Leading As Your Authentic Self

What if the secret to leadership wasn't becoming someone else, but becoming more of who you already are?

In this episode of Success in Doses, I sit down with Dr. Brandi Hamilton, Director of Pharmacy, incoming President-Elect of the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), and one of the most authentic leaders I've had the privilege to learn from.

Brandi shares her journey from pharmacy technician to pharmacy executive, the setbacks and election losses that shaped her path, lessons learned through personal adversity, and why authenticity remains her greatest leadership strength.

Thank you for supporting the show. Follow @successindosespod

career advancement, negotiation skills, pharmacists, personal development, confidence, asking for what you want, mindset shifts, professional growth, self-advocacy, boldness

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:00

Welcome to Success in Doses. I'm your host, Saleh. This podcast is about the real journeys behind meaningful careers, the pivots, the risks, the moments of doubt, and the lessons that shape who we become. Each episode, I sit down with people who are building impactful lives and careers, and we break down the experiences that help them get there. Because success rarely happens overnight, it happens in doses. Let's dive in on becoming on purpose. Welcome back to another absolutely amazing episode of Success in Doses. This podcast is all about the small and incremental steps we take every single day on our journeys to becoming our absolute best version. Today's topic is focused on personal leadership and development and how we are making simple decisions that absolutely are going to lead to big things for us. As I was thinking about who and people I wanted to talk to with respect to leadership, leadership development, and the personal investments we're all making in ourselves. I wanted to have this conversation with someone that I don't even think she realizes how much impact she's had on my own personal journey. Dr. Brandi Hamilton is the director of pharmacy at California Rehabilitation Institute in Los Angeles, California. Brandy began her pharmacy career over 20 years ago as a pharmacy technician. She received her doctorate of pharmacy degree from the University of Arkansas from Medical Sciences College of Pharmacy and her Master's of Science and Pharmacy Leadership and Administration from the University of Houston College of Pharmacy. She completed her PGY1, PGY2 Health System Pharmacy Administration residency at CHI St. Luke's Health, Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center in Houston, Texas. Brandy has held and continues to hold numerous leadership roles within several pharmacy organizations. As a student pharmacist, she served as APHA ASV national president and APHA trustee. As practitioner, she continues to be actively engaged in various roles within a variety of organizations. She most recently became hold your claps, but don't hold them for real. On the pharmacy today editorial advisory board and the speaker of APHA House of Delegates, and now serves as president-elect of the American Pharmacist Association. Release your claps. You heard what I said. Brandy enjoys helping others reach their potential. I can personally attest to that. Working with colleagues to optimize their strengths and promoting their development as pharmacy professional.

SPEAKER_00 2:47

Welcome to the pod, Brandy. Thank you, Sally. I'm so excited to be here. And I was as I was sharing with you earlier, this is my first podcast. So teeny bit of nervousness. So if I say something crazy, um you won't be surprised, but exactly.

SPEAKER_02 3:01

And I think like from the first time anyone meets you, it's that real nest that really I think is your superpower. And I'm not sure you even realize it because to you, it's just like I'm doing me, but it's so inspiring to see. I wanted to start this recording and talking about the very first time I met you because it's so vivid in my mind. Okay. It was in 20, I think it's the 2014 MRM, where uh APHA trial the region one, region two MRMs together in DC. I was a first-year student pharmacist, had just been elected chapter president elect, and you led our chapter president-elect workshop and introduced and talked to us all about what be the change theme was about. And I remember just sitting there and being in awe of you and came up and talked to you afterwards, and I was like, oh my god, she's like a real girl. Step aside, Pinocchio. The girls are coming in. She's such a real girl. Brandy, where does that come from? Like this comfortability that you carry with just being you.

SPEAKER_00 4:20

Hmm. Well, and they start by saying, I remember that. I didn't remember doing that particular workshop, but I do remember meeting you individually. And to this day, all these years later, you know, I I kind of find myself looking for you when I go to conferences. And these highlights is bumping into you. Because if I'm having a really exhausting day, there's something about you that just kind of builds people's energy up. So thank you. As far as being me, uh, and I love that you see it as a superpower. I uh it sometimes can be a little polarizing. Uh, sometimes people will remark, you have no filter, and I'm like, this is the filter. I thought I was trying. Yeah, this is the point two micron filter. Okay. But now, um, how did how is it that I am the way I am? A lot of times I introduce people to my mother to explain why I how I am the way I am. I was, you know, I was born to a pretty young mother who has this inherent strength about her, and she is who she is. So I kind of grew up as a copy paste of her. I mean, the apple did not fall far. This apple's landing so well, even the Russian judge was impressed. And so, I mean, just it just that just is what it is. Um, I have tried to be other versions of who I think I should be, and it just never works out very well. I've I've I've I'm old enough and wise enough, which is not to say I'm old at all, to realize that um people can see it and it comes off as ingenuous if you're not being yourself. Now, I do have a theater degree, so there is a degree I was in theater. So that kind of explains a lot too.

