Her Story
About Hollie
My journey in healthcare began in 2005 when I was newly divorced with kids and needed to make money. I started as a certified nurse's aide in nursing homes and hospitals, including labor and delivery, which I loved. I went to school to become certified as a medical assistant and phlebotomist, and then worked my way into leadership roles as a coordinator, manager, and eventually director. Along the way, I took healthcare administration classes through PMI Medical Institute, and I also took classes with Missionary Seminary and St. Gregory's College, where I actually earned my degrees in religious studies. I'm a pastor's kid, and my dad was also a drill sergeant, so I was kind of tricked into the religious arena, but I remained with my passion in healthcare. Because I acquired deeper leadership roles along the way, and the positions just needed a degree without it being specified, my religious studies degrees worked well. I ended up at UPMC in Pennsylvania with my cousin, where his career took the lead and mine took a backseat, but I managed 9 specialty clinics clinically. Then I moved to Norman, Oklahoma, where I did patient access for 4 hospitals, and later to Indiana, where I had behavioral health, primary care, pediatrics, and dental clinics. Last year, my husband and I both lost our dads, and right before my dad passed, he told me I needed to move back home and quit moving all over the country because I was too old for this. We agreed to move back, and he passed away the month before we moved. Now I'm back in Oklahoma, where I founded The Hired Method, a non-profit program where I coach people on interview methods, resume building, and life coaching to help them attain roles in their field. I've been offered every role I've ever interviewed for in 20 years, except for one, so I started this program to share what I've learned. I also work for Bright Start Care as a medical office administrator and as a 1099 contract employee helping individually owned companies revamp their policies and procedures, rewrite their handbooks, and make sure they're in line with the laws. Most recently, I worked with Dr. Casil Santana, who I believe is now in Arizona but was in Oklahoma.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Hollie
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to never stopping learning and continuing to grow. I believe that no matter how old you are or how educated you are, there is always someone smarter in the room that knows more than you, and you should never stop self-learning. As a single mom of 5 kids, I tried to acquire as many certifications and as much education as I could along the way, so no matter where I was at, if I had lost a role to a layoff or anything of that nature, I would always have something to fall back on. I love the leadership and coaching aspect of things, and what I find most rewarding is leading someone better than you found them. I've had people that I was their manager, and I coached them along the way. When I left them, they were working in roles that they weren't necessarily qualified for, but were able to be coached and they listened and they were moldable and they really wanted to grow. One is now a manager of a medical clinic, and another is now the director of marketing for a home health company, and these are people that did not have any college education. That would be the highlight for me.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
My grandmother always told me, know your worth and add tax. That advice has stuck with me throughout my career, and it's something I carry with me as I continue to grow and help others understand their value as well.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Never stop learning and continue to grow. Like I said, there's always going to be someone faster, someone smarter, someone more educated, someone more qualified. Continuing to grow helps you stand out. There are going to be times when you're up against maybe a boys club, or you're a female trying to break through, or you're a female that's not quite qualified for a role but you are capable of doing it. Take the chance. My daughter asked me just last week if I had any regrets when I was younger, and I said I wish I would have said yes more. Say yes, take the chances, and know that even if you fall flat on your face, as long as you're taking something away from it, whether it's a lesson and it's helped you grow into a better person, you never walk away empty-handed. Know your worth and add tax. Continue to grow, and once you have that, you'll be able to stand out.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Networking is key in growth, whether that's personal growth or growth in your career. Networking is essential, whether it's personal or career-oriented. I believe in continuous learning and helping others grow. I love the coaching and leading aspect of helping and leading someone better than you found them. When I interview people, if they're nervous, I stop them and tell them, 'Keep in mind that you're interviewing me. This company may not be able to offer you the hours, the pay rate, the environment you need, so you're interviewing me as well as me interviewing you.' My heart is with young women who don't have those figures at home that can help them. My ultimate goal would be to have a big non-profit company based in Oklahoma where girls at any stage, whether they're in high school trying to figure out their career path or women coming out of domestic violence situations, can get the resources and coaching they need to become successful. I grew up in a home that was not wealthy, and sometimes we didn't know where dinner was coming from, so I understand the importance of providing those resources.
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