The beginning of March marks the start of Women’s History Month! We celebrate this month by reflecting on the accomplishments and progress women have made over time. It’s important to not only recognize prominent women in history, but also the influential women in our personal lives such as family members, friends and co-workers. Each week this month, we will highlight a woman in leadership who has made a significant impact here at Favorite. Our first spotlight is Alexis Guzman, Branch Director of New York City!
Alexis joined the Favorite Family ten years ago and since then has held several roles. In 2012, Alexis was brought onto the team as a Recruiter and within two short years she was promoted to Senior Recruiter. During her time as a Senior Recruiter, she had the opportunity to advance recruitment and staffing efforts which included traveling to different branch offices across the US to assist with training. Fast forward to 2016, Alexis became the Operations Manager where she enhanced client and employee experiences with Favorite. It was within the next year that Alexis became the Branch Director of the New York City office. In her current role, she enjoys serving healthcare providers in a purposeful way that directly impacts the wellbeing of New York citizens.
Q&A
We recently sat down with Alexis to find out what Women’s History Month means to her.
Tell us about a woman, or women, who inspires you to be the leader you are today.
“I am blessed to come from a family with extraordinary women and to commune with a ‘tried and true’ sisterhood at my church. They all inspire me to be the leader I am today because they never doubt their capability or conform to limitations that society often put on women.”
How do you set an example for the next generation of women leaders?
“I hope that I am inspiring the next generation of women leaders, including my 14-year-old daughter, by setting the example of choosing to make the right decision even when the decision is not easy, glamorous or receives the most attention. Lead with integrity.”
What do you want to shine a light on this Women’s History Month and why?
“This women’s history month, I want to shine a light on the importance of women encouraging other women. Several years ago, I walked into a local drug store with my mother, and we saw a young mom with her five small children in and around a double stroller. The young mom appeared to be stressed, the children were not listening to her, and they were all causing a scene in the store. My mother stopped, looked at the young mom in her eyes and with a bright smile she said, ‘You’re doing a great job mom and your children are precious.’ Those few words of encouragement brought the look of joy to the young mom’s face. She stood straight, said thank you, and then gathered her children to continue shopping. Let’s encourage one another like this!”
What advice would you give to your 25-year-old self?
“Compassion and empathy are strengths, not weaknesses.”
What advice would you give to aspiring female leaders?
“I would advise young female leaders to embrace their personal attributes that contribute to positive leadership. Some will say you need to be aggressive to lead. I am not an aggressive person, but I am direct and inquisitive. I find people respond well to my attributes, so I don’t try to be aggressive. It’s also important to be self-aware of what does not work and adjust.”
What is your proudest accomplishment to date?
“My proudest accomplishment to date is also my greatest shame—getting my driver’s license at 30 years old. The fear of driving would make me physically sick so when I decided to face my fear, I signed up for ten driving lessons. Each lesson seemed unbearable, but I practiced and passed my road test. Accomplishing this goal opened the door for me to become the Branch Director of our New York City office.”
What motto do you live by?
“I read a quote somewhere that states, ‘Women need to shift from thinking I’m not ready to do that to thinking, I want to do that and I’ll learn by doing it.’“
Final Thoughts
We asked Alexis for one last piece of advice to leave everyone with this Women’s History Month. Her closing thought was this: “Take the time to recognize and honor the leading women in your life.”
Keep watching Favorite Healthcare Staffing’s LinkedIn page and blog as we continue to shine the spotlight on our women in leadership all month long. What women have inspired and influenced your life? Let us know in the comments below!