SPEAKER_02 5:56

Cool is that because I think a lot of people when I tell them, I was like, oh yeah, I mitored in journalism. They're like, oh. And they're like, really? But that kind of makes sense.

SPEAKER_00 6:06

It really does connect. It does. And like I, you know, I was a big art person in school. I mean, I I loved the math and sciences, I loved all of it. And what kind of one of my weak points I would say is I never I had a hard time deciding what I wanted to do because I love all the things. But I was a big art person. I sang, I played saxophone, I was in the theater, I did all that stuff, and then kind of fell backwards into pharmacy. We maybe get into that later. So I'm a kind of all that to say I'm not really great at answering this question because I don't I don't see being who I am as a choice anymore. Is it is it's too hard to not be. Now, do I do I edit and show up as the you know more appropriate version of myself for certain situations? Sure. I mean the version of you see me, yeah, version of me you see, you know, on a conference stage versus the hour. They're a little different, but they're variations on a theme. It's just different verses of the same song.

SPEAKER_02 7:00

Okay, so real quick, if you're enjoying this conversation, go ahead and rate and review the podcast. It helps more people find the show and keeps the conversation going. Okay, so let's get back to the conversation. I love that analogy. Different verses of the same song. No, because I think that as young professionals, it's probably the steepest learning curve for us, that adjustment. And I think for for a lot of people, they feel like there has to just be the one version and you either take it or leave it. And so, as a person who mentors, I try to tell them, I'm like, everyone who is successful, we are constantly going in waves with the versions to fit the situation. Sometimes I'm slightly more assertive because in that moment, that's what's gonna get the job done. And other times I will join somebody in their moment of need where all they need me to do in that moment is to just listen. But I I would love for you to talk a little bit about some lessons you've learned along the way with navigating those things.

SPEAKER_00 8:07

So I think it's about I don't know, I'm I'm a big nerd for those personality tests and things like that. So I've done that a few times, and I think what has helped me is learning to lean into my strengths rather than seeing everything that's not my inherent strength as a weakness and trying to just try to lean into what what is inherently true about and then I mean I think it's a product of maturity too, learning when to uh when to lean back and listen. So so my decision making is is less about when to be the executive brandy because she tends to show up first. It's it's when to when to turn that knob down and just listen. And now the Clipton Strength Finders, it's you know, it lays out 34 different strengths that you can have. And I've done the thing where you can get the full 34 and uh empathy was pretty low on the list. And it's not because I don't care, it's just because I I don't immediately jump into somebody's shoes the way others might. Um so I did some empathy training with a former employer. It was, you know, a big group thing, and they wanted me to learn to teach it. I'm like, I'm the last person that should teach this. But I found out pretty quickly that I'm actually the best person to teach it because it doesn't necessarily come naturally. As you know, as healthcare professionals, especially, we tend to be the people who want to fix things, right? Yeah. So if you come to me with a problem, I'm like, I'm like, all right, all right, let's work this out, let's fix this thing. But that's not necessarily always what's needed. Learning to kind of read the room and read the situation and be and be comfortable with not having the answer and not necessarily always having a response. And some something that um I think this came from René Brown, if I'm remembering correctly, that I keep in my back pocket. If someone tells me something that I don't know how to respond to that's really difficult, I don't even know what to say right now, but I'm so glad you told me. And that's it. I keep that one in my back pocket. So yeah, turning turning executive uh bossy brandy on isn't isn't particularly difficult. It's more of it's more a measure of when to let her kind of take a back seat that I don't always have a comment about everything, which uh that can be a challenge because for better or worse, I always have a comeback. That's the worst. I got an AN improv class. I always have a quickie little comeback. Just kind of paying attention and reading the room and trying to look at someone and kind of assessing what they need. And if I don't know, sometimes I'll ask them like, all right, what do you need right now? Do we do you need an ear or do you need some fixing? Yeah. Go from there. Like I'm not, I don't, I don't get too uncomfortable about asking what what what's needed. What do you need from me right now? Because I got you. Either way, I got you.

SPEAKER_02 10:47

Yeah, and I think people can sense that, Brandy. Like when people bring you a challenge, they can totally sense that if the energy is judgmental, condescending, or it's just like, I've brought a problem that the person in front of me legit has no clue how to solve it, but they're telling me that they're willing in this moment to stand in it with me to help me figure it out. And that could be one of the most powerful things you could do for someone in a moment when they're they're feeling like they're kind of spiraling, right?

