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Leadership in public health transcends job titles—it's about how we inspire action, communicate vision, and guide others regardless of our position. This essential skillset helps navigate the complex, messy work of creating healthier communities through building trust and mobilizing stakeholders toward common goals.

Discussed in this episode:

• What leadership really means in public health
• Why it's absolutely necessary
• The specific leadership skills you need to develop
• How you can build leadership skills — even if you’re just starting out

Join the Public Health Career Club for leadership development resources, mentorship opportunities, and community support: phspot.org/club.

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We're back with our monthly update on what's happening inside the Public Health Career Club - our membership community designed to support you in building your dream public health career. Whether you're looking for accountability partners, financial guidance, or mentorship opportunities, our May 2025 lineup has something to help you advance your career goals.

• Social Hour on May 6th - connect with peers in public health in a casual setting
• New Co-working sessions on May 7th and 28th using the Pomodoro technique to help you focus on important tasks
• "Doing Good and Doing Well" workshop on May 15th with Dr. Darla Bishop exploring financial strategies for public health professionals
• Office hours with mentors Dr. Marissa Robinson (May 19th) and Megan Haffey (May 27th) for personalized career guidance
• Live Resume Review Clinic on May 21st with Latika, offering real-time feedback on job applications
• Final session of our "Launch Your Idea" workshop series, focusing on post-launch discussion and next steps

Check out phspot.org/club to learn more about our light and premium membership tiers. 

Connect with us on LinkedIn or email hello@phspot.org with any questions about joining our community!

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Public health careers extend far beyond traditional roles, with exciting opportunities in tech, communications, behavioral science, and entrepreneurship that offer both impact and excellent compensation.

The roles explored in this episode include:

• UX designers in health tech creating intuitive tools while ensuring clinical accuracy
• Digital health communications specialists managing online campaigns and combating health misinformation
• Behavioral science consultants designing programs to change health behaviors
• Public health data storytellers turning complex statistics into compelling visual narratives
• Global health logistics coordinators ensuring medical supplies reach their destinations
• Infection prevention and control practitioners reducing healthcare-associated infections
• Policy analysts working in non-governmental organizations and think tanks
• Corporate social responsibility managers with health focus leading community investment
• Humanitarian health coordinators working in crisis zones
• Public health entrepreneurs creating innovative health solutions independently

Your challenge this week is to research one of these roles that sparked your curiosity. Explore organizations hiring for that position, read job descriptions, and potentially connect with professionals in that field. 

Share your discoveries with us by tagging PH SPOT on social media, and don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and check out our Public Health Career Club community at phspot.org/club.

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Networking isn't about schmoozing with random people or handing out business cards—it's about building genuine relationships rooted in curiosity, generosity, and mutual benefit that can transform your public health career journey.

What we talk about in today's episode:

• Up to 80% of jobs are filled through networking connections rather than job boards
• Your network already exists—start by auditing connections from school, past jobs, and online communities
• Approach informational interviews with genuine curiosity and specific questions after doing your research
• Be active in online communities like LinkedIn groups or the Public Health Career Club
• Follow up consistently and look for ways to provide value to your connections
• Everyone has something to offer regardless of career stage—fresh perspectives are always valuable
• Networking doesn't require extroversion—one-on-one conversations and quiet consistency work just as well

This week, take one small action: reach out to someone you admire with a genuine, specific question about their work and see where the connection leads. Join the Public Health Career Club at phspot.org/club for more support in building your public health career.

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Career plateaus in public health are common experiences that leave professionals feeling stuck and unmotivated, but with reflection and strategic action, they can become springboards for renewed passion and growth.

What's discussed in this episode:

• Four main reasons career plateaus happen: outgrowing your current role, lacking career clarity, not seeing growth opportunities, and experiencing burnout
• Ask yourself key questions to recognize if you're in a plateau: Am I growing? Am I being challenged? Am I excited about my work? Do I feel clear about my future?
• Reassess your career goals by considering how your interests may have changed since entering the field
• Expand your skill set through courses or certifications that align with areas you're curious about
• Seek guidance from mentors or career coaches who can provide perspective and help change your mindset
• Network beyond your organization to discover new opportunities and paths within public health
• Make small career moves like taking on new projects, volunteering, or applying for short-term consulting roles
• Reconnect with your "why" – the values and motivations that initially drew you to public health
• Attend conferences to meet like-minded professionals and immerse yourself in the energy of the field
• Develop a passion project related to public health to channel creativity and reignite enthusiasm

Choose one action step from today's episode and commit to doing it this week. 

