We were lucky to catch up with Allison Santos recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Allison thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you get your first job in the field that you practice in today?

I was nearing graduation from college, unsure of what I would do for work. I was about to graduate with degrees in Spanish and Biokinetics and all I knew was that I wanted to work in healthcare. I didn’t know what that meant exactly, but I hoped it would mean I could help people achieve better health in some way or another, and if I could offer support in Spanish, even better.

One of my professors knew a woman whose company was looking for summer interns. My professor thought of me for the opportunity, so I applied. I secured an interview and met with that woman. It was the most unique interview I’d ever taken part in. I was told to dress casually and we walked around Downtown Minneapolis and just talked. The conversation went well and I set up a second interview with the Founder and CEO. This interview was less about skills for the internship, and more about me as a person and why I wanted to work there. I had another job offer on the table, that would’ve been supporting Spanish-speaking women in a healthcare setting, right up my alley. However, I told the CEO that I wanted to work at his company. I didn’t have a concrete reason why, but I knew, deep down in my gut that I was meant to work there. So, emboldened by my intuition, I told him as much. I got the job, was offered a full time role post-internship and the rest is history.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’ve been interested in health and wellness for years. I also love to help others. So, I sought a health-related major in college, as well as Spanish, hoping that in the end that I’d be able to support whatever community I lived in achieve better health.

I started out my career as an intern at a local healthcare startup in Minneapolis, MN. I did anything and everything sent my way to build my professional skill set. Let me just say, the learning “curve” felt like a learning “vertical line”. I was continually challenged and growing and I believe starting my career in this format led me to the success I’ve achieved today. I was open and willing to try anything, to ask questions, and loved to be involved in meetings even if I wasn’t a very active participant. Just having the opportunity to listen and learn from others helped broaden my mindset and allowed me to adapt my approach to my work and critical thinking so that I could ultimately become a great collaborator.

Today, I am a Co-Founder and the SVP of Client Success at Nice Healthcare. Nice Healthcare is an integrated-primary care clinic whose mission is to make everyday care convenient and affordable. Healthcare should be Nice, after all! I have the pleasure of leading the team that helps thousands of patients learn about Nice and take advantage of our amazing benefits. One of the things I’m most grateful for in my career thus far is my team. In business, you don’t get anywhere without the people around you. I would go as far as to say that includes both employees and your personal support system outside of work. I am so proud of my team and all they have accomplished. Watching them learn and grow brings me such joy as a leader, and has also given me the opportunity to reflect and be a better colleague and leader. I am also unbelievably grateful for my two co-founders who have believed in me from day 1, and have stood by my side through thick and thin. I would be remiss to acknowledge all of the love and support my family and friends have given me along the way as well. Without them, I would not have been able to show up for my team to the best of my ability each day. The symbiosis of these teams has honed me and made me a better person for all.

I am immensely proud of all of the success Nice Healthcare has seen over the years. We have provided exceptional care to thousands of patients who have subsequently been able to feel better and live their lives more fully. That’s all I could ask for. When I think about what outcome I want from Nice Healthcare, it’s time. I want our patients to get time back. No more waiting rooms and feeling crummy and more time spent healthy and feeling good. I want our employees to enjoy their time at work and then be able to be fully present in their lives outside of work, and I want the same for myself. I want my time at Nice to enable me to be the best mom, wife, daughter, and friend that I can be and to allow me to partake in my hobbies. Life is short, I want to make the most of it.

Any advice for managing a team?

Your team is made up of real people. People who all have challenges of varying degrees going on in their lives that you may or may not know about. It is imperative to keep this in mind when managing a team. A core value at Nice Healthcare is to assume the best. So, although I set high standards and I don’t waver in holding my team to them, I approach feedback and areas for constructive conversations with the mindset of “there may be more going on than meets the eye”. Additionally, I have learned along the way that context unlocks a world of possibility. When my team understands why I’m asking for something, they are much more likely to buy into the effort so we can all be successful. When my team feels they are part of the mission, not just completing ambiguous tasks, the camaraderie and morale gets a boost and we all work in alignment.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

Listening.

In Client Success, our goal is to reduce the effort our clients experience to be successful with our product; to make everything as easy as possible. I can know all of the tips and strategies that are standard across my field, and it would be easier to just take those and apply them, but if I don’t listen to my actual clientele, I won’t be successful. My clients will tell me what they truly need, and it’s my job to listen and then think creatively about how to solve for their needs. I create a more robust impact when I tailor my efforts to what they’re telling me than when I anchor only to current industry trends and standards.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.nice.healthcare
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allison-santos-a41b124a

Image Credits

Duluth Studio Co.
Jamie Hiner at Jamie Hiner Creations