Rapid rise to Physician Executive: how and why - with Dr. Priti Golechha

Priti Golechha is a first-generation immigrant, a physician executive, a national award winner, a mom of two girls, and a lifelong learner. As her day job, she serves as Associate Chief Medical Officer for a nonprofit community organization, Golden Valley Health Center in Central California. After Medical school in India, she did her pediatrics residency at Mount Sinai Medical School and Elmhurst Hospital in New York. 

She identifies herself as a strong gender equality advocate. She is the founder of the “Physician Women in Leadership” Organization, physicianwomenleaders.com.

In her spare time, she blogs about her experience as a BIPOC Healthcare Executive at pritigolechhamd.com.

Connect with Dr. Asha Padmanabhan:

🌐 Website: www.theleadershiprx.com
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📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asha.md/
💼 LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/ashapadmanabhan

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Transcript

This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity.

[00:00:00] Dr. Asha Padmanabhan:  Hi, everyone. Welcome to the Leadership Prescription Podcast for Women Physicians. Today, my guest is Dr. Priti Goleccha. She is an incredible, incredible woman physician that I met through her Facebook group, which I'll be referencing in a little bit. She is a first-generation immigrant. She's a physician executive. She's a national award winner.

[00:00:54] She's a mom to two girls and we'll be talking about that. She is also an associate chief medical officer for  Golden Valley Health Center in Central California. And she is a strong advocate of gender equality, which is where she and I intersected because we both are strong believers in women physicians being leaders. 

[00:01:14] And she is such a strong believer in that, that she founded a Facebook group. And it's now a huge organization called Physician Women in Leadership. And I have to say, I found a lot of value in that group and I'm sure a lot of other women positions have. So if you haven't found that group yet, check it out.

[00:01:31] It's on Facebook. It is for Women Physicians and I will have Dr. Golechha Priti talk more about that in just a bit. So welcome Priti. It's so good to have you here. 

[00:01:41]Dr. Priti Golechha: Thank you. It's my pleasure. It's so good to be with you talking with you and with your audience. 

[00:01:47] Dr. Asha Padmanabhan: Thank you. And so let's jump right in Priti.  What I really wanted to get started with is you're a physician executive, you're in a position of leadership and you started this Facebook group.

[00:01:59] So where did your leadership journey start? 

[00:02:01]Dr. Priti Golechha: My leadership journey was a little , I feel like it was quite different. I graduated from residency and within one and a half year an opening, like a position opened up and I just applied. I mean, literally, I didn't know a lot of people in the organization. I applied. And that's when I started building alliances, I was like, okay, if I apply, I should do something about that.

[00:02:25] And talking to people, asking them questions, getting their point of view, what are they looking for in this position? And started talking to other friends and colleagues inside so I had to ask them to put in a plug for me, and that's how I got into a leadership position, like right after residency. 

[00:02:44]As a regional medical director overseeing a couple of sites and close to 30 physicians and providers. So it was interesting. I mean, I never thought it would be the way it was when I do something exciting. Like, oh, let me try this. I thought you knew how hard it could be. So, yeah. And then I interviewed, and I got the job. 

[00:03:05] Dr. Asha Padmanabhan: That is, so much photo for thought right now, because I know you're an immigrant physician like me and there have been many other immigrant physicians that I have talked to, and that is not the first thing they will think about a year and a half after residency. So . Yeah, but. There has to be, had to be, have been something there.

[00:03:27]What about your training at your medical school? Were you in leadership there? Where did that spark come from, that at a year and a half into a new job told you I should apply for this. 

[00:03:40] Dr. Priti Golechha: I think. I'm a fixer and doer. I'm a driver, you know, so if I see issues I want to fix it and I want to be involved.

[00:03:50] And that's where I think it came from, was like, oh, there are so many things which are not working and we just need workflows and we process improvements. And I'm really good at that. It comes naturally. And that's what I thought initially at least like, oh I'll b e this correlator and I'll go ahead and fix everything.