Share your experience or thoughts on LinkedIn or through the podcast feedback feature. 

Remember – don't navigate career plateaus alone, and be patient and kind to yourself through the process.

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This is a new monthly series to provide you with updates on events happening inside the Public Health Career Club community:

The Public Health Career Club has moved to an always-open enrollment model to provide support whenever public health professionals need it, with a new seven-day free trial available for both premium and light memberships.

Here's what to expect in April:

• Four-part workshop series on "Launch Your Idea" for turning concepts into reality - Part 2 & 3 continues this month (April 1 & 12)
• New member orientation (April 3)
• Peer session on global mental health (April 5)
• Monthly social hour for networking and connection (April 17)
• Office hours with mentors specializing in job applications, industry transitions, and policy (April 23, 29, 30)
• Special presentation on the Consumer Drug Take Back program (April 24)

Head over to phspot.org/club to learn more about the community and sign up for the seven-day free trial of either the premium or light membership.

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Landing that first public health job can feel impossible when every posting requires experience you don't yet have. We explore four powerful strategies to break this cycle and position yourself as a strong candidate even without traditional job experience.

• Reframing what counts as experience beyond full-time paid positions 
• Using course projects, volunteering, internships, and part-time work to showcase relevant skills
• Presenting skills-based experiences with action-oriented language on your resume
• Tailoring applications to mirror job description terminology and sector-specific language
• Building relationships through informational interviews rather than just applying to posted jobs
• Creating your own experience through volunteering, writing, and continuous learning
• Staying motivated during your job search by actively developing skills and connections
• Join our Public Health Career Club for our upcoming workshop on translating volunteer activities into evidence-based experience on your resume! The doors are now open for enrollment!
  
  
  

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The PH SPOT podcast returns after a ten-month unplanned break with host Sujani sharing personal updates and outlining future plans for the show. 

• Unexpected 10-month podcast hiatus
• Solo episodes will be the primary format moving forward to accommodate scheduling constraints
• Selected recordings from Public Health Career Club events may be released as podcast episodes
• PH SPOT is simplifying its approach to helping public health professionals build meaningful careers
• The Public Health Career Club has opened 2025 enrollment with workshops, office hours, and networking events

Join us in the Public Health Career Club to connect with like-minded professionals and accelerate your career development. Find us on LinkedIn to share your thoughts on future episode topics!

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In this episode, Sujani sits down with Glenn Laverack, a seasoned public health professional whose career has spanned continents and been shaped by his diverse experiences. His early years engaged with grassroots initiatives laid the foundation for a deep understanding of the local context, an asset that would become invaluable as he navigated the complex world of global health. They explore the significance of community empowerment in making a meaningful impact and touch upon the multifaceted nature of public health careers that are often characterized by an ongoing process of learning, adapting, and seizing opportunities explore the significance of community empowerment in making a meaningful impact. This episode not only serves as a compass for those looking to forge a career in global health but also highlights the collective mission of improving community health and shaping policy.


You’ll Learn

• Glenn’s first experience volunteering in Sri Lanka and how that has led to a lifelong passion and a career in international health
• The lifestyle choices inherent in a global career that demands international mobility and the enriching experiences it can offer
• Having direct experience in field work and using your assets to provide a competitive edge in the public health field
• Factors to consider when thinking about continuing postgraduate studies
• Empowering communities to have more voice and authority about projects that will influence their lives
• Understanding what it is you want to achieve in public health to figure out how you can make the most impact
• The pivotal role that personal connections and networking play in professional development

