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Introduction
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 expert, Misty Ahmad, HR & Operations Manager.
Will you share a little bit about yourself?
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.
What has your career journey looked like to this point? What brought you to where you are today?
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.
How has it been working with a remote company when it comes to schedule?
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.
What’s good and what’s challenging about working from home with family demands?
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.
Any things that PH does particularly well to support your flexibility, family, and career growth?
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.
What do you know now that you’d share with other working parents that you didn’t know before?
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.
What makes you excited when you think about your future careers and what path you may want to take?
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!