HTM On The Line with BRYANT HAWKINS SR.
This Podcast is the place where we celebrate the hardworking professionals in the field of Healthcare Technology Management. It's going to be for HTM by HTM, and more importantly this podcast is going to be fun. This is where you will hear HTM professionals getting the exposure and credit they ALL deserve.
I also have a youtube channel, where you can see weekly motivational videos. Click the link and please subscribe to my channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNQFL03ijsHjsLAKOX0uGOA
HTM On The Line with BRYANT HAWKINS SR.
"Leading Quietly, Impacting Loudly: The Journey of Mayra Becerra"
In this episode of HTM On The Line, host Bryant Hawkins (B-Hawk) sits down with Mayra Becerra, a certified biomedical equipment technician, imaging team manager, and trailblazing Latina leader in the Healthcare Technology Management industry.
From her roots in Colombia to becoming a force in South Florida’s HTM community, Mayra shares her powerful journey of overcoming doubt, finding purpose, and breaking stereotypes. She opens up about the mentors who shaped her path, the importance of cultural pride and how quiet leadership can spark loud impact.
Mayra also drops practical gems for anyone considering certification, struggling with representation or trying to balance passion with pressure. Whether you're a student just discovering HTM or a seasoned professional navigating leadership, this episode will inspire you to lean into your voice and lead with purpose.
Topics Covered:
- How she discovered HTM through biomedical engineering
- Becoming CBET certified while balancing school and work
- Leading as a Latina woman in a male-dominated field
- Creating culture and connection inside biomed teams
- The power of mentorship, belief, and giving back
Press play and be reminded that quiet leadership isn’t weakness—it’s strategy.
Big thanks to our podcast partners: College of Biomedical Equipment Technology, A.M. BICKFORD, INC., UptimeServices, PM BIOMEDICAL, GMC Healthcare Solutions and Talent Exclusive. Your support keeps the HTM mission alive!
Want to support more stories like this? Visit ElevateHTM.com , this is just the beginning.
Powered by the B-Hawk Network: A purpose-first platform elevating voices in healthcare, education, and beyond.
Welcome back to HTM On the Line. I'm your host, bryant Hawkins Sr. Today's guest is proof that leadership isn't about titles, it's about presence. From Columbia to South Florida, mara Becerra has blazed the trail as a certified biomed, a team leader and a voice for women and Latinos in HTM. Her story it's bold, it's real and it's exactly what the industry needs. Let's get into it. We live with another htm on the line podcast. I have a special guest today, miss mara becerra. How you doing today, mara, I'm Becerra. How?
Speaker 2:are you doing today, mara? I'm good and you Brian.
Speaker 1:I'm doing great, great. I appreciate you coming on the show. We're going to have a great time this evening.
Speaker 2:Thank you. I'm happy to be here. Thank you for having me.
Speaker 1:Yes, yes. First off, congratulations on your new job.
Speaker 2:Thank you.
Speaker 1:You're much welcome. So, mara, let's just jump into it. I always ask this question to a lot of folks in this industry what originally drew you to the HTM industry?
Speaker 2:So since I was in high school, I knew I wanted to do some kind of engineering. One time there was a college fair in my school. There was a booth with biomedical engineering. They were showing how they would develop systems to help patients with mobility issues, and that like caught my attention. And and when I finished high school, that's when I moved from Colombia to the US and I had to study English to the US, and I had to study English, and the college I went to um had the biomedical engineering program as an associate's degree and I looked at the classes and I'm like, oh, that's interesting, it's like a lot of electronics and and numbers, and so that's how. Uh, well, part of that. And also my mom. She wanted me to be like a nurse or a doctor, and I'm like, no, I cannot see needles, I don't like blood, so, but this was the closest thing to that as well. So I think it was just a perfect fit for me.
Speaker 1:Yes, yes. Next time you see your mom, tell her I said hello. Your mom is such a joy I remember her from the FBS.
Speaker 2:Hopefully she'll remember me. It's funny like she she always has. Uh, uh, like friends of mine, like oh, please tell your mom we say hi she's she's like yeah, she's a cute.