Today’s Guest

Dr. Glenn Laverack is a social scientist and an international leader in health promotion and empowerment with a distinguished career for 40 years as a practitioner, an academic, researcher and consultant in more than 50 countries. Dr Laverack has been an advocate for the value of ordinary people at the centre of health promotion and has developed several innovative solutions to co-create successful programs in different cultural contexts. He formerly worked as a Coordinator (Empowerment) in neglected tropical diseases at WHO, Geneva and as a research fellow at Flinders University, Australia. Dr Laverack has managed several large-scale health programs including in Ghana and India and worked as a consultant on more than 100 contracts worldwide. He has a wide range of publications including 26 books, 12 in English and 14 in other languages including in Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, French, Farsi, Italian, Chinese and Thai. Dr Laverack has been a visiting professor at 6 universities in Denmark, Italy, the UAE and the UK and was the Director of Health Promotion, University of Auckland, New Zealand. His PhD investigated the collaborative role of communities in health promotion programs in Fiji and is presently an independent adviser with the UN, governmental and international development agencies.

Resources

• Connect with Glenn on LinkedIn and find his work on ResearchGate
• Learn more a

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This week, our guest Christie VanHorne shares her career trajectory into public health from a background in history and involvement in humanitarian efforts.  From working as a health educator to creating her own public health consulting business and teaching at Vassar College, Christie's story highlights how hard work, staying true to yourself, and having a solid network are all crucial to building your dream career. Her  journey emphasizes the dynamic nature of professional and personal evolution, encouraging listeners to embrace change and growth.

You’ll Learn

• Christie’s path into public health through a passion for human rights and social justice
  • Her work in South Africa with the Peace Corps and international health 
• Building a strong network to open up doors to new opportunities
• Dealing with toxic workplaces and how Christie founded her consulting business
• How education has been a common factor throughout all of Christie’s career and how her love for teaching led to a decision to pursue a DrPH
  • Deciding between a DrPH and PhD and figuring out which path is best for you
• Finding your niche in public health, staying true to yourself, and traversing your journey at your own pace

Today’s Guest

Christie is a seasoned public health consultant with 20 years of experience. In 2015, she founded CVH Consulting, LLC., offering services to create impactful health education and training experiences for her clients. Christie has worked with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), the New York State Department of Health, the Hemophilia Federation of America, and many more organizations to design, develop, and update programs. She is also a subject matter expert on the social determinants and health equity for many continuing education projects for community-based organization staff and healthcare professionals. From her time in the Peace Corps in South Africa to teaching at Vassar College and all the career experiences in between, Christie's dedication to public health shines. Last year, she was recognized with the prestigious ATHENA Award, an international honor for women who demonstrate excellence in their profession, community service, and mentorship of future leaders. One of her current volunteer roles is serving as the Vice-Chair of the National Women’s Health Network Board of Directors. In August, Christie will start her Doctor of Public Health degree at Tulane University, specializing in Equity, Leadership, and Advocacy. She resides in the Hudson Valley, NY, with her beloved pups and husband.

Resources

• Follow Christie on LinkedIn and Instagram 
• Learn more about CVH Consulting

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In our latest podcast episode, we delve into a story of transition, courage, and the unwavering human spirit as our guest, Yasir Essar, swapped his dentistry scrubs for a career in public health amid the chaotic backdrop of a global pandemic and geopolitical turmoil. Yasir shares how visualizing achievements can provide a push to overcome challenges and demonstrates the powerful role mentors and community support play in guiding career paths, particularly for international students and professionals in new environments. His career transformation teaches us that with resilience, the right mindset, and community support, we can navigate through uncertainty and emerge with renewed purpose and aspirations.

You’ll Learn

• How the COVID pandemic led Yasir to public and global health and steps he took to transition into the field from dentistry
• Yasir’s experience continuing his education and career as a refugee in Canada, how he persevered through the uprooting of his life, and how his background shaped his current interest in refugee and global health
• Building and relying on a social support group and mentors to achieve your dreams and other ways to visualize your goals
• Tips for international students and remembering to take the time to care for yourself in a new country
• Using LinkedIn with intentionality as a tool to network, facilitate advocacy, tell stories, and make an impact

Today’s Guest

Yasir is a former refugee from Afghanistan who holds an MSc in Global Health from McMaster University.