SPEAKER_00 11:18

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 11:18

Well, how do you how do you know when to turn it on? Oh my gosh, I think like I am hyper vigilant of when to turn it on and turn it off because so a few things are going on in my mind when I'm either stepping into a big meeting or gonna do a presentation. I'm very insecure about my communication skills because English is not my first language.

SPEAKER_00 11:41

So I'm always thinking that I hate to interrupt, but I'm going to right now because you're English, you speak English better than a lot of native speakers. So carry on. Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 11:52

That's a big compliment. But I'm always thinking that, like, are the thoughts going through my mind, will they come across exactly as I intend them to? So it's all it's investing in a lot of resources for myself and that development to learn how to communicate so that I am received exactly the way I want to. I worry about that piece so much. And I think like my my code switching and adjustments and all of that, that's where it is. And I'm naturally just a loud girl. I I laugh with my mouth wide open. So I'm always just like, okay, even if it's funny, control how hard you cackle. Ugh, that's hard. It's really hard, right? I want to, I want to talk a little bit about you kind of decided like at what point with a theater degree is healthcare or pharmacy even coming on the horizons, and you're thinking, yeah, I think this is gonna be the move.

SPEAKER_00 12:50

So, like I alluded to earlier, I fell backwards into pharmacy, and I'll and I'll say this proudly to anybody who asks. Um, I was in college, I was working in the menswear department at Sears, which you know no one's doing on purpose, and I was all and I was giving private saxophone lessons a little bit on the side to just to make I was in church one Sunday, and I pops his head into our little classroom door and says, Hey, I'm looking for a pharmacy technician. Anybody want to be a pharmacy technician? Like, don't know what that is, but yes, get get me out of these knockoff, you know, polo tops. So so yeah, I was I was 19. I went to work at this pharmacy, like in Arkansas. This is in Arkansas, and in Arkansas, you just have to have a high school diploma, pass a background check, and a consistent pulse, and they'll train you on the job. So I started working for this guy, and um like the the work came pretty easy. I enjoyed it. I felt like I was actually doing something worthwhile. Yeah. One of the first things I've I had done that I felt like I was doing something truly worthwhile. We moved to a different town within Arkansas, still had a technician license. I got a job in that in that town in a pharmacy, and I ended up working for that guy for what was it? I think 11 years. And somewhere along the way, I was like, I mean, I was, you know, I did really well in school. I like I feel like there's more for me than than what I'm doing. Cause I was I was just kind of clocking in and clocking out, and I do a rut. I was like, you know what, let's do this. Let's do this. So I went back to school. I was like, all right, like because they don't give you a whole lot of math and science and a theater degree. So I had to go take all the math and science, which is fine. I do fine with that. So yeah, and so and so I did it, and I started pharmacy school, and I jumped in with both feet, and here we are. So I've yeah, fell completely backwards into it, and I think I'm a little luckier than I deserve to have found a place that that really works for me, and just a series of pieces of good luck and kind fortune that have have followed to land me where I am.

SPEAKER_02 15:02

Yeah, but also you're like really, really hardworking and super awesome. So let's not dial it down to like luck has been in my favor a whole lot, but there's so much hard work in what you're describing because my journey was somewhat similar too. I was a technician for six years before my manager was like, girl, you're killing it at this. I don't want to lose you. The selfish move is stay here. But you should really think about because some of the pharmacy students I had started working with had like graduated pharmacy school, done residencies, and came back at pharmacists. And I was like, Oh, that's how long six years is. She's like, Yeah, like you could have also done it in the same amount of time. So I decided to go back all the same, but there's a lot of like grit and self like taking stock and inventory of like, am I doing the right thing? And a lot of uncertainty along that journey. So you're in pharmacy school. How does Brandy go from I'm gonna go back to school to I'm gonna give this profession a whole lot of me?