Speaker 2:My my dad refers to her as like a lost kid because she's like and so friendly she's, she's really nice. Yeah, it's a big part of these uh, of me making this decision, uh, and also my my dad, because he, you know, he's the one like will take a computer apart or open a car to try to fix it, and he will always like, bring me with him to try to help, like you know, give me, give him the tools and stuff. So, yeah, it was a combination of both parts, as well.
Speaker 1:So you was being groomed for this without even knowing you was being groomed for it. Yes, was being groomed for this without even knowing you was being groomed for it. Yes, now I do a lot of motivational things and because I realize how important this industry is. When did you know that this career was more than just a job to you?
Speaker 2:um, I think, well, honestly, since I saw that, um, the booth, the biomedical booth, um it was, it ignites something in me like how, with engineering, we can help patients or sick people, and that already was like, uh, I was growing like a passion for it. So I, I, I think since the beginning I knew, uh, it was going to be like a career for me.
Speaker 1:Great, Great. Now I noticed you have um CBET behind your name, so I'm assuming you are a certified biomedical equipment technician.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:So what made you want to pursue getting that CBET?
Speaker 2:So, before I got my first job, I saw it somewhere and I was like, maybe if I get my C, but I have more chances to get a job as soon as I finish school. So I started looking into it. But then I realized like, no, you need to experience in the field to do it. And I was like, oh, no, so I waited. But then, at the same time that's when I was doing my bachelor's and I I took it like I had a supervisor that he was like encouraging me to to take the c-bed, and I took it without studying much and I failed it the first time and and I was like I cannot do this because I was, you know, doing my bachelor's, like taking classes for that, and I tried to do the c-bed and you need to study, or I needed to study.
Speaker 2:Uh, I don't know if it was because I only had the two years of experience in the field, um, but I knew I needed to study. So, uh, six months later I decided to put on hold my, the classes for my bachelor's and then I just focused on studying for the c bit. And that's when I I passed the exam and I, yeah, I took it, uh, at a fbs conference. Um, they had the option to do it there and and that's like we had a little group of people and we were studying the day before and like taking like this simulation test that we had. And yeah, and another Colombian lady and me passed the exam that time.
Speaker 1:Awesome, awesome. So you mentioned how you had to do a lot of studying. So for any technicians out there considering certifications, what mindset or prep strategy would you say makes the difference?
Speaker 2:Study. You can take the class that is offered by Amy. When I took it it was offered by somebody else. I can remember. But, yes, yes, but they give you a good guide, uh, like they break it down by uh topics and and they explain to you. And I actually learned a lot, uh in the class, not only to pass my c-bed exam, but like things that I applied, you you know, in my job and even now, like there were some radiology stuff in that that I that's all I knew about radiology, and now look at me, I'm a manager for imaging team. So, yeah, so you can I encourage them like to take that class, uh, or if it's, you know, sometimes like, uh, money could be a problem to take that class, um, but find people that may have studying materials, uh, that are, um, I I'm not sure if there is a book, but I remember I got like a book that had all the information to study and stuff.
Speaker 1:Actually this question you mentioned you're from Colombia. I don't know why I thought about the movie Colombiana, it just popped in my head. So, as a Latina in HTM, what leadership qualities do you lean on to make your presence felt? You know, because I know you're almost like you got, a Latina even though you live in South Florida. So I wouldn't say you're a minority in that aspect, but you're a female being not many females in the industry. So what leadership qualities do you lean on to make your presence felt? Because even though you're in small stature, you have a big presence. What leadership qualities do you lean on?
Speaker 2:So, as a Latina, it's funny because there was a joke. Uh, last last week I was talking to somebody and uh, they mentioned, oh, I told them I was colombian and they're like, oh yeah, my ex is colombian. I'm like, why is everybody's ex is colombian, not like their current girlfriend or what? No, because you guys are, you know, strong headed and stuff.
