Women’s History Month is a time to celebrate the progress and accomplishments of women over the years. This month, we are thrilled to spotlight women leaders in healthcare staffing. We recently sat down with Heather Serra, Kelly Jover, Amanda Hoffman and Ashley Elam to discuss how they honor Women’s History Month. Join us as we recognize these impactful women in healthcare leadership here at Favorite Healthcare Staffing.
For six years, Heather Serra has grown with Favorite as a women in healthcare leadership in a variety of roles. Starting as the Austin Branch Director, she went on to become the Texas Director of Operations and later was integral in establishing the company's Learning & Development department as they continued their expansion. With this previous experience under her belt, Heather recently moved into the role of People Shared Services Director. She says this opportunity will help her continue to grow within Favorite and will allow her to apply her knowledge and experience from past roles.
Tell us about a woman, or women, who inspires you to be the leader you are today.
“I have had many women leaders and mentors in the military, in my family, and in my circle of friends who inspire me to be a leader that is hopefully not easily forgotten. I am often inspired by the wisdom Brene Brown shares through her research, writing, and public speaking.”
How do you set an example for the next generation of women leaders?
“I strive to be a woman of integrity. I show up every day ready to work hard and learn from others. I also try to sprinkle in a little bit of fun in everyday, it's important for our soul.”
This women's history month, I want to shine a light on _________.
“Balance. I think as a woman it is easy to try to be a superhero to everyone. I see women balancing motherhood, work, their social life, their personal life, and often forget to take time for themselves. Being a strong leader isn't about being the most tired and overworked. There is something to be admired of leaders that are able to find balance in work and personal life and ensure the same for their teams.”
What advice would you give to your 25-year-old self?
“Slow down and take a nap! Life doesn't slow down as we age, it just gets busier. Believe in yourself, even when the odds are stacked against you.”
What advice would you give to aspiring female leaders?
“Ask questions, be curious, and learn from the people around you. If you find yourself in a room where you hold the most knowledge, find a new room. It’s ok to take time to answer questions, being thoughtful is more important than giving a quick response.”
What is your proudest accomplishment to date?
“That is a tough question! I am incredibly proud of my nine years of active-duty military service. However, at this moment I have two babies under the age of three, work a full-time job, and I'm attending graduate school at The University of Texas. It's an incredibly exhausting juggle, but I'm somehow managing it.”
What motto do you live by?
“I try to live with the famous words of Maya Angelou in mind, ‘People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.’”
Kelly Jover has come a long way in healthcare leadership in her four-year tenure at Favorite. After being named Director of Client Engagement in Houston, her hard work was soon rewarded with a promotion to Director of Business Development for Texas, and later, New Mexico. She wasn’t done there though because shortly after, Kelly was promoted to her current role of Regional Director of Business Development. In this role, she reminds herself and those around her that “what we do matters more than just filling shifts and closing agreements. I’m encouraged to remember the basics of what we’re doing and why.”
Tell us about a woman, or women, who inspires you to be the leader you are today.
“My mother! She married my father at 15, had me at 19 and my brother at 21. She is an incredible mother and still never lost sight of pursuing her dreams. She completed her associate degree with my brother and I often in tow, then put things on pause to raise us, and when we went to college she went back to college. She worked 40-hour days and studied all night to graduate the year before I did. She’s not only the kindest, most selfless person I know but she’s relentless in the best of ways. She and my father taught me one of the most meaningful life lessons and that’s how to earn a dollar from nothing through hard work. She doesn’t give up and no matter how hard she works she is still the one at the end of the day encouraging those around her.”
How do you set an example for the next generation of women leaders?
“My hope is to inspire those around me to reach their full potential in whatever they do. I’m not sure if it’s an age thing or what, but the past couple of years I made a vow to myself to be a woman who champions for other women and encourages them. So often I find we as women for some reason fall into competition mode with our peers, friends, etc. instead of being happy with who we are and appreciating other women for who they are as well. It truly does take a village at times, and I know I need people in my corner. My previous boss used to tell me she thinks backwards from her funeral (I know morbid), meaning what would people say about you and what impact will you have? I would hope to touch people's lives by showing God’s love through my actions of encouragement, friendship, determination, and kindness. It’s a constant work in progress but that’s the example I hope to leave at least.”
This women's history month, I want to shine a light on _________.
“Working Mothers. First and foremost, congratulations to you all out there! I want to shine a light on this as I too am a working mom of two toddlers and understand the tug in all directions daily. I like to think I’m an incredibly organized person and yet I still miss something weekly, and my kids eat too much Chik-Fil-A. It’s a real accomplishment to show up daily for work and for your family, so cheers to you all.”
What advice would you give to your 25-year-old self?
“Don’t sweat the small stuff, it’ll all work out in the end.”
What advice would you give to aspiring female leaders?
“NEVER give up!”
What is your proudest accomplishment to date?
“My two boys – Henry, 4.5 years old and Luke, 2 years old. Also, the fact that I’ve found a way to continue furthering my career and still be a mom that’s really involved in my kids’ day to day.”
What motto do you live by?
“If not you, then who? Why can’t you be the one this year to lead big growth or change?”