SPEAKER_00 16:11

What is going on? Pretty sadistic of me, honestly. No, I'll tell you what happened. This is a little bit personal, but it's it's not a secret. So when I was doing my prereqs for pharmacy school during that first year, I went through a divorce. I did. I did. And so I was taking my finals that first uh semester while moving out of my house and setting up home in a new place while doing organic organic chem final while while moving and going through a divorce. So loved that for me. But I passed Organic Chem a shout out to my professor at University of Central Arkansas because I went to his office and I needed I needed a recommendation letter for pharmacy school. And uh I was I was in his organic two class by that point. It was like the beginning of the next year. And I was telling him, it's like I it's like I need a recommendation. I know only got to see an organic chem one. I said, here's the story. This is what he's like, he's like, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop. He's like, you passed organic chem while going through a divorce and move. Divorce. Yeah. And he's like, he's like, I'll write you the best letter. Exactly. So uh anyone who's been through a divorce, particularly any woman who's been through a divorce, will will nod her head at at what I'm about to say. Um, when you come out the other side of that, you have this renewed vigor and this kind of thirst for life, you know. And I was in leadership type roles in high school. I mean, I was a major in the band, I was band council president, all that type of stuff. And I said, you know what? I'm back. I'm I am flying solo, so I'm gonna throw everything into this. So I get to the University of Arkansas for medical sciences, which uh has always been a big APHA school. And we were had they had like the little booth set up for all the different organizations, and some P2s were like, Everyone joined APHA ASP. Like, all right, I got money, I guess. So I joined a few different things, including that. And uh I said, I said, I'm if I'm doing this, I'm doing this. And so I ran for the P1 liaison, lost that. I've lost as many elections as I've won, lost that, and then went to MRM that year as a P1, which was conveniently in Little Rock, so it was just right down the road. Went to and I saw the policy process instead, you know what?

SPEAKER_02 18:28

It's so cool, it's life-changing. And I I try to tell people and explain it to people. I'm cutting you off, but it's because it's because that's what did it for me. Watching the House of Delegates, and I'm like, whoa, what is this? And how do I get in all up in it? Yeah, sorry, continue.

SPEAKER_00 18:50

You know what? It's again another sidebar, like so many of us are when we when you ask us our what about you know, tell you tell me your story, it starts with an MRN. So many of us. So many of us. Yeah, I saw the policy process. I said, Okay, I want to be policy VP, made that happen, went to the annual meeting and uh saw Veronica Vernon running the student house of delegates. Yeah, and I said that, right? That doing that. So you know, I have I had it all planned out, and you know what happens when you have things all planned out. Uh-huh. So I ran for regional delegate and lost. And um I was like, well, there goes that, because that the plan was I'll be regional delegate and then I'll be student speaker at the house, right? Uh so there went that. And I was talking to David Stebe, who at the time was the president-elect of APHA ASP. And he was telling me about you know elections that he's lost. And so I was like, I'm running for president-elect. And and yeah, I I think to this day it's still the most candidates they've ever had run for that position after David ran unopposed the year before. And I'm like, okay, thanks for that. But that's that was it. Like it all started with the decision. Like, I'm yeah, like I feel I felt reborn after after my divorce. And I you know, and sidebar to say it was it was about the most amicable a divorce could possibly be, but still, I mean it's it's a it's a big change in your existence. Yeah.

unknown 20:16

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 20:17

And I wasn't going to I wasn't gonna waste that that second opportunity. So that so that's what happened, you know, and I had some wins, I had some losses, and every loss was setting me up for something better.

SPEAKER_01 20:29

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 20:30

And so, you know, that that but you know, that itch to to uh run the house of delegates is still there. And so finally getting to scratch it for two years just recently. I was like, ha ha. And yeah, I love being president-elect. I'm so excited, it's already so fun. Yeah, and and here in three in three years, I'll probably be singing a different tune. But right now, like as of like the day before they swore me in as president-elect, if they would let me be speaker forever, I would do it. Like it was fun, it was such hard work. It it really was, it took a lot of time, but I could not get enough of it. It was so fun, especially being up in the house because you never know what's gonna happen. You don't and I just that that's like my sweet spot. I love that.

SPEAKER_02 21:14

Okay, so real quick, if you're enjoying this conversation, go ahead and rate and review the podcast. It helps more people find the show and keeps the conversation going. Okay, so let's get back to the conversation. First of all, before we even go into the courage to say, I'm gonna do more, let's talk about authenticity's role in all of this. You're talking about losing elections, where to me, I've only seen you in the wins, right? Like my pharmacy career is too young. I don't remember you running at MRM. But like, as you lost those elections, did you feel like you needed to recalibrate? Like, what did that feel like essentially?

SPEAKER_00 21:55

Well, in the moment, it was you know, it was pretty awful. And I I every time I've lost something, I you know, I take the time to lick my wounds for a minute and do a little, you know, a a little bit of self-deprecation for a little while. Like and and then thankfully I'm very stubborn. I'm stubborn and bullheaded. And so I and when I finish licking my wounds, you know, pour myself a glass of wine and like, all right, on to the next thing.

