Her Story
About Hayley
Hayley Martin serves as an RVT in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis, where she has worked for about four years, following six years in mental health. Representing Newark, Delaware, Martin began her career journey with an associate's degree in culinary arts before transitioning into behavioral health after experiencing burnout. She started at a school and residential facility for children with behavioral disorders, later expanding to work with adults across varying mental health diagnoses, and eventually found her passion in ABA. Martin values compassion, love, patience, and empathy in her work, drawing from her own experiences to relate to clients. She attributes her professional success to her capacity for self-reflection, viewing situations from multiple perspectives, and fostering collaboration by recognizing shared experiences rather than identical ones, all while accounting for cultural dynamics and her upbringing in a survival mindset.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Hayley
01What do you attribute your success to?
My ability to look in on myself, be my own harshest critic but work on forgiving myself, dig deep, see perspectives as an outsider, which allows immense empathy, compassion and collaboration. I believe in bridging gaps by understanding similarities in experiences rather than being exactly the same, taking into account cultural dynamics and how people were raised. Part of how I was raised in a survival mindset helped me think outside the box.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Pace yourself, never let anybody make your goals and visions feel invalid, take a step back to look from different perspectives, be an active listener, practice self-worth, especially in mental health where it's easy to forget about yourself. Take time for yourself when needed to refill, be a leader who shows compassion, kindness, active listening, and get things done proactively. You have to be that for yourself too.
03What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Compassion and love, which bring patience and empathy. This job has taught me about myself through relating to the children's frustrations. A little bit of grit too, let compassion and love drive you.
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