In 2018, Amanda Hoffman joined the Favorite Family as the Director of our St. Louis branch office. Not long after, Amanda pursued a role on the business development side of Favorite and became a Regional Director of Business Development. After a year in that role, Amanda was promoted to Regional Vice President of Strategic Solutions where she focused on our exclusive vendor managed services program, Favorite Managed Services (FMS), and partnered closely with our strategic clients and large healthcare systems. In 2022, she took over as Vice President of Favorite Managed Services where she continues to help clients achieve more sustainable staffing alignment. When talking about being a women in healthcare leadership, Amanda says, “Every step of this journey with Favorite has been impactful to me personally and professionally.”
Tell us about a woman, or women, who inspires you to be the leader you are today.
“The number one person who has inspired me above all others is my mother. She is my biggest cheerleader and her never-ending belief in me is daily encouragement for my soul. More importantly, she has consistently demonstrated a level of resilience and grace that's beyond admirable. She is a constant reminder that adversity and challenge can either break you or make you - it's up to us to determine the outcome. As a leader, I strive to infuse that same level of positivity, determination, and inspiration in my own daily actions for my team. I want them to see someone who will always be their biggest supporter, who will face all challenges with creativity, an open-mind, and steadfast resilience, the same way my mom does.”
How do you set an example for the next generation of women leaders?
“I think one of the biggest impacts we can have as a female leader is raising up other women leaders. Any time we have an opportunity to support, recognize, promote, or encourage women around us, it has a resounding ripple effect. For me personally, setting an example for the next generation includes taking an active stance in recognizing women for the work they are doing every day. As a leader, it's also about understanding the unseen weight that often disproportionally affects working women and their mental health, from home-life responsibilities to the personal guilt we put on ourselves. Knowing this creates a level of empathy and compassion we should share abundantly through understanding, encouragement, and collaboration. As I think about the next generation of women leaders, I see these small, everyday opportunities as a vital chance to play a pivotal role in making an impact, changing someone's life, and setting an example that will carry on into future generations of women leaders.”
This women's history month, I want to shine a light on _________.
“As a mother of female athletes, I want to shine a light on the significant and impactful work being done by women athletes all around the world. Even at the cost of fines and other repercussions, they continue to press on for pay equality, fair dress code policies, and more. The U.S. Women's National Team (Soccer) is top of mind for me as representation of the impact women have in the fight toward equal pay, basic fair playing standards, and more. In the recent USWNT equal pay victory, what struck me as astounding was the additional fight for parental leave protections for their male counterparts. It demonstrates the importance of women's voices and perspectives. There's still much work to be done and female athletes are continuing to face adverse action against them for fighting these issues, but they will have a profound impact on the future generations of women athletes, of whom, include my own girls. So, thank you, USWNT and female athletes everywhere.”
What advice would you give to your 25-year-old self?
“It's good to strive for success and to have goals, but it's equally important to show yourself some grace and slow down.”
What advice would you give to aspiring female leaders?
“Be proud of who you are and what you are accomplishing every day. Don't shy away from taking up space, using your voice, and shining a spotlight on others - these are all necessities to leadership, no matter your gender. Create meaningful relationships with your female colleagues and leaders, they will be invaluable champions along your journey.”
What is your proudest accomplishment to date?
“My proudest accomplishment to date, personally, is my children. They astound me every day and I am beyond grateful to be their mother. Professionally, it's certainly stepping into this role as the Vice President over our FMS division. My team is one-of-a-kind, and I am immensely proud of the work they do every day to support our partners.”
What motto do you live by?
“There are two: 1. ‘Be Curious, not judgmental.’ from Walt Whitman c/o Ted Lasso 2. If you won't remember it a year from now or five years from now, it's not worth getting upset over in the present.”
Ashley Elam, Director of Operations for Nashville, began her career with Favorite seven years ago as a New Hire Representative for the Nashville branch and has since attained remarkable success. A year after she was hired, she was promoted to Senior Recruiter and began working as a Per Diem recruiter. Shortly after, she was promoted to Assistant Manager where she primarily focused on contracts. Fast forward a year and a half later, Ashley became the Operations Manager. After stepping away from Favorite for a couple years to be a stay-at-home mom, Ashley returned to healthcare leadership and was presented with the opportunity to become the Branch Director.
Tell us about a woman, or women, who inspires you to be the leader you are today.
“My mom! She demonstrates how to be both an amazing mother and a career woman. She is an RN and loves helping people. Her passion for her job has taught me the importance to find a job that you love.”
How do you set an example for the next generation of women leaders?
“We all know the saying ‘actions speak louder than words,’ and that is so true. One of the biggest things that I try to teach my daughters is the importance of being kind to everyone. You never know what someone is going through, and your kind words may make their day. If you have an opportunity to make someone smile, take it!”
This women's history month, I want to shine a light on _________.
“This Women's History Month, I want to shine a light on celebrating women and how far we have come! We have so much to be proud of and need to support each other. I challenge everyone this month to find a woman-owned business and show support by shopping there.”
What advice would you give to your 25-year-old self?
“Read more books.”
What advice would you give to aspiring female leaders?
“Find a mentor – someone who takes you under their wing and invests time helping you grow as a person and in your career.”
What is your proudest accomplishment to date?
“My proudest professional accomplishment was becoming the Branch Director for Nashville by age 29. My proudest personal accomplishment is being a mother to my two beautiful daughters.”
What motto do you live by?
“Endings are also beginnings.”
We are proud to shine a light on women leaders in healthcare staffing this month. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram as we continue the celebration of Women’s History Month!
Looking for job opportunities with Favorite? Search our current job openings for healthcare professionals to get connected with a recruiter or visit our corporate careers page for more details on our internal job opportunities!