[00:04:04]And I've always been like this in my school.. If something is not working, since childhood, like I've been that person who people would come to, or I would be involved and do some, take some proactive steps. So that's how I wanted to see myself working, fixing things and creating workflows, which a lot of which I have done as a regional medical director.

[00:04:25] And I enjoyed that. But that's why I wanted to apply. And also I saw that like not only in my organization, but I started seeing executives around me. And in the conferences you go, it's all like white men in their suits and it just feels really weird. Not seeing any women out there. And I was like, you know, we need to change this and why not start with myself?

[00:04:48] I mean, I can't persuade others to go and apply for leadership jobs if I'm not going to do it myself and not going to put myself out there. So that's why I applied and I was like, okay, let's see how bad it could be. 

[00:04:59]Dr. Asha Padmanabhan: Incredible. Incredible. So you were a fixer, even in school, in high school, growing up any anecdotes back then, which kind of led you into this realization that you like to fix things? 

[00:05:13]Dr. Priti Golechha: I did not - getting high school, you know, I think it goes with my passion for gender equality. There used to be debates in the class, what women should wear and all that. And I used to always go one step further and say, okay, this is now how it should be.

[00:05:27] Like, We should be doing like three debates post debate. And I go one step ahead. I'm like, okay, we need to do this. And why are we talking about belts? Women's schooling. My boys are not wearing that. You know? So I think I've always been really interested in doing something about the problem I'm seeing.

[00:05:42] And I was like, okay, why are we doing this? We need to talk about this. We need to fix this together and create some workflows or stuff like that. And, literally in healthcare during residency, you don't notice all these taglines because you're so busy finishing your shift and going home, taking some naps.

[00:05:57] But after residency, when you attend and you have a lot of time on your hands, that's when I started noticing this is oh, this is so bad. This is incredible. So that's what I wanted to fix. I can't think of examples, but yeah.

[00:06:14] Dr. Asha Padmanabhan: One of the first things that you wanted to fix in your new job? 

[00:06:17]Dr. Priti Golechha: Workflows, I work for a federally qualified health center and there is always, lack of communication between the medical assistants and physicians and then providers. And that's what I wanted to do. Okay, what can we do?

[00:06:31] So it's. It's not that difficult. How can we improve the communication between us and that's what my first project was. Also lack of communication with the patients and referrals. If we send that referral, it almost felt like it went into a black hole and nobody knew what was happening. And that's another project I took on.

[00:06:49] I was like, oh, I need to fix this because this is really bothering me. And I'm sure it bothers the physicians and it bothers other patients. So I did a lot of process improvements in my first year as a regional  medical director and I think it was quite a journey. I thought I'm going to solve world peace and all the problems overnight.

[00:07:09] And it wasn't that I actually had to spend a lot more time just on downloading and doing nothing. It would sometimes feel just frustrated that I'm not doing enough, but being in leadership made me realize it's not just about fixing. It's actually building influence and. Being there for your team.

[00:07:26] So my focus really shifted like probably after six months to one year into the position and I realized, okay, what, this is about. 

[00:07:34] Dr. Asha Padmanabhan: Two important being that you just brought up, but let's start with what was a challenge that you faced in that first few months of seeing this leader and trying to implement all your new ideas, which you were thinking would fix broken processes.

[00:07:52] What were the challenges that you faced? 

[00:07:54]Dr. Priti Golechha: I wasn't in that position for a very long time, honestly. And within one and a half year, another position opened up as Associate Chief Medical Officer. And my boss approached me and she asked me, Hey, are you interested? And I was like, okay let's try that.

[00:08:10] So I took up that job and I think my first six months as associate chief medical officer were the most difficult and most rocky for me. Especially being a regional medical director, so I was overseeing physicians. I didn't have more directors of my own, but then on, there were a couple of directors who were reporting to me and it wasn't that I had to do something.

[00:08:32] I think I had to learn how to work through them. So that journey was really difficult for me because I'm a doer and I was like, okay, boom, boom, boom. We need to do this. And I will prescribe things, you know, being a physician we are used to that and that's not how it works. And almost after six months I was like, okay, I'm going to quit.