SPEAKER_02 22:24

Yes, on to the next thing. And it's so important. And I think like the the number of people, as I've been talking to more people, the number of women that I've talked to that have talked about divorce while in pharmacy school, I'm like, how many others are there that are showing up for their patients and showing up for the profession and showing up to class every day and their lives? They're dealing with something so, so, so big. What words of encouragement do you have for anyone listening to this? And they're dealing with a major life issue right now. It could be divorce, addiction. I'm learning is also big for young professionals right now.

SPEAKER_00 23:09

Sure. I don't feel that I'm qualified to give advice on someone for someone going through a substance use disorder. I mean, I go to the Utah school every year, or sorry, I'm going every year. This will be year five. Wow. Still don't feel qualified to give somebody advice other than to seek the expertise of people who are qualified. Absolutely. Outside of that, um, you know, we're all, I think we're all always going through something. There's there's never there's never a time when work is the only thing happening. When things are bad, I mean, I've been told fake it till you make it, and there's there's a bit of truth to that. And when and when I have to pull that string in my internal uh thought process is all right, theater degree activate, we're gonna act like we got it together until we do. And it's and it and it does work, but I would say too realize that you know, anything that's going on in your life is something that's happening around you or to you. It isn't you. Yeah. So it's like I just kind of have to dig in. And again, this a lot of this comes with age and experience too, but just kind of digging into who I know I am and tapping into that stubborn streak that isn't going to let me wallow in it for too long. Yeah. That that helps me. Some people, you know, I certainly talking to a friend, inventing, and just completely shutting the professional shell and just saying all the things to a trusted friend really helps. That helps me kind of get past it quicker. I get the venom out, done with it. So, I mean, it's gonna differ for every person. Some people are very introverted and introspective, and some pieces of that might resonate more than others, but yeah, just yeah, I get just remember like yeah, there's a lot, there's a lot of value to fake it till you make it, and you know, remember that this isn't you. It's just it's it's just a thing that's happening.

SPEAKER_02 24:56

That's happening, yeah. And that's so true too. I I think like as I'm listening to you and like telling me you've lost elections, you've been through a divorce, and where you are right now, someone outside is looking at you and saying, yeah, totally killing it. She's never not stepped up for anything and not gotten it. That's why I think the importance, right? Like it's so important. We can have a whole conversation about all the other ways that it hasn't worked out. Let me tell you everything that went wrong. Yeah. But I think it's it's one of the things I find really powerful about mentorship. And I always tell people, yeah, be mentored by people that have what you hope your trajectory look like. How has mentorship played a role in this entire journey for you?

SPEAKER_00 25:48

And and it's left an indelible mark and continues to on both the giving and receiving end. So I've as we've all heard the the saying, never meet your heroes. And I've had a couple of those. I've had a couple of things. Yeah. But they are fewer than than the than the good experiences. So yeah, I've uh I've stumbled into some really great mentorship. And I I think I find it best when I do kind of stumble into it than when I kind of seek somebody out. It's like, please mentor. Yeah. And that works for some people, and it just it doesn't work for me, and that's okay. So, you know, some accidental mentors, you know, my boy Alex Markey, like Yeah, you know, like all the time, like I think, like, how like how are we the grown-ups who let this happen? But you know, I'm his wife was my residency director, and I got my residency really because of that connection. She didn't know me, but he did. And some someday you'll have to ask him to tell you the story of that whole down because it was pretty comical in the Varkey house that day. But no, so I met Divya because of Alex. And if you don't, if if you I don't know if you know Divya Varkey, but no, I've not I've not had the pleasure. That woman, you know, you mentioned, you know, be try to be mentored by somebody who kind of is what you want to be. Divya is that person because she leads with kindness and compassion. And if you if you have a success, she's almost more excited about it than you are. She like she is 10 toes down for you no matter what's going on. And like she's she's had to you know terminate people from employment and they leave, you know, thanking her and giving her a hug. Um, and so I'm like there's a whole master class to be thought on that. Right. So I'm like, I'm like, how'd that happen? Well, I won't say when or where or what what job or who or any of that, but I had I've had to let a couple people go throughout the years, and I had I had one of those situations where where the person thanked me on thanked me on the way out, and I was just what do you do in that moment, Brandy? I called Divya. I'm like, Divya, guess what just happened? And it's like, I mean, there are so many times, and I say it in jest, but I'm actually serious, like, what would Divya do? Yeah, she strikes that balance of kindness and compassion, strength, yeah, and she can find the humor in situations, and that's and that's the kind of thing that resonates with me. And you know, there's the lessons learned from her are always in the back of my mind. And she, and this isn't something that she does, this is who she is. I was gonna say, as far as being a mentor, I don't know that I've ever thought of myself in that terminology. Like, I get it. Like, I I understand I I have never I have never said, well, oh, I mentor this person. Yeah, sure. Do I? I'm sure, yeah. But for mentoring others and supporting others, I think I'm more confident supporting others and you know, just loving on other people and being excited for them. Uh I mean, somewhat selfishly, it fills my cup too. Like I you can't give to other people in a vacuum. Something can if something invariably comes back, and it's it it's just that just is what it is. And so any opportunity I have to help someone else find their aha moment or kind of plot into the their most authentic them, that's good stuff. That's good stuff.