Prior to moving to Canada, he lived as a refugee in Tajikistan after fleeing Afghanistan. During his time as a refugee, he continued to share his lived experience of refugee life.

Currently, he works as a Research Assistant at Western University in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and as a Community Scholar at the University of Calgary. Additionally, he holds a visiting academic position with the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Southampton. 

Yasir’s professional journey is marked by an unwavering commitment to knowledge and a passion for making a real-world impact. His scholarly work has been published in prestigious journals such as The Lancet, BMJ, and PLoS. He is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP®) and holds multiple certificates from Wayne State University, the University of Geneva, McGill University, and the LinkedIn Learning Academy.

During his tenure as a Research Assistant at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, he focused particularly on tuberculosis research, further enriching his expertise in infectious disease research.

Yasir is always eager to connect with like-minded professionals, share insights, and explore collaborative opportunities. He is open to guest lecture invitations on the topics of refugees, mentorship, and global health.

Resources

• Connect with Yasir on LinkedIn  

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In this episode, Sujani delves into her personal struggles with speaking in public and how it affected her career in public health. She reflects on her initial reluctance to speak in various settings and her journey of self-improvement through the creation of her podcast.  Sujani shares that by creating opportunities to practice speaking, she was able to progressively build confidence and improve her communication skills. She emphasizes the importance of small, consistent steps toward facing and overcoming fears. Her transformation led to better engagement in conversations, more profound connections with colleagues, and the ability to speak up in meetings, which were once daunting tasks. By sharing her story, Sujani hopes to inspire listeners to embark on their own journeys of self-improvement and career advancement, proving that the challenges we face can become the catalysts for our triumphs.

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Today's episode features Dr. Charlotte Huntley, a public health entrepreneur and leader. We peel back the layers of her dynamic journey from a liberal arts and microbiology background to an influential career in epidemiology and entrepreneurship.  Our dialogue uncovers her dive into the pharmaceutical industry and how the entrepreneurial flame was kindled within her. As we pivot towards the impact of her work during a global pandemic, Dr. Huntley delves into the importance of communication in public health and the gratification of specializing her consulting services to aid BIPOC organizations. Join us as we draw inspiration from Dr. Huntley's narrative, illustrating the power of readiness for opportunities and the joy of a career intertwined with core values.


You’ll Learn

• Dr. Huntley’s work in microbiology and healthcare and her pivot into epidemiology and community health
• Global health and the pharmaceutical industry 
• Dr. Huntley’s start in podcasting and how it grew into a thriving business
• COVID’s impact on Dr. Huntley’s new company and how it has evolved since then to primarily serve BIPOC communities
• Glance into the making of Dr. Huntley’s upcoming book on public health entrepreneurship

Today’s Guest

Dr. Charlotte Hughes Huntley, MPH is a public health entrepreneur and recognized leader in the public health industry. She has over 20 years of experience as an accomplished epidemiologist, microbiologist, consultant, and podcaster. Dr. Huntley is the CEO at DrCHHuntley, LLC, a public health and epidemiology consulting firm supporting large nonprofit organizations and government agencies that serve black, indigenous, and people of color commonly referred to as BIPOC communities. Her team is often invited to support tribal organizations and are always humbled and honored to serve. Through another arm of her business, Dr. Huntley and her team also provide resources and support to public health entrepreneurs.

Resources

• Connect with Dr. Huntley on LinkedIn
• Learn more about DrCHHuntley Consulting and listen to the Public Health Epidemiology Conversations podcast  
• Learn more about Public Health Entrepreneurs, the Mastermind program, and listen to the Public Health Entrepreneurs podcast  

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Welcome to the Public Health Career Club. From sitting down with accomplished public health professionals who will spill the beans on making the most of your degree, to personalized career advice during our office hours – it's all happening here. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. We've packed our calendar with monthly resume clinics, mentorship sessions, and social mixers to spark lifelong connections. Stay tuned for our weekly workshops and special talks that promise to keep your professional growth on a constant upswing. If you're listening from April 10th to 12th, 2024, don't miss this golden opportunity to become a part of the Public Health Career Club. Let's roll up our sleeves and make a difference together!

