At The Royal, many of the very top leadership roles are held by women. While in health care there are typically more women than men, that’s not always true when you look at the make-up of hospital leadership teams across the country.
For International Women’s Day this year, we asked our president and CEO, president of the University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research and vice-president of research, outgoing chair of the board of trustees, and the incoming chair, to share their advice on what it takes to lead in today’s health care environment.
Joanne Bezzubetz, president and chief executive officer of The Royal
Joanne Bezzubetz has more than 20 years of experience leading health care organizations across Canada. Bezzubetz was named president and chief executive officer of The Royal in 2018. When she’s not guiding The Royal, she’s an avid marathon runner and triathlete.
Tip #1: Stay true to yourself
“You don't have to be anybody different in order to achieve what you want in terms of your career or in your life. You can be yourself, and that's definitely good enough,” says Bezzubetz.
“There is only one you – and you have a unique collection of experiences and gifts to offer the world that no one else does.”
Tip #2: Working all of the time is not ok
“So many women are driven to be busy, to keep running, to push through exhaustion, but it’s not sustainable,” says Bezzubetz. “We often think that the way to be successful is to work all the time but that's absolutely not true. Find moments of solitude and quiet and take time to recharge. That way, when you come back, you come back stronger.”
Dr. Florence Dzierszinski, president of the University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research and vice-president of research at The Royal
Dr. Florence Dzierszinski has a distinguished career in health research including a CIHR Canada Research Chair at McGill University and awards from Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), and Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI). She is known for her organizational leadership supporting research excellence, integration of research and care, and client- and family-oriented research.
Tip#3: Always make time to pause and reflect
“When everything seems to be in turmoil, it's also a time when, personally, I pause and try to gain clarity on various topics,” says Dzierszinski. “Whether it's work/life balance, self-care, relationships at work or at home, we need to take the time to review and pause and think about where we want to go and what we want our contributions to be.”
Tip #4: Find ways to support the next generation
“It's always been top of mind, but we know the pandemic is going to have an impact on our youth,” says Dzierszinski. “We need to act now. It's time for organizations to ensure that our next generation is going to have what they need. That is why we are trying to transform the mental health system.”
Anne Graham, outgoing chair of The Royal’s board of trustees
Anne Graham has been a member of The Royal’s board of trustees for 13 years, the last two of which she’s been in the role of chair. Graham has over 30 years of experience in human resources and organizational development, and is a recognized professional in strategic planning, organizational change, and leadership consulting and coaching.
Tip #5: While Zoom gets the job done, don’t underestimate the value of face-to-face meetings, kindness and ordinary interactions
“During the pandemic we've really learned the importance of non-work, non-problem-solving conversations around the watercooler,” says Graham. “The interpersonal connections and the opportunity to relate with people on a personal level used to happen by osmosis. Whenever we're not doing that, we have to be much more intentional about making those personal connections. Cultivate those connections and don’t take them for granted.”
Sharon Squire, incoming chair of the board of trustees and former deputy ombudsman in the Office of the Veterans Ombudsman
Sharon Squire is an experienced public service executive with expertise in veterans’ issues, service design and delivery, social media, human resources, and public service management. She’s also a national team dragon boater and hockey player.
Tip #6: Embrace change
“If we just allow ourselves to embrace the uncertainty and see what it will bring, it’s an opportunity to let go of some anxiety and possibly create something new,” says Squire. “Focusing on that is better than spending too much time worrying about something we can’t control.”