SPEAKER_02 29:20

It's so powerful. How people make me feel is so important because I think that especially if I feel like you've been so consistent. Like every single time I meet you, it doesn't matter if I see you at 10 o'clock and passing on escalator at a conference where I know she has had a day. She's probably been up since 5 a.m. The energy is always the same. And I think that that speaks a lot of truth to power that this is who you are, to what you're describing about Divya. It's who you are. It's not just something like you're like, okay, let's turn that on and turn that off. And I just want you to know that that means so much to me. And I appreciate you showing up this morning, like right now, and saying this is the first time I'm doing this, but I want to support you. It means the world to me. And I want you to talk us to us a little bit about what we can expect about the upcoming year as you're preparing and how can we support you? Because I want us, I want us to turn up and show out for you. Like you are one of us. Like, what do we need to do to support you as we continue to face so many uncertainties in the profession at the moment?

SPEAKER_00 30:35

Thank you for saying that. I I yeah, I I'm a little flummoxed. I I'm I struggle to accept praise sometimes. So I but thank you. I I am grateful. And you know, coming coming into this year, um, I mean, you can expect me to continue to be me. I'm always I'm always gonna be who I am. As as far as showing up, okay, now a theater girl here, I love I love an engaged audience. So, you know, in in less than a year, I'm gonna be giving an inaugural address. Oh gosh. So people, you know, sh turn up and turn out, you know. Tom Menigan says this all the time, and you know, keep showing up. Keep showing up, yeah. Yeah, and that's part of why I kept running for elections even after I was told no one a handful of times. Tom Menigan said, keep showing up. So keep showing up, come to the annual meetings. Those meetings are are exponentially better by every additional person who shows up. Yeah. And uh just be engaged in the process. You know, obviously, as as a leader, I'm always trying to move the needle and make things better, but it there is not one piece of it that I can do on my own. So it's it takes all of us. For me, it it is association membership and participation because that's more voices. I don't have to do it by myself. I've got this whole group of people that are in to get in it together to do the same types of things. And and this is this is a tough one, but we as professionals have uh unfortunately we had to be a little patient because progress is slow. Very and I am not a patient person. I would say that the vast majority of my per my personal flaws can be boiled down to a lack of patience. It's a struggle. Like we've we've been trying to you know achieve provider status for pharmacists with all these pharmacy associations since I mean it's been over a decade. It has, yeah. And we keep we keep pushing and we keep pushing, and it's so frustrating. So I think that persistence and a smattering of patience is going to be key. As far as doing anything for me individually, I mean, everyone just just keep being you, keep being, keep giving me a hug when you see me. If we if we don't usually do that, maybe ask first. I don't know. You mean don't just pull up and go wham. I'm usually down for a hug. Yeah. Let's let's you know, let's grab a little bevy bev. Yeah. Have a chat. Just show up and when when it's time to be loud, be loud. Yeah. Time to have a laugh, have a laugh. I'll be me, you be you.

SPEAKER_02 33:12

Yeah, I I love it. What if you were to define success for yourself with all of what you are preparing for on the horizons, what does that look like for you?

SPEAKER_00 33:23

For me, professionally, it looks like I'm leaving things, whether it's the association or my workplace, you know, each, you know, each year maybe leaving it a little better than I found it, being part of improvement. I don't have any, I don't have any notions that I'm going to fix all the things for all the people. My ego's not quite that out of whack. But success for me in that realm looks like I'm helped move things along to make things better. And equal to that, success for me looks like not sacrificing my whole personal existence to make it happen. Yeah. It's I still need my my peace at home. I still need to travel. I and I do, I need to travel. You're like emphasize, you're like, I just want to be clear. It's a need. Like I've I've already got I've already got three trips planned, one with the mom, one with a couple of friends, one with another. Yeah. You know, that that's something that helps me just sidebar. Always have a trip planned. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 34:25

That kind of it gives you it gives you something to look forward to. You're like, it's all chaos right now, but 36 more days until whatever.

SPEAKER_00 34:34

Yeah. So success for me looks like really getting good things done and and making things better than I found them, at least a little bit. Yeah. But also recognizing that that's that's work and that I still have to take care of me too. So that means going to my trainer, which I hate, but it's starting to show a difference. So I keep going. Shout out to the trainer.

