Her Story
About Andrea
I started with a high school diploma, earned a bachelor's in psychology and a master's in agency counseling, followed by a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in mental health and behavioral health counseling. I hold multiple licenses in Massachusetts and Rhode Island for mental health counseling and social work. I also earned certificates from Harvard Business School and Vermont University in Administration for Women in Leadership. My career has spanned leadership roles across for-profit and non-profit healthcare sectors in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, including faculty work at Brown University and participation in research programs with Harvard and Brown on substance use and behavioral health services.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Andrea
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the amazing female warrior influencers in my life, specifically the matriarchs of my family, and my cultural and social surroundings from childhood through my teenage and college years. I've always had exceptionally strong women in my family as kind of the backbone of supporting me.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
My husband tells me all the time, do what makes you happy, and the rest will follow. My husband's a wise man, very successful in his career, so I will take what he says. Do what makes you happy, and the rest will follow.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I encourage young women to have no boundaries. The only boundaries that they have are the ones they've created for themselves. If we can move past a challenge, walk through it, anything could be achievable if we could imagine it to be achievable. I encourage especially young women to imagine more, break into their freedom and their authentic self, and find those pathways, those nuggets of joy.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
My personal challenge is practicing gratitude every day by writing down what I am grateful for every morning and evening. Even through hard experiences come life lessons. I also believe strongly in continuing education, which nobody can take away, and I encourage utilizing free resources like libraries, audiobooks, apprenticeships, and connecting with the right people.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Transparency, honesty, integrity, and trustworthiness are the values most important to me.
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