In this episode of the MGMA Member Spotlight Podcast, host Daniel Williams sits down with Veronica Villarreal, Chief Ambulatory Officer at DHR Health Clinics and author of the new book C-Suite Bound: How Self-Discovery Leads to Ultimate Success. Villarreal shares her inspiring journey to the C-suite, offering valuable insights and actionable advice for medical practice leaders aspiring to reach the executive level.

Key Takeaways:

Defining Moments and the Spark for Healthcare
Villarreal's transformative study abroad experience in Morocco opened her eyes to a world beyond her immediate surroundings, inspiring her to focus on making a broader impact. While spending a night in the Sahara Desert, she learned how the guides had picked up multiple languages from tourists over the years. This transformative experience inspired Villarreal to focus her career on making a broader impact. As she reflects, "So that was really what made me realize there's more in this world that I want to experience, there's more that I want to do to impact others.”

Navigating the Path to the C-Suite
Villarreal emphasizes the importance of staying true to oneself, even as one climbs the corporate ladder. "Stay true to yourself. That's huge. I really stress that. Why? Because it's so much harder when you're trying to be someone you're not, or when, or when you're trying to, you know, mimic someone else's career goals."

Patience and focus were also key qualities that Villarreal cultivated along the way. "Patience, patience is key ... We're trying to get somewhere as fast as we can, because we see others get there that fast. There's gonna be a road for you, and it's your road. It's not my road."

The Power of Lifelong Learning
As Chief Ambulatory Officer, Villarreal recognizes the importance of lifelong learning in the ever-evolving healthcare landscape. "I do believe that if you're in healthcare, you have to be a lifelong learner to stay in the field. There's now new AI technology. How do we get administrative tasks that that burden off the physicians? How do we get AI scribes? Is a virtual scribe work. There's so many things also in revenue cycles."

Leading Diverse, Multi-Generational Teams
Villarreal emphasizes the power of empathy when leading a diverse, multi-generational team. "Don't try to or put everyone in your box, because that's never going to work. We're all different, all of us, even in the same generations ... Let's all try to get to know each other a little bit better so we can understand what triggers us, what makes us tick, what are what are they passionate about? What am I passionate about?"

Insights from "C-Suite Bound"
In her book C-Suite Bound: How Self-Discovery Leads to Ultimate Success, Villarreal shares her personal experiences and lessons learned on the path to the C-suite. As she explains, "This book is to tell you the don'ts and do's and what I've experienced, what my colleagues have experienced, navigating to get to the C suite and being in the C suite. It's that type of book to let people know that it's possible for anyone."

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