Speaker 2:And I'm like, yes, we could be like sometimes strong with our ideas and and I get in like I had my interview recently and you know I'm a nice person, I talk to people nice and I encourage them, even like, if I'm having some trouble to get them to do their job, I approach them like in a nice way and I try to encourage them. It could be, you know, one of my employees or a vendor, but if you know, after a little while, like things are not getting through their head, then I tell them I will get my spicy Latina out and you know, hey, this is what we're doing. So, yes, we could, I could be, I can be strong if I have to, but for me to get to that it takes a while.
Speaker 1:Yes, yes. Now what can you think of that's something that you do as a leader. That's quiet, people don't always see it, but it matters the most.
Speaker 2:It's just connecting with them in a more personal level, like to really care about them. You know, something as simple as how was your night or how's your morning going, how's your family. Just show them that you really care about them, not just on a professional level, but also like in a personal level, because everybody has something going on in their lives and an employee could be performing poorly because something is going on in their lives and it's better if you know, you know, if you know them on a personal level, to understand that and maybe help them uh, to you know, to see if you can help them with whatever issue they're having outside, so they can perform better at the workplace. Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2:That's a great answer there.
Speaker 1:Now you're very, very involved with FBS and you're part of the. What's your chapter in FBS? It's the.
Speaker 2:TAPAMI.
Speaker 1:And that stands for.
Speaker 2:So South Florida Medical Instrumentation.
Speaker 1:Okay, great great.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so it's like you have a pretty big group.
Speaker 1:How many people y'all have in y'all group?
Speaker 2:So in South Florida we have, we usually range between like 50 and 60 members. Oh yeah, yes, and when we do the meetings we usually have like an average of 30 attendings.
Speaker 1:Awesome, Now the fact you're part of that association. Do you feel a responsibility to represent something bigger than yourself in this industry?
Speaker 2:yes, I do, I do. Um, I I was a very shy person and then the? Um, my, my husband, my now husband, uh, I think he saw a potential in me. He's like you know, you're a Latina, a female in the male-dominated industry. We need to put you out there so you can encourage more females and the minority to get in the in this industry. You love it so much. Like, why not put that out there? Um, I was a little hesitant because I'm like I'm not good with cameras and videos and stuff, but you know I was like you know what, let's go ahead and try it.
Speaker 2:And yeah, like when, sometimes, when I go to the conferences, people will come to me and they're like, hey, I've seen your videos. Or I have people reaching out from like another country and because they saw my videos, so yes, I, because of that, and also because I'm part of FBS and I'm I am the chair for Safami, I feel like, yes, all of that is a way to represent something bigger than me.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. You do a great job at it. I don't know what that shy person you're talking about, because I knew you before I met you. Also, I follow the PowerMadeGirl on Instagram, If any of you guys are not following her she has some extraordinary videos. You need to follow her and I just can't see you being shy. But I guess we all had a starting point. I guess what do you hope a young woman or Latina hears in your story that makes them believe they belong here in Biomed, or just successful in general?
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 2:So I went through some challenges when I got in the field. The one I remember the most is one day like I was in the field for probably a year and a half and one day I was I walking into cath lab and there was this guy that um needed help, uh, with something, and I was like, hold on, let me get my wrench out. He's like you have tools, you're a girl and you know how to use that tool. And I'm like I look at him like, are you being serious? Are you being sarcastic? Like what's going on? Yes, and, and at that point I kind of doubt my like what I was doing and I'm like am I in the wrong field?
Speaker 2:But then I was like I I kind of ignored that comment and I kept doing you know, know, I was like doing my own thing. He's like oh, look at you, you actually know how to use that. And I'm like so you were serious about that comment. Yeah, so at that moment I had a doubt, but then I was like I felt like I had to prove that yes, a woman can use tools, a woman can engineer. Yes, yes, yes, yes. So if you have ever felt like, if they ever feel like they don't belong because of somebody else's comment. Don't, don't listen to that. Just listen to your instincts, to you, to what you believe.
Speaker 1:Yes, yes. Now how is your? I mean, I met your mother and some of your friends and you're very strong with your culture. So how do you think your latina culture empowers or influence the way you approach opportunities in the htm industry?
