Some ethical challenges I have faced include working with corporate sponsors- specifically those in the healthcare field. I have worked with health related nonprofit organizations for 15 years and form partnerships with sponsors who underwrite education programs and/or materials, through grants or cash sponsorships,  in disease specific areas- such as diabetes, breast cancer, thyroid disease and more. The benefit for these sponsors is that their company is acknowledged on education programs and/or materials and they reach patients (consumers) and/or physicians who may need their products.

However, in working with some (not all are bad!) of these corporate sponsors they wanted to control the content of the education to suggest that their product or method is the only or best to treat and manage diseases. Nonprofit organizations do not endorse one product, company or disease management/prevention method as nonprofits are neutral organizations that provide unbiased information for their constituents. Unfortunately, these companies know controlling the content (to communicate only their message) is unethical however they want to simply sell their product vs. supporting patients and selling their product to people who need it and can benefit from it. They arrogantly assume nonprofits are desperate for funding and are willing to sell out. In these cases I have declined accepting grants or cash sponsorships from corporations as upholding strong ethics is the first priority in forming partnership with sponsors.

Values that I believe in, specifically to my career include providing the best resources and information to help people live better lives. I believe this is done through being transparent, honest, stepping up to do the hard work, and setting realistic expectations. I think I am strong role model and exhibit the behaviors that I expect from others. In my experiences I have been most successful in leading teams and having shared values by exhibiting behaviors first myself, which has earned respect and support from others.

I believe what I do best is bringing together people (teams, volunteers, stakeholders, etc.) to achieve common goals. I believe this because over the past three to five years I have been able to build strong performing teams to exceed goals in my professional work. Achievement of goals include raising public awareness and revenue and recruiting new supporters, across a  number of areas (for the nonprofits I worked with). My key strengths are working with teams to have shared visions, ownership and accountability with great enthusiasm. I believe I have these strengths because I personally value and consider team work and collaboration and bring that into my work.