daughter
could see I was getting kind of
nervous and stressed out over it.
She said, 'Mom, nobody should be
afraid of just being themselves.'
Which made me laugh, because it
was so spot on.”
JanetYoung, MD

30. Climbing the leadership ladder isn’t
always easy. But if you’re a woman
who’s interested in making change,
our industry needs you.
So take that first
step upward. We
believe in you!

31. Ready for the next step in your
leadership journey?
Visit our website to
learn more about
careers with
CEP America.