Victoria Renee Winchell

I attribute my success to never being afraid to ask questions, take chances, and figure things out as I go—but my greatest motivation has always been my boys.

Ayden and Logan gave me a reason early in life to want more, work harder, and continually become a better version of myself. I wanted to create opportunities for them and build a life they could be proud of, but along the way, they gave me something just as important: perspective.

They’ve taught me that success isn’t just about how far you climb. It’s about who you become while you’re climbing—and making sure the people you love know they were never left behind.

I’ve worked hard for everything I’ve accomplished, but having two little humans watching me grow into the person I am today has always given me a pretty powerful reason to keep going.

The best career advice I ever received was: You don’t have to know everything—you just have to be willing to learn.

That has followed me throughout my entire career. I’ve learned to ask the question, make the phone call, find the person who knows more than I do, and never pretend I understand something when I don’t.

Some of my biggest opportunities came before I felt completely ready for them. I said yes anyway, figured it out, and grew into the role.

I think sometimes we wait to feel qualified, confident, or completely prepared before taking the next step. I’ve learned that growth usually happens the other way around—you take the step first, and the confidence catches up.

Take up space, ask the question, and don’t be afraid to admit when you don’t know something.

You do not have to be the loudest person in the room or have every answer to deserve a seat at the table. Be curious. Find people who know more than you and learn everything you can from them. Speak up when something doesn’t feel right, and never let fear of looking inexperienced keep you from asking a question.

Care deeply, but remember that being compassionate and being a strong leader are not opposites. You can be kind and still hold people accountable. You can have high expectations and still be approachable. You do not have to become cold or hardened to be taken seriously.

And if you’re like me and you’re building a career while raising kids, don’t look at them as the reason you can’t do something. Look at them as one of the greatest gifts you’ve ever been given and let them light a fire in you to become better every single day. My boys have never been an excuse for me to dream smaller. They’ve been two of my biggest reasons to dream bigger.

Most importantly, don’t wait until you feel completely ready. Apply for the position. Take the opportunity. Walk into the room.

You’ll figure out the rest when you get there—and your kids get to watch you do it.

I think one of the biggest challenges in senior living right now is staffing—but not simply finding people to fill open positions. It’s finding the right people, getting them through the door, and then doing the work necessary to make them want to stay.

We spend so much time talking about recruitment, but filling a position and developing a person are two completely different things. Hiring someone doesn’t automatically create a great caregiver, nurse, or leader. That takes intentional onboarding, training, mentorship, clear expectations, accountability, and continued support long after their first few weeks.

I think this becomes even more important with our nursing leaders. We cannot hand someone a title, a checklist, and a set of keys and expect them to magically know how to lead. We have to invest in them. We have to work alongside them, teach them the “why” behind what we do, give them a safe place to ask questions, and then hold them accountable as they grow.

And when we develop strong leaders, staffing gets better. People want to work for leaders who communicate, support them, recognize their value, and are willing to jump in beside them when things get hard.

For me, the challenge—and the opportunity—is shifting our focus from simply filling vacancies to building people.

Because getting someone in the door is recruitment. Giving them a reason to stay, grow, and eventually develop the next person.

Honesty, accountability, compassion, growth, and showing up for your people are the values that guide me most.

Honesty is huge for me. Tell me the truth, even when it’s uncomfortable. Tell me you don’t know, you made a mistake, or you disagree with me. We can work through almost anything when we’re honest.

I believe in owning your part, doing what you say you’ll do, and never being afraid to grow. But above everything, I value people—at work and at home.

Be honest. Own your part. Keep growing. Care about people. And when you say you’re going to show up—show up.