SPEAKER_02 34:57

I hate it every time, but I'm always so glad I went. Oh my gosh. And and that in an episode where we are talking about authenticity and showing up and true and truth in how we express ourselves and all the ways we give, but also staying true to who we are. It's really powerful to hear you say that. And that, yes, there is the professional success, but also that has to coexist side by side with what you see for your personal success as well. Together, I ask every guest this you gotta give us a piece of advice for the person that is unsure right now and contemplating stepping up to lead. What advice would you have for them about holding on to their true, to the truest version of who they are as they continue to seek opportunities to ascend?

SPEAKER_00 35:48

Okay, that sounds a little canned and trite, but but be who you are. Sometimes and think of when sometimes the answer is gonna be no. Um the answer is no, try to think of it as not now or not yet. I took two runs at speaker.

SPEAKER_02 36:03

I didn't know that either.

SPEAKER_00 36:05

I am learning a lot today. Right. So, no, I threw my hat in the ring and then found out Missy Duke had thrown hers in too. And I'm like, okay. I was like, I've been trying to get you to run since how long? And so when I didn't get slated, and you know, Tom Menigan called, like, here's how we'll get you nominated from the floor. I'm like, no, are you kidding me? I'll see you in two years and try again. And like, I want Missy to take her run at it. I'm not going up against Missy. Are you kidding me? Yeah. I thought you're doing that. So, but take take nos as not yet. Remember that whatever position you're running for, whatever organization or whatever it is, whatever vehicle by which you're approaching leadership, they need you. If they need somebody else, they'll be looking for somebody else. And if they need somebody else, they'll they'll pick somebody else, and then you find your thing because this wasn't the one, at least not for that moment. Yeah. But it's it's just too exhausting to try to be something you're not. So bring all the things that make you gloriously you and and be the best version of that, of course, but and be stubborn. Be just refuse to give up. Just stay stay in their face until they fake say finally, okay, okay, fine. We'll let you do the thing. Just get in here and do it.

SPEAKER_02 37:14

Okay, so real quick, if you're enjoying this conversation, go ahead and rate and review the podcast. It helps more people find the show and keeps the conversation going. Okay, so let's get back to the conversation. I love it because I know you're saying it jokingly, but if you've ever you mean it, if you've ever tried your hand at anything, what you're saying right now is real. Like it's a life hack for real. It's okay, so not right now. No problem. I'll see you in a bit. I'm not giving up on it. But also, there's something you said I think is incredibly powerful, which is they need you. I think we tend to bond with our goals in a way of I must have it, I must, where we're not thinking that stepping up for leadership. I always tell people like, get clear about what you are identifying as an opportunity for you to give it, because then you start having conversations with people and getting support in a lot easier way than thinking like, I want it. I want it. But why do you want it? What is the thing you feel like you can contribute at this level, at this scale, that can help with the vision and mission setting in a way you won't believe? I cannot thank you enough. I feel like there has to be something else in the English language, I just don't know it, to express my sincere, sincere gratitude to you for doing this. But also, I don't know why I'm tearing up, but I want to for all of what I think you represent for so many young professionals that are trying to figure it out, Brandy. And I think when I see you doing it, just it demystifies it a little bit for me and it kind of makes it a little bit more attainable because I know you and you've given me the opportunity to know you and know that you really and truly are just in it because you truly believe you have something to offer and want to contribute to this profession we all love so much. So thank you. Leadership can be super thankless, but thank you for everything you're doing and everything you're going to do. And thank you so much for doing this today.

SPEAKER_00 39:34

Oh, thank you for asking me. I I I'm a little overwhelmed. I'm gonna have to take take a moment to absorb this. I yeah, I s I struggle with praise a little bit sometimes. Yeah, you keep saying that. I'm no, I'm I'm grateful and I'm so excited for you doing this podcast. I hope it just blows up. That's so cool. And I know you still work with uh people trying to go into residency too. Um and I think that's so important because that is a scary process. I say I say this to people going into residency, but it's really true for any of us in our in our work lives. Um there are no martyrdom awards, and that's this is how I kind of stay keep you know, keeping my work life balance balanced. Get your work done, go home. Yeah. I did residency and I've attended residency graduations, and not one time did they give it out an award for the person who stayed the latest every night. They didn't do it. This is such a life lesson. It's true. It exists nowhere. Yeah. It's like if you if you can't get your work done in a reasonable number of hours, either you're trying to impress somebody by how late you're staying there, or they feel like they feel like have made you feel like you have to. Yeah. Or or you just need to work on it your efficiency. So I mean, there's and and that that comes with time. Yeah, the residency, that work, you know, any work, it takes longer at the beginning when you're kind of getting your feet under you. But yeah, if you're having to stay until 10, 12 o'clock at night every night, either someone is making you feel like you have to, and there isn't actually that much work to do, or we've got some work to do on getting our efficiency up. Efficiency up. No, no martyrdom awards. Remember that. No martyrdom awards.