Featured on the Show:

• Connect with Sujani on LinkedIn
• Email us at: hello@phspot.org
• Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and  Twitter

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This week Sujani unveils the transformative power of weaving relationship-building into the very fabric of your daily life. From striking up a conversation with a colleague to reaching out to a professional you admire online, I'll demonstrate the omnipresence of networking opportunities. Whether you're taking your first steps in public health or you're a seasoned expert, this episode promises to revolutionize your approach to building relationships and expand your professional network in ways you never imagined. Let's get ready to transform the way you think about networking in public health. 

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Have you ever found yourself at a career crossroads, contemplating a leap into uncharted territory? Join us as we navigate the captivating realm of public health careers with Dr. Vinu Ilakkuvan. She shares her remarkable shift from engineering to public health, shedding light on the serendipitous ways that one's professional journey can unfold. We discuss the strategic reframing of skills that allow for such shifts, and the interplay between work experience and academic learning. Our dialogue unveils the empowering process of aligning personal values with professional ambitions, leading to a career that's not just a job but a calling. 


You’ll Learn

• Vinu’s experience transitioning from biomedical engineering to public health early in her career vs. pivoting from one role to another later on 
• Vinu’s various job roles and what she learned from each one
• How Vinu’s passion for working in an interconnected public health environment and bridging policy and ground work led to the creation of PoP Health
• What PoP Health is and how they improve public health by collaborating with coalitions to facilitate community access
• Reflecting on your own career experiences and gaining confidence to form your own story and work towards your dream job

Today’s Guest

Vinu Ilakkuvan, DrPH, MSPH, is passionate about strengthening community-driven efforts to address the upstream, root drivers of health (pophealthllc.com/tedx). She is Founder and Principal Consultant of PoP Health, a public health consulting practice that partners with community coalitions and collaboratives to transform health in their communities through policy and systems change (pophealthllc.com). PoP Health helps coalitions engage in community collaboration, action planning, participatory evaluation, and effective storytelling. PoP Health also issues a biweekly newsletter, Community Threads, with tools and strategies for anyone seeking to improve community health (pophealthllc.com/newsletter). 

Vinu received her DrPH in Health Behavior from the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health as a Milken Scholar, a Master’s degree with a concentration in Health Communication from the Harvard School of Public Health, and Bachelor’s degrees in Biomedical Engineering and Economics from the University of Virginia. She currently serves as a Professorial Lecturer at George Washington University. Vinu began her public health career coordinating the Virginia Department of Health's bullying and youth violence prevention program and later, evaluating the national truth antismoking campaign and managing policy and communications projects at Trust for America’s Health.

Resources

• Connect with Vinu on LinkedIn 
• Learn more about the Truth Initiative 
• Learn more about Trust for America's Health 
• Learn more about PoP Health 

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Unlock the code to public health job success with Zoila Reina of Public Health Hired, who graces our podcast with expert tips on mastering the language of the sector. If you've ever felt lost in a sea of job applications, Zoila's creation, the Public Health Key Terms Guide, is your beacon. We zero in on the power of terms and how they're not just buzzwords but keys to your next career move. From decoding job descriptions to enhancing your resume and shining in interviews, our conversation is the guiding light for public health hopefuls ready to make their mark.


You’ll Learn

• What the Key Terms in Public Health Guide is and how it came to be
• How understanding terms can help you envision yourself in certain jobs and reflect on your skills
• Understanding key terms to show off your public health knowledge in job applications and interviews
• Elevating your language in everyday work to advance your career
• Using key terms to expand your job search beyond traditional public health roles

Today’s Guest

The founder of Public Health Hired, Zoila Reyna MPH, has single-handedly, with no outsourcing, helped secure over 240 public health job offers and internships through her virtual presentations, online masterclass, tailored mentorships, and social media content. Zoila's unwavering dedication to the diverse public health workforce is evident through the Public Health Hired's mission to demystify the public health employment process and help others master best practices and proven techniques to be successful in the job search. She has a full-time job in healthcare as a consultant for community health and loves spending time in her Los Angeles home with her baby girl Jhara, her son Giovanni, dog Lulu, and spouse Jimmy.

