60 seconds with...the co-chairs of RLH and ME Women's Network
Thursday marked the first-ever RLH and ME Women’s Network event. We caught up with co-chairs Jan Flint, CSS director of quality performance, Joela Mathews, senior neuroscience pharmacist and part of the BartsMS team, and Sangeeta Tummala, medical directorate systems specialist, to find out what it’s all about.
What does being a co-chair of RLH Women’s network involve?
Sangeeta: We connect and link up staff with an interest in the network and women's issues. We get to know about the wonderful work women colleagues do in this Trust and share it with other colleagues. This is a safe and supportive network and we are here to listen and help in any way we can.
How has being part of the network improved your career?
Jan: Being part of a network is really important and allows you the opportunity to connect with people who you might not normally encounter through your day to day work.
Joela: It makes working for the largest NHS trust, and largest employer in London feel smaller. The network has helped me to tackle some problems by meeting people who are working on similar issues in different areas of the Trust, and also promotes the role of pharmacy to a wider range of people.
Sangeeta: It has helped me network and meet some wonderful colleagues and hear their stories. It makes me feel proud and humble at the same time and I feel blessed to be part of this passionate group!
Who should join the Women’s Network?
Joela: Everyone – the women’s network tackles issues which are typically seen as female staff orientated but actually flexible working, returning to work after period of absence and imposter syndrome affect men and women alike.
Are men allowed?
Joela: Of course we welcome all staff, and men may be #fathersofdaughters, #husbandsofwives and of course #sonsofmothers.
Sangeeta: We need support from men; especially managers who lead and manage women staff!
Any advice for how staff can get involved?
Joela: Come along to an event, follow us on twitter, email us to find out when our next events are, invite us to your team meetings so we can talk to your team about the network.
What do you think is the biggest issue facing women in healthcare currently?
Jan: Challenging for senior positions. Though it’s great that we have a range of women in senior positions at Barts Health who are all inspirational in their own way.
Joela: Being taken seriously by ourselves and men. Many women suffer from imposter syndrome and in a way we are our own worst enemies. The women’s network has led me to be an accidental feminist, and I now notice when I am in a room full of men, or the panel of a conference is all men. Noticing is the first step to making a change and a difference.
Sangeeta: Self-confidence. Feeling confident and content, knowing "I am enough for me, I am complete in myself, I don't need a dress/makeup/relationship/money/accessory/job title to make me feel valued and important. If I do anything with confidence, it will be a masterpiece! "
What women do you look up to/who inspires you?
Jan: I have been lucky enough to work with some inspiring clinical colleagues over the years who were always very supportive to me in my career. I still keep in touch with them and know that if I need advice they would always be willing to help out.
Joela: I am really lucky to be surrounded by women both professionally and in my personal life. The woman that inspires me the most is my maternal grandmother who overcame such adversity but managed to bring up a family of 11 children and 100 grandchildren who have made a difference across many industries worldwide.
Sangeeta: Firstly, the women in my family - my mum, my sisters and my daughter. I am lucky to work with passionate women colleagues and line managers who have great work ethics and deliver top quality work. I am inspired by anyone who takes their job seriously.
What is something staff might not know about you?
Jan: I have an ambition to be on the Great British Bake Off…however after seeing the various cakes baked by Barts Health colleagues over the last year I feel less confident in my own creations!
Joela: I am a member of a cake club. It is like a book club but we all eat cake that we have baked and put the world to rights (and there is always plenty of left over cake to take home and enjoy later).
Sangeeta: In my previous life before Barts Health, I was a Senior QA (software testing) working for ‘Oracle’ and was working on a project, testing Oracle forms i.e. our ESR!