Speaker 2:so, yeah, so, coming from a um a lot a latin country where we don't have everything, we have to work hard to get everything. So, um, you know, we come here, we see all these opportunities and we just want to take the opportunity and learn the most out of everything. Uh, and like when the opportunity to me uh came, uh to become uh the coach for safami, I saw that as a challenge but also like a way for me to um start my leadership uh skills. It's a volunteering job. You don't get paid for that, but it does teach you a lot and that's how I started, you know, my leadership part, or like my leadership career. It was because I took that opportunity.
Speaker 1:It was because I took that opportunity. Great Now, I did a little homework because I looked up. I don't know if these numbers are accurate, but it was from 2021. And it was breaking down the ethnic diversity within the HTM industry 7.4% identify as Hispanic. Industry. 7.4% identify as Hispanic. So, with that in mind, how do you see the Hispanic presence in the industry? I know you're down in South Florida so it may be a big presence down there, but I know you travel, so is there some type of awareness going on down in South Florida to maybe influence more Hispanics to come into HTM USA?
Speaker 2:Or what would you say? No, I have not seen that here. The closest thing that I've seen to that is the College of Engineering. They're based out of California. They do have like a chapter or a group of biomets that reach out to like international, you know, students or professionals in the HTM industry, but down here we have like the opposite. We have more like Latin people and not so many, you know, americans. It's not that I mean. Yeah, yeah, yeah, we don't have that problem. Now, as a female, that's a little different. Uh, I have seen that, you know, females were also a minority or probably still are a minority in the industry, but I've seen that increasing, uh, in the field. Like before it was just like almost a miracle to see a woman in this field. Now I encounter more, more female and I like seeing that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, cause on your team you have a couple of females. Well, from the picture I saw, I don't know if that was your team, but it looks like you have a one or two females right On your previous team.
Speaker 2:I'll say yeah, my previous team. Yes, I had, we were three. Actually, they were Colombian too, so we were three Colombians in the shop.
Speaker 1:Three females Wow.
Speaker 2:Yes, yes, three females in the shop, yes, so I mean we still were the team. The total was like nine people, so we still were not that's like 30%.
Speaker 2:I have 0% in my shop, so I mean I always say like you need at least one female because, yeah, when people came to the shop, they're like, oh my god, this is like the cleanest shop I've seen in all the shops I've been to and I was like that's what, that's what you get when you have three females working in the biomed shop I can attest to that, because I used to work with ronnie in florida and she kept that shop clean and she stayed on us to make sure it stayed clean.
Speaker 1:So you're right about that one?
Speaker 2:yes, I have one, one of us. She's like ocd, so she would like get everybody, and if somebody was not very organized with their desk when they went on vacation, she will clean their desk too.
Speaker 1:And then rana was so particular about her stuff. Oh yeah, if she go on vacation she would know if we sat at her desk, because if something was out of place she had everything in place. And so we like, how does she know that?
Speaker 2:because she remembers where she left everything yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, gina is like that. Yeah, but not not only her desk, she will be on everybody's desk. Like hey, what you have that that's dirty, you drop something on the floor, like I am. I am clean, clean, but not to that level. So I, oh no, I appreciate having her in the Like. She will keep everything nice and neat and make sure that everybody else did Awesome.
Speaker 1:Now let's get futuristic for a minute. Now. What is something in the HTM industry you think still needs to be reimagined? If you had to pick something that we're doing today, we could say man, I wish we could just work on this.
Speaker 2:Yes, exactly that. You said it. I wish. I wish we could have access to all the all the service manuals and all parts. I don't like when OEMs they want to keep everything for them and we have to go through them just to be able to fix a machine or service. You know, do the PM on a machine. Like that should be public. We know we should be able to, you know, to grab a service manual and be able to do the PM or fix the machine.
Speaker 1:Yes, yes, I think that's something that's going universal and it's going to happen. Personally, I believe in my heart and heart that's going to happen one day. Now, what would you say is another barrier? I mean, we know about the right to repair. What would you think would be another something that you wish we could make changes to or rethink the way we do it?