Resources

• Connect with Zoila on LinkedIn 
• Get the Key Terms in Public Health guide and check out what else Public Health Hired has to offer 
• Listen to the previous episode on personal branding

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Our guest this week, Angeza Mohammed, is a testament to the power of aligning one's passions with their profession. Follow her strategic yet dynamic career path and learn how mentally and physically envisioning her ideal life, strategic networking, and taking risks led to her creating The Consulting Nest and  How did you learn to do that?, The Successful Candidate.

 
You’ll Learn

• How Angeza was first introduced to public health
• Why Angeza pivoted from her dreams of becoming a doctor to public health
• Angeza’s career journey and how she was able to move closer to her dream job by taking risks, strategic networking, and envisioning her next steps
• Figuring out what you want from a career, knowing your worth, and not letting fear hold you back from change
• What The Consulting Nest is and how it connects organizations to individuals offering their skills

Today’s Guest

Angeza Mohammed is the CEO and Founder of How did you learn to do that?, The Successful Candidate and The Consulting Nest Inc.

With over 10 years of professional experience, Angeza brings a unique and strategic approach to creating the career you want, feeling fulfilled and knowing how to take the next step in your growth!

Angeza’s career has taken her through and into all aspects of the health care system in British Columbia, Canada and it all began before she even graduated from her undergrad, all thanks to her unique strategy which has been instrumental to her success!

Angeza’s purpose in life is to share and inspire you to create the life that you wish existed for yourself. In addition to her successful healthcare career, Angeza coaches recent graduates and professionals to help them discover what fulfills them, how to align that with their career and how to take action every single day towards creating the life they always wish existed for themselves!

Angeza’s biggest piece of advice to you is to always remember that investing in yourself has the ability to catalyze your life from ordinary to extraordinary.

Resources

• Connect with Angeza on LinkedIn 
• Learn more about How did you learn to do that?, The Successful Candidate and The Consulting Nest 

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In this episode, we lift the veil on public health salaries and discover how transparency in salary discussions can pave the way for more informed career decisions in public health.

Sujani walks us through her own career, from initial salary to current earnings, and discusses starting income ranges of other public health professionals collected from a  LinkedIn post and how factors like sector, region, and experience play pivotal roles in shaping your earning potential.  Sujani also guides you through a range of resources, from government pages to platforms like PayScale and Glassdoor, offering a realistic perspective on what new grads and seasoned professionals alike can anticipate in terms of compensation. By encouraging transparency, we aim to empower our community with the knowledge needed to make empowered career choices.


Featured on the Show:

• Learn more about Canada's EC agreement
• Learn more about public health salary ranges on PayScale and Glassdoor
• Listen to the previous episode on consulting and entrepreneurship
• Schedule a mentorship call with Sujani

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Today, unlock a world of innovation at the crossroads of entrepreneurship and public health consulting with Leah Roman and Vinu Ilakkuvan. They bring to light the motivations behind a groundbreaking survey on self-employed public health professionals, revealing the often hidden sides of self employment. Through candid conversations, we learn about the economic prospects of consulting and the pressing need for more academic training and support networks to arm future public health entrepreneurs with the tools for success.


You’ll Learn

• What prompted Leah, Vinu, and Laura to collaborate on “The self-employed public health consultant and entrepreneur workforce in the United States” and the method behind conducting the survey
• Key findings from the survey including demographics and formal training in skills related to entrepreneurship
• Breaking down the financial aspects of consulting and salary transparency
• The gap in support networks for self employed public health professionals and brainstorming how to bridge it
• What Leah and Vinu hope to achieve next with the results collected from the survey

Today’s Guest

Leah A. Roman, MPH, MCHES is the Owner & Principal Consultant for Roman Public Health Consulting LLC, where she helps public health organizations design effective e-learning solutions. She has 18+ years of experience providing training and technical assistance, health education, and project management services. Leah has a BA in Psychology (University of San Diego), a master of public health degree (Boston University), a certificate in e-learning instructional design (University of Washington), and is a Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES). Leah lives in the Philadelphia, PA area (USA) with her husband and two children.