[00:08:49] This is not for me. My idea, because I'm not happy. I'm not happy. And I think that's when I found coaching and that really helped me take a seat back and realize what it is. I don't know, Asha, what question did you ask me? Hopefully I answered that question. 

[00:09:08] Dr. Asha Padmanabhan: Exactly, because you went into a leadership position very early on in your career, and they've got to be challenged because medical school teaches us.

[00:09:19] To be great clinicians. It doesn't teach us how to communicate. It. Doesn't teach us how to manage a team. It doesn't teach us how to direct reports to people who report to us, or how to fix conflicts. Those are things that every good leader needs to know. And that's where I was asking you what the challenges were because we are good at clinical.

[00:09:40] We are not good at all the other things, unless we figure it out. And it sounded like you face those same challenges and you found a way to get you through them to the other side. 

[00:09:52]And you brought up an interesting fact that I did not know about, that you had been coached early on.

[00:09:56] How did that come about? 

[00:09:58]Dr. Priti Golechha: I think I was honestly frustrated, and I didn't know how to lead. And my boss is pretty cool. She helped me, but again, she has a full-time job. So we decided that maybe a coach would be able to help me because I had the intention, but I think I was too afraid to take that risk.

[00:10:16] I was too afraid to just take a back seat and let my people do the work. I was wild. I was micromanaging. And sometimes, I was just not managing at all. So I needed to find that balance and also be comfortable and not burnt out because I was almost feeling burned out and thinking, is it really worth it?

[00:10:35]So that's how I found a coach. And I think that coach, and I remember the first time we met, we went through like my 360 and we did the whole evaluation. We went through what I'm afraid of, what I want to do, what are my goals. And I remember writing down my goals that I wanted my team to feel supported.

[00:10:52] And it was all about my team. And I was like, wow, this is what I want to do. This is really what I want to do. I'm not doing that. So it was a good realization because it wasn't even, she didn't even start talking. She was asking me, and then I realized I'm not doing what. I am thinking of doing. So again, doing me and being me there was a big discrepancy and I think we got together to close that gap.

[00:11:17] Dr. Asha Padmanabhan: Interesting. Interesting. And what happened now? It's probably three years into your journey as a physician executive. 

[00:11:25] Dr. Priti Golechha: Yeah. More than little more than three 

[00:11:27] Dr. Asha Padmanabhan: years. 

[00:11:28] Yes. And how long have you been in that position? 

[00:11:30]Dr. Priti Golechha: Yeah, a little more than three years. So, the Regional Medical Director I think I was there for one and a half to close to two years.

[00:11:37] And then I became the Associate Chief Medical Officer. So I think it's going to be 4 years this year, but I guess it doesn't count. 

[00:11:47] Dr. Asha Padmanabhan: COVID took away a year and a half that we don't 

[00:11:51] Dr. Priti Golechha: Actually it's like, it feels like 10 years. I feel like I'm doing it for so long now. 

[00:11:56] Dr. Asha Padmanabhan: Yeah. So that's an incredible, incredible journey within the span of a few years.

[00:12:02]Let's back up a little bit to your identity as an immigrant and as a gender equality advocate. Where did that start? I know you referenced some stuff growing up in high school where you are also approaching that in terms of, you know, what should girls do versus what your boys do, but where did that start?

[00:12:26] That strong advocacy for women? 

[00:12:28] Dr. Priti Golechha: I think it's such a big part of me. You know, I was born in India in a really small family in a really small town, a really Orthodox family. I was the fourth daughter. And then, if you have any Indian audience, they will know about, that means only having four daughters like, oh my God, people were literally crying when I was born and my parents told me this and they wanted me to be prepared like what's coming, how the society sees women.

[00:12:56]And it almost feels like I know, and I can see that whole scene in front of my eyes that I was born and I was crying and people were crying and they were giving condolences to my parents and  my dad tells me that he was distributing the sweets and people were still crying. So it was hilarious.

