The Importance of a Good Boss
At the end of 2022, I had the incredible opportunity to photograph Randi Roy. I asked Randi to share a little about how she got to be where she is today.
“I was raised by a liberated woman in the 70s who was way ahead of her time. She became one of the first nurse practitioners licensed in Massachusetts, working full time. She was highly educated and ambitious at a time when women didn’t always work outside the home. My father was a businessman. Influenced by both of my parents, I ended up in the field of healthcare as a business.”
“Selecting who I worked for has been the most important thing I’ve done in my career to be successful in my field. Your boss is really important—they’ll support you, see your potential, strengthen your weaknesses, advocate for you, and help you overcome challenges. If they’re a really good leader, they’ll put you out in front to problem solve and give you the independence to explore what you’re good at and what you like.”
“I’ve had a number of mostly female bosses in my career who were instrumental in helping me reach my career goals as a healthcare leader. These women were all trailblazers in their own right. And because they were women, they understood how caring for your family is not something to hide, but is a strength and it is necessary to be able to focus and perfom at work. These women all supported me to be the kind of mother I wanted AND to work at my highest possible level. I have been extremely fortunate.”
“If I had to give my younger self a piece of advice, it would be to do your best to really assess the company culture and manager during your interview. It’s about if this will work for YOU and will be a fit for YOU, not just the organization. Interview that boss as much as you let them interview you. Ask questions. Be on equal footing with the interviewer. A good boss won't be threatened by that kind of questioning or confidence and it will give you a good sense of whether the role will be the right fit."
Thank you, Randi, for sharing your wisdom with us!