Vinu Ilakkuvan, DrPH, MSPH, is passionate about strengthening community-driven efforts to address the upstream, root drivers of health. She is Founder and Principal Consultant of PoP Health, a public health consulting practice that partners with community coalitions and collaboratives to transform health in their communities through policy and systems change. PoP Health helps coalitions engage in community collaboration, action planning, participatory evaluation, and effective storytelling. PoP Health also issues a biweekly newsletter, Community Threads, with tools and strategies for anyone seeking to improve community health 

Resources

• Connect with Leah on LinkedIn and read her blog post on how much to charge for consulting services 
• Connect with Vinu on LinkedIn and learn more about PoP Health
• Read more about the results from the The self-employed public health consultant and entrepreneur workforce in the United States survey
• Listen to previous episodes with Leah on

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Join The Public Health Career Club: A global membership community where public health professionals connect, learn, and support each other in building meaningful and impactful careers.

Go from feeling confused, alone and overwhelmed, to feeling confident and in control of your life and career!

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Imagine catapulting your career to new heights by harnessing the transformative power of personal branding. That’s exactly what we're unpacking today with leadership coach Richa Bansal, whose insights into professional presence are nothing short of game-changing. Our conversation delves into the nuances of how you're perceived and the pivotal role of aligning your self-image with external perspectives. And for those just starting out, we lay out a blueprint for building a strong personal brand that paves the way to leadership and innovation.

You’ll Learn

• What personal branding is and why it is important to understand your brand
• How to figure out your brand and use the POWER framework to shift it to advance towards your career goals
• Advice for early professionals on building your personal brand and envisioning where you want to be
• When perceptions can limit progress and tips on starting fresh 
• How having allies in the workplace can help with shaping your personal brand and learning to “box the ask” for help 

Today’s Guest

Richa Bansal is a leadership and job search coach with a decade of experience excelling in the corporate world on her own terms. She previously worked with Amazon, leading large-scale programs to help the company hire the best talent on earth, and with Schlumberger, leading a large engineering team to deliver multi-million dollar projects for global oilfield clients like ExxonMobil, Shell and BP.  

As one of the only women in the room for most of her career, Richa has seen first-hand the struggles of women as they navigate the corporate ladder. In 2019, she founded Pinkcareers to deliver actionable, no-fluff career advice to ambitious professionals and accelerate their career growth. Richa has partnered with over 20 Fortune-500 companies, universities, and the Government of Canada to deliver her leadership programs, and coached 100s of high-potential professionals on how to ditch limiting beliefs and leverage the power of personal branding to 2X their career, compensation and impact.  

Richa earned a Bachelor’s from IIT Delhi in India, a Master’s from Purdue University, and an MBA from Rice University. When she is not working on Pinkcareers, she loves to travel the world with her husband and two little boys

Resources

• Connect with Richa on LinkedIn and read more about the POWER framework  
• Learn more about Pinkcareers 

Support the show

Join The Public Health Career Club: A global membership community where public health professionals connect, learn, and support each other in building meaningful and impactful careers.

Go from feeling confused, alone and overwhelmed, to feeling confident and in control of your life and career!

Tell us what you thought of this episode - send us a text!

Embark on a transformative journey with Tasha Whitaker, a seasoned Community Health Worker whose heart beats for public health education and advocacy. From her initial dreams of trauma nursing to becoming a beacon of hope and change within her community, Tasha's story is a testament to the power of passion and persistence. Uncover the nuanced dynamics of Community Health Workers, the unsung heroes who bridge gaps between healthcare systems and the people they serve. Our conversation is a deep dive into how these trusted liaisons navigate complex webs of resources, while also highlighting the serendipitous nature of career opportunities that can arise from the most unexpected of places.

