Her Story
About Ethel
Ethel Mayo is an experienced healthcare professional and leader with more than 37 years of diverse experience spanning healthcare, patient care, management, and technical operations. She currently serves as an Imaging Technician and Group Lead in Specimen Management at Quest Diagnostics, where she oversees the imaging of patient requisitions into a comprehensive database, helping ensure accurate and timely access to information for medical teams and physicians.
Throughout her career, Ethel has demonstrated adaptability and a strong commitment to serving others. Before joining Quest Diagnostics, she spent many years with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a Recreational Therapist, developing extensive experience in patient-centered care. She also gained management experience in the private sector at Allegro Microsystems before returning to healthcare and building expertise in specimen management, imaging, phlebotomy, and anatomy and pathology.
Ethel holds a bachelor's degree in Business Management with a focus on Leadership from Capella University and continues to pursue professional growth in business, leadership, and project management. She is passionate about developing strong teams, improving healthcare processes, and fostering a culture of excellence and compassionate service. Her leadership interests extend beyond her professional role through involvement in employee business networks and organizations focused on leadership and professional development, while she aspires to create a nonprofit foundation supporting young women and women returning to the workforce.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Ethel
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my mother, a single parent who instilled in me the importance of education despite her limited schooling, and to a Black female leader who inspired me through her work supporting young women. Their examples shaped my commitment to lifelong learning and creating opportunities for others.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I received was from my mother, who taught me the importance of education and resilience while raising 15 children as a single parent. I was also inspired by a Black female leader who showed me the power of building strong support systems and empowering young women through structure, etiquette, and personal development.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women is to embrace every stage of their career and not be afraid to start at the bottom. Learn from every opportunity, take ownership of your career decisions, and pursue leadership with confidence. I encourage more women to seek seats at the leadership table while also remembering to build meaningful relationships and family, because careers can change, but those connections endure.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges in my field include navigating career transitions, organizational changes, layoffs, and financial barriers to education. However, I have learned to view these experiences as opportunities to build new skills, adapt, and grow as a leader. Through my healthcare and management experience, professional networks, and pursuit of an MBA, I am preparing for broader opportunities in leadership, project management, and business development while creating pathways to support and mentor young women.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are family, faith, integrity, and knowledge. My strong religious upbringing taught me to rely on my faith, while integrity guides how I approach both my personal and professional life. I also value education deeply and believe in being a lifelong learner.
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