Celebrating #IWD: Belinda Okyere and leadership
The month of March is Women's History Month and we're celebrating by hearing from our incredible female leaders within our Trust. We've spoken to Resuscitation Practitioner, Belinda Okyere, about her role as a leader.
1) Could you tell us about your journey, about how you came to be in your role(s) and what it involves in terms of leading others?
My name is Belinda Okyere and my passion for nursing started from my mother and my eldest sister. My mother worked as a Health Care Assistant at North Middlesex University Hospital many years ago. Her passion for health care inspired me to become a Nurse. My sister also studied nursing and worked at North Mid and she is now a midwife in Australia. Both influenced me with their passions which lead me to study nursing. I qualified as a register nurse 2010 and my first nursing role was working on a cardiology ward where I learnt basic nursing skills, this empowered me to progress to the Intensive Care Unit then progressed further to my current post as a Resuscitation Practitioner.
Through my gained experiences and skills in regards of leading others I believe we have to set direction, build an inspiring vision and creating something new.
2) What is the best advice you have received, and how have you used it?
My best advice I have received so far was to appreciate the gift I have, to use that gift to the best of my ability and to share it – hence why I love to empower others.
3) What has been your biggest challenge and how have you overcome it?
The biggest challenge I face is being a full time single parent and working full time.
I have overcome these challenges by staying positive at all time and taking care of myself each day, and having a great support network.
4) As a trust how do you feel we support women's inclusivity at work and how do we further improve inclusivity for women in the workplace?
The majority of the workforce in our trust is women; I believe we support our self by working alongside each other as well as empowering one another.
5) What advice would you pass onto the next generation of leaders?
Never be discouraged, never hold back, give everything you've got and stay focus.