You’ll Learn

• What a community health worker (CHW) is and how they work to better community health through building relationships within the community
• Tasha’s experience with landing a job as a CHW right out of undergrad 
• The skillsets needed to be successful in community health work
  • Qualifications needed to become a CHW and how they differ depending on where you’re located
• Other pathways that are available for CHWs such as in research, clinical roles, and management and how skills learned from being a CHW prepare you for other roles
• Tasha’s transition from ground work to training others to starting her own professional development company and the work she does now with Crew Wellness LLC

Today’s Guest

Tasha Whitaker is the CEO of Crew Wellness LLC, a Wellness Education Training & Professional Development Company which she founded after a decade of work experience leading in healthcare roles that have impacted federal, state and local public health organizations. Tasha has been featured on ABC 25, KYTX, CBS DFW and highlighted in magazine and print articles for her community engagement and public health expertise. She is sought after for her ability to improve community engagement outcomes through wellness interventions, strategic processes, and training thousands of Community Health Workers to deploy health education for  communities nationally. Through her company Crew Wellness she is impacting not only the communities being served, but also the Crew (staff) providing the services to ensure wellness is prioritized so they can continue to contribute to the positive health outcomes for communities. Tasha regularly consults for companies wishing to gain deeper connections with communities by providing relevant, fun and engaging  professional development training to the crew so they can serve equitably and provide a stellar service to the communities they serve.

Resources

• Connect with Tasha on LinkedIn  
• Learn more about Crew Wellness LLC
• For Americans, learn more at the National Association of Community Health Workers
• Learn more about American state policies
• For Canadians, learn more at the Community Health Workers Network of Canada 

Support the show

Join The Public Health Career Club: A global membership community where public health professionals connect, learn, and support each other in building meaningful and impactful careers.

Go from feeling confused, alone and overwhelmed, to feeling confident and in control of your life and career!

Tell us what you thought of this episode - send us a text!

In this episode, Sujani discusses the launch of the Public Health Career Club, a membership-based community dedicated to empowering public health professionals.  The Career Club, which opened its doors in October 2022, has quickly become a hub for professionals seeking personalized support, job opportunities, networking, and guidance on their career paths.

Sujani shares her personal journey, highlighting a period of reflection during her maternity leave, which led to the realization of the community's need for individualized support in a scalable way. This led to the birth of the Public Health Career Club, inspired by her experience with a community she joined.

The club has seen an impressive growth, with 200 members joining since its inception. It offers a range of benefits, including tailored onboarding, regular live training, mentor office hours with industry experts, and social events. 

Featured on the show:

• Join the club or get more info here: phspot.org/club

Support the show

Join The Public Health Career Club: A global membership community where public health professionals connect, learn, and support each other in building meaningful and impactful careers.

Go from feeling confused, alone and overwhelmed, to feeling confident and in control of your life and career!

Tell us what you thought of this episode - send us a text!

In this episode, Sujani breaks down the different places you can look for public health jobs. She breaks down the following four categories with specific places (20 in total) to look for opportunities:

1. Generic Job Search Engines
2. Public Health Job Boards
3. Straight to the Source
4. Hidden Job Market

Happy job searching!

BONUS: Before the episode wraps up, Sujani shares a convo with Allie (one of the first members of The Public Health Career Club) to talk about her experience. We're opening up the doors to the club so what better way to help you decide to join, than to share insider info ;) 

Support the show

Join The Public Health Career Club: A global membership community where public health professionals connect, learn, and support each other in building meaningful and impactful careers.

Go from feeling confused, alone and overwhelmed, to feeling confident and in control of your life and career!

Tell us what you thought of this episode - send us a text!

Have you ever caught a glimpse of yourself in the mirror and noticed something new? 

That's what happened to Sujani when she revisited the Gallup Clifton Strengths Finder Test 10 years later. 

Years of nurturing a public health career have surprisingly added strategic thinking to my skill set, alongside my core abilities in execution and relationship building. 

Join Sujani as she reveals how personal strengths are not set in stone but evolve over time, and how recognizing this can significantly shape your professional journey.

Featured on the Show:

• Clifton Strengths Finder
• Follow PH SPOT on LinkedIn
• Follow Sujani on LinkedIn
• Join our community

Support the show

Join The Public Health Career Club: A global membership community where public health professionals connect, learn, and support each other in building meaningful and impactful careers.

Go from feeling confused, alone and overwhelmed, to feeling confident and in control of your life and career!