Healthcare workers are some of the bravest and most essential individuals in our society. They work tirelessly to save lives and help others become healthier – often times risking their own safety in the process. Especially with the onslaught of the Covid-19 pandemic, the importance of physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals has become more apparent. What they do affects all of us.
Not many people realize this, but despite their indispensable skills and knowledge, healthcare professionals face the same work challenges as those in other industries. Some are offered unrealistically low compensation for their work while others spend months unemployed. Many even stick to the same institution and role for the rest of their lives.
This is a problem that Ashlee Kleven Hayes knows all too well. Even with a Bachelor’s degree in Science, Biological Sciences & Economics, a Masters in Healthcare Administration, and a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Southern California, her work as a pharmacist gave her very little room to enjoy the best things that life has to offer. Addressing this issue head on is the best way she can combat this (not just for herself, but for others). She learned how to make herself more marketable to companies, and upon proving her method’s efficacy, decided to become a coach so she could teach other female healthcare professionals how they can step up to their worth by effectively articulating their values and expertise.
I got to interview Ashlee recently and asked her about her journey toward finding the perfect harmony of passion and purpose.
What inspired you to be an entrepreneur?
I saw a problem and created a solution for it. Never in a million years did I envision myself being a full time “solopreneur”, but the opportunity to help people market themselves and build clarity in their career (and life) drove me to create this business. In my opinion, all entrepreneurship is creating easier pathways for people to get the support they need. My pathway is to create a roadmap for my clients to build lasting success in their career.
How are you making a positive difference in the world?
By living in my zone of genius and expertise. I show up with authenticity, honesty, and reliability for my clients. I meet them where they are and recognize that everyone has different goals, backgrounds, and strengths. My focus is to teach my clients how to zone in on their strengths and get paid for what they are good at.
What has been the greatest positive impact you have seen on your clients’ or customers’ faces from working directly with you?
Every single day, I help my clients stand out in a competitive marketplace and land or create their dream job. Although there are many examples, my favorite example is when my client (and friend) Leslie Southards, the Lactation Pharmacist, was launching her business. At that time, her 3-year-old daughter, Carmen, was diagnosed with kidney cancer. In the middle of our coaching, she had to drop everything and prioritize her daughter. Unbenounced to Leslie, my clients fundraised thousands of dollars and collected toys and goodie bags for both Carmen and her. Since then, Carmen has fully recovered and Leslie is now an international keynote speaker and women’s health expert. I am so proud of Leslie. She really is an amazing human and clinician.
What does a purpose driven business mean to you?
I make business decisions purely focused on impact. The question I always ask myself when I create or launch a program is “Who will this help?” and “How can I get this product to them effectively?” Most importantly, I create my programs based on the feedback and needs of my clients. I am less worried about likes, email subscribers, followers and more focused on positively influencing and supporting the women I work with.
How did you pivot your business during the pandemic?
That’s a loaded question, because prior to the pandemic, my marketing was ALL done in person. I traveled two to four times per month giving speaking engagements. However, when the pandemic hit, all speaking engagements were canceled. I always had a blog and posted some videos here and there, but the online marketing world is fairly new to me. As I always tell my clients, if you want to create a positive and successful personal brand, get comfortable being uncomfortable–always creating new ways to leverage the tools in front of you is so important when you are trying to be visible!
What are your top 5 tips to scale a business or use social media to attract new clients?
5 questions to help establish your personal brand:
- What problems can I readily/easily/organically solve?
- Who do I like to work with?
- Why should someone trust me?
- What are the overall brand goals?
- What is unique about my personal brand?
5 phases on how to stand out in a busy marketplace:
1. Clarify your vision. You need to build clarity in your goal.
2. Develop a specific strategy to achieve the goal.
3. Articulate & effectively communicate your value.
4. Focus on your definition of success.
5. Gain the tools on how to thrive & maintain visibility.
The work that Ashlee is doing is nothing short of admirable. I can’t wait to see how else she’ll help female healthcare professionals thrive in the years to come. To know more about her, you may visit her website https://www.rxashlee.com.