Liza Livak

I attribute my success to how I was raised and the foundational values my parents instilled in me. Growing up with three brothers meant I was always comfortable being around men, which has served me well in male-dominated industries. My father, who was Chief of Pharmacy, made healthcare part of our daily lives - we even had to use medical terminology at home from a young age. But more than anything, I've followed what I love rather than just working for a paycheck. I lean into what I'm passionate about and do work that I genuinely enjoy - I could never be someone who dreads going to work. I'm constantly learning and staying curious, whether it's studying my market, knowing my product inside and out, or even taking an oil painting class. I show up prepared, study hard, and stay on top of everything. I believe in being present, turning your phone off, and being genuinely interested in what you're doing. Even when things don't go as planned, I don't see it as failure - it's either a learning opportunity or a redirection. Sometimes failure makes me work even harder because I want to prove myself. The flexibility of my career allows me to be both a mom and someone who's impactful in front of people, building solutions with clients. When a client asks for something we don't have, I can go straight to my CEO, and he'll say 'we will build it for them' - that's the kind of environment where I thrive. I'm passionate about moving mountains and doing something big in the world that changes how everyone does things.

The greatest influence and advice in my life came from my father, who was Chief of Pharmacy at his hospital. From the time I was six years old, he had me and my siblings learning and using medical terminology - I remember we weren't even allowed to use casual words at home, we had to use the proper medical terms for everything. That taught me the importance of knowledge, preparation, and intellectual curiosity from a very young age. His example showed me that being well-prepared and continuously learning would serve me throughout my career. He also involved us in his work, taking us to the hospital to meet his colleagues and see his environment, and later including us in mission work where we'd assist in clinics and pharmacies. His influence instilled in me a love of healthcare and learning that continues to guide my success in healthcare technology and innovation today. The lesson was clear: study hard, know your field inside and out, and always come prepared - that's how you build confidence and competence.

My advice to young women entering healthcare technology and medical software is simple: just show up and do what you love. Don't worry about whether you're male or female - it doesn't matter. Just lean into what you're interested in and do it well. Study hard and know your market inside and out. Know your product, know everyone else's product, and be on top of everything. It's the same approach you'd take in school - read everything, be prepared, show up early, look sharp, and be super professional. If you do all of that, you're never going to fail. And even if you make a mistake or something doesn't go the way you planned, you're not really failing - you've learned something valuable. Now you know not to do it that way and you can try a different approach. Sometimes failure is just a redirection, and for me personally, it encourages me to work even harder to prove myself. The key is to always be learning and stay curious - be a student of whatever you're doing. Turn your phone off, be present, and be genuinely interested. We have one life, so go for it. Don't be intimidated by being in a male-dominated field - I grew up with three brothers, so I've always been comfortable around men, and that's never bothered me. Just focus on bringing value and being excellent at what you do.

The biggest challenge in healthcare right now is that the system as it's designed today is completely unsustainable. We don't have enough physicians, we don't have enough nurses, and patients keep coming in while workflows within hospitals are not optimized - or as I prefer to say, we can simply do better. There are more ways to be efficient and create better patient care. Sometimes better patient care is as simple as looking people in the eyes and spending time with them, rather than staring at a computer screen. Right now, when you go to a hospital or clinic, everyone has a computer in front of them and they're typing instead of looking at you, and it's rough - you feel rushed and like they're only focused on one tiny thing without catching your whole story. But this challenge creates an incredible opportunity. AI and healthcare technology are exploding right now, and we're at a pivotal moment where we can transform how healthcare is delivered. The technology I work with allows physicians to have real conversations with patients while automatically handling documentation and coding, saving them 2 to 3 hours every day. We're moving from fragmented care to a more holistic approach where clinicians can actually connect with patients as whole people. The rapid growth of AI and digital transformation presents unprecedented opportunities to shape the future of healthcare, improve provider experiences, and create better patient outcomes. It's an exciting time to be in this space because we're literally changing how the entire healthcare system works and functions.

Faith, family, and doing something meaningful to help people are the foundation of my life. My faith has always been central - my dad was a deacon of mission work at our church, and we would go on mission trips where I'd work in clinics and pharmacies alongside my family. Those experiences shaped my commitment to making a positive difference in people's lives. Family is everything to me - I was a single mom for a long time, so I learned how to juggle multiple responsibilities and lean on friends and family for support. Now that I'm married, communication with my husband is essential for balancing everything. I love being present with my family, cooking for them, and building something for our future together. I want to do work that's impactful and helps people - I want to move mountains and do something big in the world that changes how everyone does things. It's important to me that my work aligns with my values and contributes to something greater than myself. I also value continuous learning and being genuinely interested in what I'm doing - whether it's negotiating on a call, spending time with my family, or even taking an oil painting class. Self-care is important too, even if it's simple things like driving alone in the car listening to my own music or going to Target by myself. I've learned that you have to communicate your needs, rest when you can, and maintain good friendships. It's a constant balancing act, and you're never going to have it perfectly balanced - you're always moving and adjusting. But staying present, being interested, and showing up for the people and work you care about is what matters most.