Her Story
About Tonda
I've spent about 38 years in healthcare, though initially out of high school I wanted to become a pediatric nurse. I had gotten accepted to a nursing program, but I forfeited that and instead just got a job in healthcare at Boston City Hospital - it was convenient at the time. I started off as an EMT, then ended up as a secretary and administrative assistant, all doing women's health. Now I work as a unit coordinator for Healthcare for the Homeless, where I work on the floor where patients actually stay. I schedule their transportation when they have to go out, and basically anything that's non-medical, I do - just making sure they get to their appointments on time and back, and that the floor is running smooth. People really rely on me for everything. I was also a barber for 20 years, which I just retired from. Being a barber was like being a psychologist because the clients came and wanted to tell me their life story every time. I recently got my doula certificate, which is something I think I want to do forever. My dream now is to refurbish my grandmother's house in North Carolina - she left us a farm with over 200 acres - and turn it into a birthing center down in the country.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Tonda
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to me, for real. I had to do it all alone, pretty much. When I was married and I was trying to take a class, my ex-husband had already gotten his degree, and when I tried to get mine, I really didn't have the support, so I never really got the tech support to try, to do, to be. So I pat myself on the back, because I never gave up.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received was to follow my dream. Something that I never really did. I just ended up in healthcare because it was convenient at the time. I really wanted to be in the entertainment field, but since I'm a caregiver - a kind, caring, sweet person - I figured, okay, let me just serve. So that's pretty much what I've been doing, is serving. I wanted to be a movie star slash singer, because I was in talent shows when I was young and in my own singing groups. I was a Cali girl, and I never went to California until last year for the first time ever. But I've just been in healthcare, just helping people.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Nowadays, it really takes a caring person, because the world is hurting so bad right now. You have to have some gratitude, some empathy, just humbleness to be in this field, because people really, really rely on you. Just be humble. Stay kind and sincere to people. Treat people like you want to be treated - that's always been my motto.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
At one point, it took a while for companies to see my experience, my loyalty. So the challenges were salary at one point. Now, I finally got a company that sees my value. Which is crazy, because the company that I'm with now is the company that I first started with in the very beginning. My first job, I worked for Healthcare for the Homeless at Boston City Hospital. But now they have their own entity, and I'm going to be 60, so I kind of did a full circle and ended up back here. So now they're paying me what I deserve.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Always be truthful to yourself and to others. Always stay positive, carry positive energy, keep a positive vibe. Always trust God, because God is always the ultimate for me. That's how I live. Also set some boundaries, because people love to cross their boundaries.
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