Following a personal tragedy when I was a child, I developed a growing ambition to make things better for others. To care, improve, and be the best I can be. Training as a doctor enabled some of this to come to fruition, but there is more that can be done.
As I started on my management journey, I often found myself confronting issues that I felt unprepared for. There was always the awareness of a lack of skills or knowledge and doggedly pursuing solutions did not seem to be the right way forward. I needed to understand systems, behaviours, networks and for long have been puzzled by the complexity of the NHS and why we can’t get things done.
Like it did for many others, the COVID pandemic made me dig deep and I saw transformation happen. This was evidence enough for me of the possibilities that can be enabled. Just imagine what we can achieve together!
As an immigrant, I have always been amazed at the waste within healthcare organisations. I have always believed that we could reduce waste and use available resources prudently. I don’t believe the solution for public sector problems is increased funding, but by prudence and stewardship within the allocated resources, breaking barriers and integrating care. With deferred care in the post-pandemic world becoming an unassailable problem, this is ever more important.
When I received the email call for applications for the Climb Wales programme last year, I presumed it was something to do with Snowdonia, and promptly deleted it (which says a lot about my fitness). A split second later I retrieved it to read a bit more. This was the moment that things changed for me.
Now as one of the inaugural Climb Pioneers, I have had the most amazing experience of networking and learning from leaders not just from Britain but from across the world. The trainers are international leaders with experience of mass mobilisation, influence and are wholly committed to our group which they mentor. This is not just a 10-month programme, but an ongoing nurturing relationship to make sustainable leaders. We have been busy learning to deliver TED-style talks, working on projects and also planning an all-Wales project.
It is hard not to come away from this without feeling invigorated and re-energised. This opportunity came at the right time in my life and it is like no other leadership programme. This network has become the necessary scaffolding that I needed.
As a manager I am more aware, and as a leader I recognise the importance of my role and my development within Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. This has enabled me to reflect, apply knowledge and support teams and individuals in a wholesome way.
That 9-year-old girl whose ambition was shaped by that tragedy would have been very happy at this turn of events.
To read more about Climb and to apply to the programme, visit the Climb webpage.
