Laura Finnelly RN, BCPA, CSCM

I attribute my success to being fully present and open to the path in front of me. Throughout my journey, I’ve learned to trust my intuition—even in moments of uncertainty—and to embrace each decision as part of a larger purpose. While I didn’t always recognize it at the time, every step I took ultimately led me to where I am today. Staying curious, remaining open to growth, and being willing to do things differently have all played a significant role in shaping my career.

I also believe in continuously pushing myself to evolve rather than staying comfortable. It can be easy to feel stuck, especially when stepping into something new or unfamiliar, but I’ve found that real growth comes from challenging that comfort zone. As an entrepreneur, there are moments that can feel isolating, and not everyone understands the path you’re on. In those moments, I’ve learned to quiet outside noise and stay focused on my purpose.

At the core of everything I do is a desire to make an impact, no matter how big or small. I truly believe in the ripple effect—that helping even one person can create meaningful change beyond what we can see. That perspective keeps me grounded and motivated, and it continues to drive the work I do every day.

The best career advice I’ve ever received came from a mentor who believed in me before I fully believed in myself. While working in a large healthcare system, she gave me an opportunity to step into a clinical manager role and, more importantly, showed me what it means to take risks and grow into leadership. Her guidance wasn’t always through words, but through her actions—she modeled confidence, trust, and a willingness to step outside of comfort zones.

She encouraged me to take on challenges that I may not have initially felt ready for, and that experience was transformative. Together, we worked on improving quality outcomes in home health, and through our efforts, we were able to elevate the division from the lowest-performing to the top in the system within a year. That experience reinforced the importance of stepping into opportunities, even when they feel uncertain.

What stayed with me most is the power of believing in someone’s potential. Her support gave me the confidence to grow, lead, and trust my own abilities. That lesson continues to guide me today—both in how I approach my work and how I support others in their own journeys.

My advice to young women entering this industry is to keep moving forward and trust that you are enough. It’s easy to get caught up in comparison or self-doubt, but confidence grows when you continue to take action and believe in your value.

I also encourage you to be as present as possible in everything you do. When you’re fully engaged—whether with people or the work in front of you—you build stronger connections and produce more meaningful results. Presence allows you to be intentional, focused, and aligned with your purpose.

In a world that often feels fast-paced and overwhelming, staying grounded and focused can open the door to new ideas, creativity, and opportunities. When you slow down enough to be present, you create space for growth and clarity in both your personal and professional journey.

One of the biggest challenges in patient advocacy right now is a lack of awareness. Many people simply don’t know what patient advocacy is or understand the value it provides until they find themselves in a medical crisis. A large part of my work involves educating individuals and families so they can see how having a knowledgeable advocate by their side can make a significant difference in their care, outcomes, and overall experience within the healthcare system.

Another challenge is helping people recognize the true value of this service. While there is a cost associated with independent advocacy, the impact is substantial—especially in high-stress situations like emergency care, where patients and families may feel overwhelmed and unable to process critical information. Having someone present to guide decisions, ask the right questions, and help navigate the system can lead to more efficient care and better outcomes.

Additionally, there is often confusion between independent patient advocates and those employed by hospitals or insurance companies. As an independent advocate, my role is to work solely in the best interest of my clients, whereas internal advocates represent the organization they work for. Because this is still a relatively new and evolving field, clarifying that distinction is essential to building trust and helping people understand how advocacy can truly support them.

Integrity, commitment, compassion, and hard work are most important to me. I also value being open - being open to new possibilities, following my intuition, and being curious about what comes next. Throughout my life, I've made decisions by being open and following my gut, and even when I thought I might be making the wrong choice, it always turned out to be the right thing and brought me to where I needed to be.