[00:13:14] It's a hilarious scene in my head, but it was pretty clear to me early on that women are not treated the same way as men. And I'm glad my parents were very honest with me and they made it very clear to us. We have to advocate for ourselves and we have to advocate for others who are behind us. We are four sisters and we helped each other and we supported each other to push our journeys.

[00:13:36] And then we have other friends. That's how we grew up. That's the, I think that's the cocktail. They fed us pretty much every night because both of them wanted to do more. And they're like, if my kids stay sufficient and independent, they'll do it for themselves and they'll do it for others.

[00:13:53]Dr. Asha Padmanabhan: So going to med school, do you have physicians in your family or where did that idea of med school come as you're starting about, growing up in a small town? 

[00:14:02]Dr. Priti Golechha: I feel like somehow my parents must have instilled that idea too.  Because all four of us are physicians. So,  it must be them, but I don't know when growing up, I always loved spending time with kids.

[00:14:15] I was the babysitter for the community. The free babysitters in India, they call it. All the kids would be at my place and I would be entertaining them. And I always wanted to be a pediatrician. And then I had a very strong connection with my pediatrician. They really helped me feel secure and confident about myself when I was very little. That really helped me change my own names.

[00:14:39] So that's another funny story I think we should talk about. So around six, I was sick and I went to my pediatrician and I felt so connected with her because she was the one who asked me questions about how I was doing. And what do I like? And I said, oh my God, she's so nice. I want to do that for other girls when I grow up so that I still remember that visit somehow.

[00:15:01] And she misspelled my name and she wrote Priti in the prescription. And then I was like, oh, but that's it. That's going to be my name because my original name reminded me of patriarchy. My original name was given to me by my grandmother, which almost felt like the meaning of the name was like, we are content now we don't want any girls.

[00:15:21] I was like, okay, I hate this name. For three days. Oh, I don't want to talk about it. It just had a terrible meaning. And I was like, okay, I don't want that name. So this seems like a good name. So I'm like, okay, that's gonna be my name. I almost went almost like gone. Then I was like, okay, I'm not going to eat.

[00:15:39] I'm not going to talk to people. And until my parents changed my name, they went ahead and changed my name.

[00:15:46] I think that I had a strong impression of my pediatrician and then I wanted to be a pediatrician. And I love babies. 

[00:15:52] Dr. Asha Padmanabhan: And you were strong enough at the age of six to say, this is what I want and I'm going to stand up for it until I get it. You'll see the seeds of where I am going to fix things a year and a half into a new job comes through now.

[00:16:10] So talk about some of the  challenges that you faced over here as an immigrant physician. Have you ever faced any, with your strong will to do what's right. And to fix processes. 

[00:16:24]Did you have any challenges which you thought might've been because either you were an immigrant or you were a woman physician?

[00:16:31]Dr. Priti Golechha: I'm very lucky. I have really great relations with my boss and she's a woman, so I think she gets it as well. But not just at work, I think overall you go to conferences and people treat you like a high school kid. And I think it doesn't help if you look skinny and small and petite, and if you have an accent. I think it has happened to me so many times now where it doesn't even bother me.

[00:16:54] I just find it almost funny, especially when you go to a leadership conference and I start counting all the people. And then how many of those are women? How many of those are like black women or brown women? How many of those, like I said, talking to other women and trying to find out are they immigrants?

[00:17:08] And then the number gets smaller and smaller. And it's almost like even in the conferences, when you are networking, you see people judging you from your looks, from your accent, from you know, they wouldn't even talk to you. Then you start talking and you say, Oh , I'm an associate CMO for this big organization, then they'll say, oh yeah, I want to talk to you.

[00:17:24] So you see that bias so easily. And it's almost funny because one of the conferences I went to was the speaker there. And then I started talking to other people because I was nervous  before I was gonna give the talk and they wouldn't even talk to me, I was like, okay. Wow. This is surprising.

[00:17:43] But yeah, I think it's everywhere. It's not just about being an immigrant. I think being a woman it's hard, like everywhere I go. That's what I hear. And it's so easy to connect with women because we are so little. You go to a conference of a hundred people in there, five of them sitting on one table.

