We were lucky to catch up with Aileen Dinkjian recently and have shared our conversation below.
Aileen, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
My resilience comes from my grandparents. They were very prayerful individuals who lived through World War II, had 7 children, and lived up to their 90’s. Their encouragement, stories they’ve told and support is what keeps me resilient, even after they have already passed away.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
While in graduate school, I worked for the City of Alexandria, Virginia, as a Staff Development Coordinator in support of clinical and non-clinical initiatives related to mental health, substance abuse, and population health. In 2009, I was recruited to work for the U.S. Department of Justice, National Institutes of Justice on judicial research and was then hired by Booz Allen Hamilton to support a bold initiative on countering terrorism with multiple federal government agencies. I provided necessary communication and briefing binders for federal officials and frontline officers to support a nationwide initiative called “Suspicious Activity Reporting.” Again, I helped this program grow since its infancy stage.
By 2012, I headed back to Los Angeles, where I found herself growing as an administrator at the University of Southern California (USC), Keck School of Medicine, taking on leadership positions as an administrator and as a program manager for a critical National Institutes of Health, grant-funded program called the Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI). I spent nine loyal years at USC honing in on my skills as a strategic thinker and problem solver, supporting researchers, partners, and community members in multiple ways, such as innovatively involving community members in reviewing scientific grant applications and more. By 2021, I had a calling to return to the Inland Empire region where I had always intended to return by accepting a position as a Director of Development for healthcare initiatives with the University of La Verne to support the new College of Health and Community Well-Being. This was my dream come true to be at the epicenter of supporting the healthcare workforce and the well-being of the community by making sure opportunities and access were available to all. However, my dream only continued to be realized from there, and in 2022, I found herself quickly taking on a new role as an Associate Vice President for Population Health and Executive Director of the Lewis-San Antonio Healthy Communities Institute at San Antonio Regional Hospital that rightfully fits the kind of person I am and the work I have committed life-long career to, to address the region’s workforce development, community health issues and overall public health concerns. Based on my career history, I have so much to offer to any organization and have continued to be thoughtful, dedicated, and compassionate throughout her work. Today, I have built a nationwide network and have been adept in connecting partners to resources and individuals to evidence-based practices and bridging gaps that could easily be overlooked.
I am a big supporter of professional growth and have mentored hundreds of women in their career journeys. I have always taken the time to write thoughtful recommendations to former colleagues and employees and have helped many women prepare their resumes and job interviews to boost their confidence and self-esteem.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Compassion, perseverence and patience. I honestly think that because I’ve carried with me all three qualities, I was able to accomplish most of the things I wanted to achieve thus far in life. I would say take your time and enjoy what’s in front of you and hone in on those skills. I’ve seen those early in their careers wanting to rush to the top, but critical skills are developed during hardships, trials, challenges and tribulations. My advice is that it is OK to take that job that leads towards your desired career goals and stop looking at the salary. I feel that’s the major pitfall when people seek opportunities – they are zoned in on the pay. For me, I never looked at the pay and always looked to see if I’m truly a fit for the job. However, if companies are willing to pay you for what they believe your worth is and you agree… then that’s a plus! Companies work with budgets and I understand that. Definitely always stick by your worth, but also be flexible to companies that don’t have a big budget but have the opportunity you’re hoping to be a part of. I always stick by a quote I learned in high school where this motivational speaker said, “do what you love and do it for free… if you do it so well, you’ll get paid for it.” Hone in on those skills! Volunteer, network, and be yourself!
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey. I love his book. I practice these habits daily: 1. Be proactive – We all have the ability to choose, how we react and how we respond in a positive manner to improve a situation.
2. Begin with the end in mind – What is my personal mission statement? For me, I just want people to be happy and healthy. Very simple.
3. Put first things first- Knowing the difference between what’s important and what’s urgent.
4. Think win-win – It’s important to try and seek mutually beneficial win-win solutions or agreements with while valuing and respecting differing thoughts.
5. Seek first to understand, then to be understood – Sometimes I struggle with this, but it is important to be empathetic in listening to truly understand a person. The hope is that they would reciprocate the listening and take an open-minded approach to be influenced.
6. Synergize – This is really about teamwork.
7. Sharpen the saw – This is a habit I try to practice daily which is to be consistent on progress and to renew our resources, energy and health to create a sustainable, long-term, effective lifestyle.
These daily habits truly helped me stay centered and balanced with life – even though I take on a million tasks a day.
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