Speaker 2:Um, sometimes some uh hospitals limit us. Um, it's not impossible, but it's very challenging for us and we should just like be part of that team and just to that will. It will be nice to have that, because it's it makes our job more difficult. The fact that we don't have those access or I switched gears a little here. Okay.
Speaker 1:Who mentored you in this industry? I know we all had someone that, yeah, took us in. Who would you say was your mentor in this industry?
Speaker 2:so I have two, well, maybe three, mentors. Um my, I think number one, uh was my previous supervisor, dave. He has been in the industry for a while and he came to our hospital when I was in the industry for probably like two or three years.
Speaker 1:Give Dave a shout out. What's Dave's name? Dave?
Speaker 2:Dave Reed.
Speaker 2:Okay, there you go he, yeah, he knows so much of the industry and he like sometimes I will be frustrated with him because I had questions and he's like you go figure it out. And he probably knew the answer. But he knew I could figure it out on my own. And that unlocked up something in me that I didn't know I have. And he's yes, I, I don't have to always go to somebody, like to my superior, just to solve a problem like I. That's when I, you know I make my brain work harder, but because of that I'm not afraid anymore of pretty much anything like yeah, okay, I don't know, the system is a new system, but we'll learn, we'll figure it out there you go, there, you go yes, yes, no, I learned a lot from him.
Speaker 2:Uh, the way like he organized our database. Uh, our database was not not organized, but he made a lot of improvements and and make like workflow easier because of that. And my other mentor was my previous boss, manny DeForest. He's just like a passionate guy for the field too, and he like showed me that you just have to even though you're a leader, you still have to get in it and show your people that you can do the dirty work as well. Get in the middle of the war, because being in a hospital is like being in war, so you can be there and also be in the office. You know managing stuff. And and then my husband is like also my mentor. He's not in the in the industry, but he's a leader and he is also I mean, he's also in the healthcare environment and he saw the potential in me as well and pushed me, uh, to unlock a lot of stuff that I didn't know I have. Yes, now how?
Speaker 1:long have you been in the industry so far now?
Speaker 2:How many years? Almost 10 years.
Speaker 1:Okay, that's right 10 years Congrats.
Speaker 2:I mean I did. The first year was me volunteering, so I was a volunteer at the hospital just like trying to understand what the field was and stuff. And yeah, if we include that it's almost 10 years.
Speaker 1:Now, you've done a lot in these first 10. So what do you see in store for the next 10 years?
Speaker 2:Well, I want to pursue like I want to do, my master's, not because I want to keep growing, but because I love learning. So I hopefully, after I do my my master's, who knows, maybe more doors will open more opportunities to keep growing. But for now I am happy where I am. Um, I hope I keep contributing to the industry, not just from the hospital but also in a bigger level.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, because you're much needed down there in Florida. I mean you do a lot. And also congrats on you being made of the year last year, right, FBS.
Speaker 2:Oh, yes, thank you.
Speaker 1:Legacy. What legacy do you want to leave in the HTM industry? Because people, when you think legacy, it's something that my heart is gone, but people still talk about you. What type of legacy do you want to leave about you if you could leave a legacy behind?
Speaker 2:I want people to see me as, um, once I was a young, uh, latina, uh, wanting to learn and contribute and help other young people, uh, getting in the industry, and that's like that's why the biomech girl came up is that. That is already out there and it's gonna stay there and it's gonna keep teaching people in the future um, how to how to do things. And it doesn't matter if you're young or a female or a Latina. You can show people that you're capable of more and if you want to, you can. You can get to whatever you want to, as long as you work hard for it that's it.
Speaker 1:Work hard. Nothing is easy. Some folks think it's just easy. It's not easy. They may think it's easy because you work so hard at it. They say, oh, myra does it so effortlessly, but they don't know behind the scenes, oh, no, no, no.
Speaker 2:I I at some point, when I was a volunteer at the hospital, I also had a a job and I was also going to school. So I was doing like three things at the same time and with not, you know, barely sleeping.