[00:17:59] So it's pretty obvious. I think there are so many examples. And so many times it has happened. It's just sad. And I think we need to be there collectively for each other and pull others up for creating that community. So it doesn't like I don't have to say I'm a woman leader. I am just a leader.

[00:18:14] You know, I think somebody said that a famous person said, and I was like, oh, it resonated so much with me. So that's the whole point of making that Facebook group too, because I felt so lonely and alone being a woman leader. 

[00:18:24] Dr. Asha Padmanabhan: I was going to lead into that. So is that what started that?

[00:18:27]Of collecting people together to support each other. 

[00:18:30]Dr. Priti Golechha: Yeah. And initially, when I started my leadership journey, I felt like, I'm the only one. And I reached out to a couple of people. I knew that like, Hey, let's, let's just meet up. And it never happens. You are so busy. And then I have little kids and people have other responsibilities.

[00:18:44] They didn't, it just never happened. And then we thought let's just create something virtually. And we were like 30 people in the group. And initially I would go there, ask all my questions and we would brainstorm. And I think that still happens in the group. And I feel like my role has shifted so much in the group now.

[00:19:05]I'm really proud that I don't think I need to be there in the group anymore. It's pretty, self-sufficient people talking to each other. People are networking. I don't even have to put in a post. And it's so good to see that because it's just, the community's building and people are relying on each other and helping each other.

[00:19:22] So it's just wonderful. 

[00:19:24] Dr. Asha Padmanabhan: It's a child that you bought and fed and nourished, and now it's flying free. 

[00:19:30]Dr. Priti Golechha: Yeah. Very nice way of putting that I guess.

[00:19:32] Dr. Asha Padmanabhan: Yes. So what is next for you? You seem to be the kind of person who's always looking for new challenges.

[00:19:39]Now this group is taken off. And so what's next for you? 

[00:19:43]Dr. Priti Golechha: That's a great question Asha, and I don't know. 

[00:19:45] I think with COVID, I feel like I'm so exhausted, honestly, and I'm always looking for something new and but not this year, I guess I'm going to just enjoy what I have and see where life takes me be open about this, because there's so much happening.

[00:20:02]This year has been exhausting. Yeah. In terms of family, in terms of work, like we have done so much, like each project would be like a year long project, which we have done within two weeks, right? I'm sure it's the same for you guys. It's exhausting. And I want to acknowledge that and I was like, you know what?

[00:20:19] I don't have to do anything this year or the next year I can just take us backseat and. See where life takes 

[00:20:26] Dr. Asha Padmanabhan: me. 

[00:20:27] Yeah. So tell me about that. As a physician in leadership during this pandemic, you probably saw it through a whole different perspective than some of the rest of us who are more in the clinical roles.

[00:20:39] So what were the challenges that you saw through the pandemic that as you were saying, you put through processes in two weeks that normally you would do in a year. So what was your experience being a physician in an executive position during this pandemic?

[00:20:54]Dr. Priti Golechha: I think with the project, what I learned being done is better than perfect. And this year was the perfect example of that, because everything was a priority. Like a lot of things were priorities. Like you have to do COVID testing for your patients. You have to help them. A lot of other things, you know, vaccines, do you have to do all those pretty quickly.

[00:21:13]And we just. We just went with the flow and we didn't strive for perfection as long as it's done. And we felt pretty comfortable with, okay, we'll figure it out at the last moment. There are things we just did like that. We did hurdles afterwards and fixed the things, which were really terrible. And we fail fast.

[00:21:31]Some of the things we tried and they were like, they were just not good and we realize it's going to happen. And that's part of the thing. And we shut them off. 

[00:21:39]I don't think any of us became defensive on oh, this was my project. And you know, nobody tried to save, and I think that was really good. And our team became really cohesive. I don't think we were as close any other time. During COVID crisis, I think we all came together and we thought about this. We were very mindful about our priorities, our workload, and other people's work. I don't want my directors to be burned out.

