Arianna Sturdivant, MHA, BA
Arianna Sturdivant, MHA, BA, is a mission-driven healthcare and operations professional with a strong foundation in leadership, community service, and organizational management. As a proud alumna of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Women’s Basketball program, where she competed as a NCAA Division I student-athlete from 2020 to 2024, Arianna combines athletic discipline with academic excellence. She holds a Master of Health Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, where her academic journey evolved as she explored how social systems and healthcare delivery influence community well-being. Known for leading by example, she brings strong analytical thinking, adaptability, and interpersonal communication skills to her professional roles.
Arianna has been working in the healthcare field for just over four months as an Account Manager with Healthcare Services Group, Inc., where she recently completed a 12-week Manager in Training program—her greatest professional achievement to date. In this role, she ensures operational efficiency by managing staffing levels, monitoring daily work routines, maintaining facility cleanliness standards, and overseeing linen inventory to support quality healthcare service operations. Prior to this, while completing her master’s degree in healthcare administration, she completed a GET PHIT internship with Cultures of Health Advancing Together, where she supported community outreach and healthcare advocacy efforts through phone banking campaigns to encourage voter engagement and promote healthcare access for refugee populations. These experiences strengthened her commitment to healthcare equity, service improvement, and community-centered care.
In addition to her healthcare career, Arianna has demonstrated strong mentorship and leadership skills through her role as an Assistant Basketball Coach at Fort Bend Christian Academy, where she supported upper school female student-athletes with both athletic development and personal mentorship. Drawing from her experiences as a former Division I athlete, she uses teamwork, coaching principles, and servant leadership to guide her professional approach to healthcare management. Arianna is passionate about continuing her career in healthcare management, academic advising, practice management, or human services roles, where she can continue using her leadership, compassion, and operational expertise to create meaningful impact for organizations and the communities they serve.
• GET PHIT Internships
• The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley - BA, Sociology
• The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley - MHA
• Volunteer work with autistic people and underserved communities through women's basketball team
• Culture of Health Advancing Together - phone banking for refugee healthcare access
What do you attribute your success to?
I've only been in this field for a little over four months, but I attribute my success to all the tools I gained from coaching and my internship. While earning my master's degree in healthcare administration, I was an assistant basketball coach at Fort Bend Christian Academy for the upper school girls. I was coaching them and being a personal mentor for them with school, basketball, or anything outside of life. I also had the opportunity to intern with Culture of Health Advancing Together, where I was doing phone banking to get people to vote and support healthcare for refugees. I just use all the tools I had from coaching and internship to bring me into the leader that I am while in the healthcare field, making sure I can help people in the best way that I can possible. Completing the 12-week manager training program was my greatest professional achievement so far - now I'm officially an account manager with Healthcare Services Group. When I got to school, I changed my major a lot, but people always said that I could be a great leader, even though I'm not as vocal, but I'm very good at leading by example. My dad always said don't be afraid of change and always be open to new things, so I took that with me when I went to college. I was scared because I really didn't know what I wanted to do with my life, so I just had to be open to change.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have received has centered on growth, authenticity, and adaptability. My mentors encouraged me to never be afraid to ask questions, stay true to myself, and lead by example, which has shaped my leadership style and approach to professional development. My father also taught me to embrace change and remain open to new opportunities, advice that was especially meaningful during college when I was uncertain about my career path. By staying open to new experiences, I discovered my passion for sociology and healthcare administration, which guided me toward my current career in healthcare operations. Today, I apply these lessons in my work by staying adaptable, communicating effectively, and leading through service and accountability as I continue to grow and make a positive impact in healthcare and the communities I serve.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would just say, just always be you. And just don't ever change, and just be open to trying new things.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I would just say learning that every person is different, so you have to treat everybody differently, and not the same, and just being comfortable with that. It's about understanding personality types and recognizing that everybody works differently - not everybody works the same.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
My core strengths are leadership, teamwork, and being a great role model. I lead by example, which is something that's always been important to me. Growing up, my dad always said don't be afraid of change and always be open to new things. I took that with me when I went to college - I was scared because I really didn't know what I wanted to do with my life, so I just had to be open to change. In my work, I've learned that every person is different, so you have to treat everybody differently based on their personality type, and I'm comfortable with that. People always said that I could be a great leader, even though I'm not as vocal, but I'm very good at leading by example. I believe in being true to yourself and not being afraid to ask questions.