Speaker 1:But but which explains why you can do FBS, you can do some family, you can go to school. It's just in you, yeah.
Speaker 2:I mean today, before I talked to you, before I got in the podcast, I was like working with a couple of vendors to plan something for Safami and like we were running into, uh through, some hiccups. So I was like, okay, listen, I gotta get on this other call, but this is what we're gonna do and, yes, I, I stay busy, for sure, stay busy, and you know, you gotta find what you love and and then all those things become just like either something simple or something fun, which I find a lot of that in this industry. It's like to me it's fun, I enjoy it so much.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you do a great job of making it seem like fun, and that's commendable. And just so you know, you have a legacy in place and I guarantee you you have a legacy in place and I guarantee you, if you go back to your old job and ask them about you, they're going to, they're probably still talking about you and that's an attribute to your hard work and I commend you for that. Now, I always ask these questions at the end of the podcast and I'll ask you to use questions Also. I want you to give some advice and I'll ask you to use questions also. I want you to give some advice because I've been talking to young people now, so I want you to give some advice to a young person that may be considering the bio-med industry, and they're listening right now to our podcast.
Speaker 2:What would you tell that young person that it's? It may seem difficult at the beginning, but as long as you dedicate your time and you study, you will. You will learn a lot and you will love it. You will enjoy being in this field because, honestly, it's not boring. Every day is different and you get to learn a little bit of electronics, a little bit of mechanics, a little bit of medicine, a little bit of uh it computers. It's. It's so like it has a little bit of so many different things in the way, and that's why it's so much fun. So you probably will feel like overwhelmed at the beginning, but once you uh, you know you dedicate your time to study, you will accomplish that and you will enjoy it.
Speaker 1:Great answer. Now, normally I would ask you to say something for those that have been in the industry for a while, but I just thought about this while you were talking. I want you to talk to the HTM manager, who may have a Latina technician and she may be shy or quiet. What advice would you give that manager on how they may be able to engage with that technician?
Speaker 2:um, I, to give them guidance, give them the right tools and have the conversation with them about hey, I'm, I'm here if you need it, uh. And and also tell them that they believe in them, just like my supervisor told me he's like you have, if you want, you can reach the sky, like the sky is your limit. And I don't know if he really mean it or not, but I believed it and because of that I accomplished so much. But I believed it and I, because of that, I accomplished so much. And again, stuff that I didn't know I was capable of and it's just because I knew somebody else was watching and believing in me and stuff that I even didn't believe in me.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. I mean, that's the whole name of this game. Right, you have to pay it forward. I mean, what good is it for you to get someone to help you and you don't do the same in return? And that's something I always say. That's how you get compound interest. You have to continue to pay forward and that's the reason I have this podcast, so people can hear your story podcast, so people can hear your story, and you don't know who it's going to touch. It's going to touch somebody. I promise you it touched me. So, yeah, I know it's going to touch someone. And that's keep doing the great things you're doing.
Speaker 1:All right, I mean it's, it's noticed and you're very much so necessary and appreciated from afar. So I can guarantee you the ones you are shoulder to shoulder with appreciate you and I can tell by the pictures from your going away festivities that you are very much loved, cherished and admired. So congratulations on all the great things you're doing and keep up the good work, and anytime you want to come back on, you are more than welcome.
Speaker 2:You're one of the family and I got some stuff on my list I need to talk to you about, because I'm about to put you to more work but, I appreciate you here thank you, brian, thank you for having me and also thank you for doing this for the industry and the future of the industry, because we need this. We need our voice out there, uh, and show them like you know we're. We're the people behind the scenes, but, uh, we need people like you to show that we are there yeah, unseen but unstoppable.
Speaker 1:Right, exactly, there you go. Mara didn't just enter this field, she elevated it from doubt to certification, from shy beginnings to industry leadership. She's a reminder that your background doesn't limit your breakthrough For anyone watching. Believe in your grind, trust your growth and remember being unseen doesn't mean you're not powerful. Until next time, keep showing up and keep elevating the standard. Unseen but unstoppable. Y'all be safe out there.