SPEAKER_02 41:11

I feel like we should have t-shirts for that. I'm so serious. It's very true. Badge ribbons? Badge ribbons, maybe. I swear. If I pull up that meeting and I see the ribbons, I'm gonna lose my line. I'm gonna be like, I should have known better than to joke about that with Brandy because she will actually do it.

SPEAKER_00 41:30

But I see you know, when I did residency, I was older than the average resident. So um I had a little bit of a jading going on. But like the you know, these young 20-something year olds are they're still scared and they they haven't been through divorce and all the things necessarily, and they haven't learned to kind of put their foot down. My one of my one of my best friends in residency, it was so funny. Like he he did the PGY one and he ended up kind of dipping out on PGY two because it wasn't his game. But he was told at one point, like, you need to be staying till nine, ten, twelve o'clock at night. And he goes, I go home at five. And if that's not the answer, I don't know what it is.

SPEAKER_02 42:09

I really don't know what is, and and it really is a fear tactic, and they they bond with it. And the idea that even as a young learner and young professional boundary setting is something that you can do respectfully, professionally, especially if the work is getting done, it is inconceivable to them. Like they'll listen to you and be respectful, but then they'll be like, Are you insane? Like, I'm gonna get fired from residency if I do that, right? But so just it's a major life advice because the residency habits follow you into work. I am proof of that.

SPEAKER_00 42:46

They do.

SPEAKER_02 42:46

I am proof of that. Yeah. Thank you for the life. You give us a lot of life hacks today. We really appreciate it. Thank you, Brandy.

SPEAKER_00 42:55

Thank you, Sally. I'm so excited about this for you. I can't wait to I can't wait to see how far this goes and how big it how big it takes off.

SPEAKER_02 43:03

From your lips, from your lips. I know I'm having a lot of fun at the moment, and it's giving me like a creative outlet. I'm so honored to be a guest. I'm so excited. Okay, so now that it's just us, I think this episode today was fun for me for several reasons. I keep telling you guys that I bring guests that I respect and admire, whose voice, posture, and position in their field is one that I deeply admire and respect. Brandy is somebody that has had an impact on the way I see myself as a young professional and an emerging leader in pharmacy. But I just love how absolutely down to earth she is and how authentic she is. This episode's focus was about how we keep that authenticity about us as we continue to ascend and pursue our goals and accomplish all the amazing things we set out to do. I learned a lot about Brandy today that I didn't know before. The fact that she tried for several other elections before and positions locally, nationally, and wasn't elected. But a simple advice that she was given by another leader she respects is something she's held on to, which is to just keep showing up. And so for key takeaways for this episode, it's really just I hope you heard from her and learned from her that it isn't always going to be pretty. It isn't always going to go as planned, but we should keep showing up. And more importantly, it is going to be easier for us to be ourselves anytime, any day, no matter what our goals and aspirations are, than to manufacture to manufacture a version of ourselves and show up. Another nugget that she put in here today that I'm definitely gonna hold on to and take with me moving forward is about our decision to step up and serve. It needs to really be based on who we are and what we really do see as places and ways in which we can contribute to advancing, whether that's our department, our organizations, or even in our communities. I'm really happy that I got this chance to bring you a person and a voice that I respect and admire for you to be introduced to Brandy if you don't know who she is. But I appreciate you taking the time to start your beautiful Monday morning with us, as always. Like, share, and subscribe to the podcast. Share this episode with someone you think could use some positive message today as they're going through transition, or maybe they're thinking about stepping up to lead, and there is something in this episode you think could be helpful for them. These are simple acts that really goes a long way in helping us grow this platform and grow this podcast. I'm grateful for your presence here. I'm grateful for the listen and I'm grateful for the support. Remember that success never happens in leaps and bounds. It is all about these small incremental steps that we are taking with intentionality and purpose that results in big, big, big, big, big results for us. Thank you so much for being here, and I'll bring you another brand new episode again next Monday. Okay, bye! If this episode gave you something to think about, something to hold on to, or even something to act on, I want to ask you for one more thing. Take a moment to write and review the podcast. It feels really small, but it's actually one of the biggest ways you can support this show. It helps more people find these conversations and become part of this community we're building right here on Success and Dosingous.