[00:21:59]And we did processes, which we wouldn't do otherwise. I don't think we would do anything on the go like this and we did it. And we were like, okay, if we fail, we fail fast and we learn from this and we fix it again. And it was actually pretty

[00:22:12]It's kind of liberating almost because you want to try something sometimes. And it's oh, I need to get funding. And these people, it takes six months to get that done during COVID at least initially, like now I feel exhausted, but at least initially I felt oh, it's so fast. And the doer in me was so happy.

[00:22:29] I was like, oh, we get to do this and try this out. We tried something called triage sit in with physicians. Patient's will call in, instead of a nurse or somebody else, the physicians will take the calls because of my productivity. So chaotic, we did it for two days. And then at the end of two, we are all looking at each other.

[00:22:48]I think we need to kill this. This is suggested, I don't know. The funny thing is like, nobody got defensive. Like even if we put in so much work into this, they're like, you know what? This is not working out. Let's try something else. So that was fun. And I really enjoyed that. But 

[00:23:04] And I think with people, the most shocking part was I guess, not knowing the answers because they always looked at us and then, none of us were well and people were trying to get the answers and we didn't have any.

[00:23:18]And I think acknowledging that we don't have answers and being honest really helped. Like us, we have had a very transparent culture. And we are, even financially because everyone was really worried initially. Oh, are we going to get funds, are they going to get pay cuts? What's the financial future of the company and all that?

[00:23:37] So I think being honest and transparent and communicating openly really helped. 

[00:23:43] Dr. Asha Padmanabhan: That's a huge learning experience. Just hearing from you that people banded together, tried different things, did not get defensive. And things fell apart, but just picked up and moved on to the next step over and over again, a huge learning experience.

[00:24:00] And how do you think that's going to affect your workflow, your relationships within your department, your camaraderie when this is hopefully ended soon or at some point it will end and we go back to a I don't think we'll ever go back to the old normal, but it will be something newer. How do you want your team to work together after this, when things are more settled and we go back to taking a year to do a project? 

[00:24:28]Dr. Priti Golechha: I think it will evolve organically because we all enjoy doing that. But now, including myself, we are all feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. You know, it just never ends every time it's getting to a new normal, something else comes up. 

[00:24:43] Now we have a new strain. I don't know what's going to happen. Like it's steady, but in India, I don't know. I hope it doesn't happen here. So. 

[00:24:50] I think the relations we have built during that last year are not going anywhere and that's not changing. We learned that we need to be honest and the cohesiveness of the team that's really the glue, which is holding us all together.

[00:25:03] It's not the projects which are getting done on time or not, it's the team work. I think that's not going anywhere. So it doesn't matter if the project is going to take two weeks or one year, as long as we are there for each other. And working together. I think we'll be fine. 

[00:25:16] Dr. Asha Padmanabhan: Yeah. That's a huge learning point.

[00:25:18] That's a huge piece of advice. And that kind of leads me to my next question: what would your advice be to other women physicians who may not want to jump into leadership within a year and a half after residency, but you and I both know that more women need to be leaders in their organizations. I mean, we are all leaders in one sense or the other.

[00:25:42] Whether it is to our own patients or our hospital practice or our own individual private practice, but there needs to be more women in positions of power really is what it comes down to. How, what do you want to say to the listeners of this podcast? Who are women physicians in different parts and journeys of their career?

[00:26:04]Dr. Priti Golechha: So many times I hear women are so talented and they're like, Oh, I'm not sure I qualify for this. And I just feel like, you know, I applied for a job with zero qualifications and I survived.  Yes, it was rocky, but I, I'm still here. And most of the women I see, they're so qualified.

[00:26:21] Like they're so talented, qualified. So just do it, just go ahead and apply it. The worst thing which could happen is you'll get a no, but anyways, you didn't have that position to begin with. And believe in yourself and then reach out to people, reach out to other women, reach out to champions, build alliances within your organization, outside of your organization.

