This post is dedicated to all of the working parents out there. We have a wonderfully inclusive and understanding team culture at PredictionHealth when it comes to work-life balance, and we wanted you to hear from two experts on the subject, Misty Ahmad, Operations Manager, and Terry Gleckler, Training and Workforce Development Manager.

 

Will you both share a little bit about yourselves for our readers?

 

I’m Misty. I have 2 kids – a 4 year-old daughter and a 1 year-old son. I don’t have much time for hobbies these days, but I love to sew and craft. Quilting, crochet, cross-stitch, knit, you name it! Creating things is my happy place. My family also loves to travel, prior to COVID we did anyway.

 

My name is Terry, and I have 2 kiddos, an 8-year-old daughter and 11-year-old son. In an ideal world, where I can add 8 hours to each day, I would spend that time crocheting, reading, or learning something new. One thing I try to squeeze in regularly is playing board games with the kids. It’s great to unplug everything and get that quality time together.

 

What has your career journey looked like to this point? What brought you to where you are today?

M: My career journey thus far is best described as a long and winding road. I went to medical school with the intention of doing Family Medicine but life happened, my beautiful children happened, and I detoured into an MBA and Masters in Management. I am passionate about medicine but also have a new-found passion for leadership and workforce management. In my current role as Operations Manager, my main focus is on hiring and helping to support current staff.  I work closely with Terry to help ensure our providers are getting quality documentation and our workforce is getting the support they need. I really enjoy working to help make us better as a company, inside and out. 

 

T: I started my family young and put my life on hold to stay home and raise the kids. Once they were both in school full time, I decided to browse the job ads online to find something to do from home. That’s when I got my start as a remote medical scribe and completely fell in love with the industry. I have also been able to grow with the company. Currently, my focus is on building a Training and Workforce Development department. It’s exciting to work with new hires and help them begin their adventure with the company. We all get to be part of something bigger than us that is making a positive impact.

 

How has it been working with a remote company when it comes to schedule?

M: When I was pregnant with my daughter I was completing some of my last  medical school rotations. During that time I knew I did not want to be away from her for long 12-hour days when she was very small. Working from home has allowed me to continue utilizing my medical training while also being at home with my kids and helping to provide financially for my family. 

 

T: The flexibility is everything. I’m able to prioritize my kids and have a career at the same time. I also loathe traffic, so being able to commute from the bedroom to the office in less than 30 seconds is a huge perk. 


What’s good and what’s challenging about working from home with family demands?

 

M: Working from home is great because you can be at home with your kiddos… and it  is also challenging because you’re at home with your kiddos.  It can be very difficult to find a work-life balance when your work and life happen at the same place. But the great thing about working from home is that when I take breaks during the day, I am always greeted with a “play with me, Mommy!”. It is better than any other break at any other job I have ever had. Ever.

 

T: First, the good part about working from home is being able to see my kids grow up. They grow so quickly, and I love that I get to be here for them. Another perk is not having to pay for childcare, which is about the cost of a second mortgage these days. I also have to say that I have the best co-worker in Misty. Never have I worked with someone more encouraging and thoughtful. She always knows the perfect meme to send when the work gets challenging. Speaking of, the most challenging part is finding a good work-life balance. When you work where you live, it can be difficult to set those boundaries because the work is always there.




Any things that PH does particularly well to support your flexibility, family, and career growth?

 

M: My role with the company has evolved quite a bit since I first started but the flexibility has always been amazing. When my son was a newborn I would do all of my work late at night when both kids were sleeping or during the day when they were napping. I had the flexibility to fit work into the cracks in my day and prioritize my family during that time. As the company has grown, I have also had the pleasure of working with (and being supported by) some great people like Terry who is always willing to keep an eye on things for me while I handle a family situation, take the kids to appointments, etc. 

 

T: PredictionHealth has done a great job of making it feel like I am part of a team. We have regular meetings and are made up of really compassionate and caring people all working towards the same goal of improving healthcare. Some companies don’t offer the team aspect, which can be really isolating. However, I come to work every day and get to celebrate success and work through the growing pains with what feels like a family. 

 

What do you know now that you’d share with other working parents that you didn’t know before?

M: Working from home is a luxury I am happy to have but it certainly is not all cupcakes and rainbows. It can be challenging to have kids crying for your attention while work also needs your attention. Some days it is amazing, and some days it takes a lot of deep breaths, another cup of coffee, and hiding in the pantry for 2 minutes so you can gather your patience. But even through  those days, being there for my favorite little people while also making healthcare better is amazing. 

 

T: One thing I would share is that you do not have to sacrifice time with your family in order to have a fulfilling career. With the right company, you can have the best of both worlds. There are challenges as discussed above, but nothing compares to being able to pause what you’re working on and going into the next room to hang out with your kids. 

 

What makes you excited when you think about your future careers and what path you may want to take?

 

M: When I think about my future career, the thing that excites me the most is the possibility. Almost nothing in my life has turned out the way I planned but I have such a blessed life.  This has taught me to let go and let life happen.  I cannot wait to see where my career will take me and how that will tie into what I am doing now. The future truly is an open adventure to be seized! 

 

T: Working at a startup, there are endless things to learn and try. What is exciting is that I’ve been able to wear many different hats to see what fits. I’ve discovered that I love helping out with customer support, but I also love working with new team members and helping them get comfortable here. Each day is unique and presents new opportunities to learn and improve.

 

Misty and Terry are working parents and key team members at PredictionHealth. We value the unique perspective and multi-tasking skills that parents bring to their work. If you’d like to learn more about working at PredictionHealth get in touch with us. We’d love to hear from you.

Topics: Product, Company Culture, Meet the Team

Terry Gleckler and Misty Ahmad, MBA

Terry Gleckler and Misty Ahmad, MBA

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