Interview 002: Ashley Schimdt

Ashley Schimdt, President and Founder of Women in Healthcare. An organization devoted to promoting professional development for women in the health care industry through networking, education, and mentorship.

Read the full interview below!

LIW: Give us a quick synopsis of who you are and what you do?

AS: I like to create things. The process of strategizing, building, creating, and growth is what gives me a high. I can tell you I am the President and Founder of Women in Healthcare, the Vice President of Development for HKS, a mom of two young kids, a student at Hopkins Healthcare Management program, but it all ultimately comes down to my core, someone who desires growth and evolution. Never get stale.

LIW: What's one characteristic you possess that you think has helped you get to where you are and why?

AS: For me, school and college were less about what I learned in books and more what I learned about people and myself. I didn’t know what I wanted to be and I couldn’t seem to focus on the words on the page. I spent these years trying to understand people, the choices they made, their backgrounds, their insecurities, and their strengths. I just wanted to hear from people (perhaps that is why my superlative was “most likely to be a talk show host”). These relationships and dialogue gave me a strong emotional intelligence and the ability to exercise empathy. Even after years in healthcare and an impressive resume, I still believe this emotional intelligence has been my greatest asset for excelling in business.

LIW: One of the biggest lessons you learned throughout your career?

AS: I cannot be someone I am not. When I was younger, I had in my head what women who lead look like (mostly because TV told me). They were tough, they wore very sophisticated business suits and heels and they never let their emotion get in the way. Perhaps that is good but that just isn’t me. I tried to be the guys’ girl that 90s television told me I ought to be and at the end of the day, I wanted to wear a comfortable loafer, and be transparent, and get to know people so I could better help them and our team grow. And you know what, so far, the outcomes have been pretty great! 

LIW: What has been one of the most challenging obstacles you have had to go through to get to where you are today?

AS: Some of the hardest aspects of life seem to crash together at the same time. You make a family, you excel in your career, your body no longer allows you to binge eat Oreos without immediately restricting your ability to zip your pants, and you have more responsibility and less time than ever all while getting less sleep. The world asks you to make tough choices and then throws you a curveball. It tests your relationships, your passion, your drive, and again, your waistline, without remorse. And unlike many hard things, that has an end in sight (ex. Childbirth.. baby has to come out sometime. Running… you eventually cross the finish line, even if you crawl) this stage in life feels like it has no expiration date! And you can’t even guarantee it pays off! There is a constant battle of proving yourself to the world. Proving that I am a good mom, good wife, good employee, good student, good daughter, good community steward, good role model all so I can whisper in my head “you’ve got this”. Because somewhere along the way, we were told: “YOU CAN’T”. “You can’t vote”, “you can’t work”, “you can’t make what he makes”, “you can’t run that company” and it lit such an outrageous fire in our bellies that we decided to endure years of deprivation, anxiety and making the gamble in hopes that the next generation doesn’t fight the same biases. We are trying to prove to the world WE CAN. Every time one of us succeeds the path gets a little clearer with fewer bumps, and one day we are going to slap down some fresh blacktop and travel at high speeds to the top! I don’t want to stop you, but I don’t want you to burn out either. You have a responsibility to future generations, but first and foremost, you have a responsibility to yourself, to your happiness, and to the people and things you love. When you face these times, remember your priorities and your values and try to re-center. We will pave the way together, but tonight, go get some sleep!

LIW: What has been the biggest career achievement for you?

AS: I am so proud of Women in Healthcare. Our growth is such a testament to our mission, and I feel so good about the work the chapters are doing across the US and Canada. The women I have met through this organization are incredible. There is so much talent in this industry it is hard to not be in awe of the leaders at the helm. There is still so much to do with this organization to do and it is very exciting to think about the impact we will have on gender equality!

LIW: What can society/organizations/companies do to give women more opportunity to take on leadership roles or pursuit roles in male-dominant industries?

AS: There needs to be a conscious effort of providing women with the tools they need and taking the time as an organization to assess your barriers that exist in advancing women. Real plans need to be put in place to promote the sponsorship of women, equal pay, fair and equal benefits, training, and mentorship with measurable goals. Push for diversity and inclusion goals! The fact that healthcare leadership is 73% of men is not because there weren’t any qualified women for the job, it is because those women weren’t even brought to the table. Setting % goals trickles into areas such as sponsorship and fills your pipeline with a powerful next generation of women leaders. Women should join professional development organizations to build their networks, gain mentors, and learns tools for advancement. Organizations that don’t keep up will lose good talent!