[00:26:38]And the last thing I think, which I'm still working on, is that we really, really need to learn to toot our own horns. I mean, you know, we need to really change our mindset about self  promotion. Because research has shown, that's what you do - that's one of the major things which gets you to the promotion or climbing the ladder and we are so bad at it.

[00:26:57] Like even if I get, I used to get a compliment and I would tell people, oh, it was nothing but no, it was something I worked really hard for. Why would I say that? So really try, you know, accept the compliment instead of deflecting it. Toot your own horns, because that's really important when it comes to leadership.

[00:27:12] Like we have to do this dog and pony. It does feel like dog and pony sometimes, but it's just telling the facts. If you did something, accept it and let it sink in for you and let it sink in for others too. 

[00:27:24] Dr. Asha Padmanabhan: Exactly. And where did you learn that part, tooting your own horn? Because we are so bad at it.

[00:27:29] We culturally, doesn't matter which culture you come from, but women physicians in general are so apologetic about our accomplishments. And like you said, fail to even accept compliments gracefully. So how would you tell another woman physician to start on that journey of tooting their own horns.

[00:27:53] Dr. Priti Golechha: I think it involves a lot of practice. Honestly. It's not a cocktail which is going to happen overnight. I mean, what I did is I wrote down my accomplishments,  literally my homework with my coach was, write down one sentence about what I did today. Something meaningful or valuable for myself.

[00:28:09] And then practice that with somebody, like find a friend, find a colleague, find your spouse, whoever it is and practice . And I created an elevator speech. If I meet somebody, what I'm going to say about myself and it's still not perfect. I don't like it, but. Practice that. And I started practicing with whoever would talk to me, , most of the time with my husband and I think practicing helped me prepare for what I'm going to tell the others, but it also helped me.

[00:28:33] Really accepted myself because I think my struggle was not just how I'm going to tell people, but I didn't feel it inside. So I think with practice, yes it sinked that feeling. And then I started believing in myself. So that's what I would recommend. The more we practice the more it becomes very natural and we are ready and also in the CV, I talk about this in one of my blogs and I give a talk about this.

[00:28:59] As well, we need to be really - if you have done something, put it in your CV. Like why do we have to hide this? Or why do we have to put one small bullet point at the end of the CV, if you have worked on a committee add that in. If the committee made some changes, made some strides, add that in. That's your achievement.

[00:29:16] So all those things. And I think I learned a really hard way also because it was very difficult for me. It's still a little difficult sometimes, but I keep practicing and that's why I preach 

[00:29:25] Dr. Asha Padmanabhan: others too.

[00:29:26] Excellent. Excellent advice. And so how do you use this, that you have learned as a mom to two young girls?

[00:29:34]Dr. Priti Golechha: You know, I try to create that example for them because I feel like I don't remember what my parents told me, ever. I think I remember what I have seen and I think they will see me as a successful woman. And that's what their ambition would be for a woman. So I try to lead by example, and I'm very honest with them, just like my parents.

[00:29:57] I tell them what's happening around and make me, even my four year old, know the word patriarchy. And she's like, oh my God, I'm not going to marry somebody who's patriotical with me. I'm like, okay. You're just four, but sure. So I think I'm very honest with them. And I lead by example. I mean, you know, my husband does more than 50% of the childcare and household work and. I'm out more for work.  They see all this, what a successful woman looks like. And I think they learn from that. 

[00:30:27] Dr. Asha Padmanabhan: Leading by example. I don't think we can top that. So this was a pleasure for Priti and I will put the link in the show notes about Priti's group. It is for women physicians in leadership or aspiring to be leaders.

[00:30:41] Correct. Yes. Yes. So pretty much any woman physician, correct. And because we are all leaders. Yes. So check it out, check out her blog. I'll put the link for that. And this was so much of a pleasure, I enjoyed having you. And I learned a lot from you. 

[00:30:59] Dr. Priti Golechha: Thank you. Asha, I had so much fun. I think I spoke a lot, but I had a lot of fun.

[00:31:05] Dr. Asha Padmanabhan: That is the purpose of this. Thank you.