When reflecting on our 15+ years of driving results within the healthcare IT industry, a key piece of our success, and one of our core values, is our people. However, it is no secret that men outnumber women in the IT industry as far as workforce makeup. Despite diversity’s critical role in delivering results, it is estimated that women account for only 28% of STEM employees in the United States (Women in Tech Network, 2024). As we move into March, which is recognized as Women’s History Month, we would like to take the time to spotlight a key piece of our workforce here at HCTec: our women in tech.
For this month’s spotlight, we sat down with Project Coordinator/Lead Builder and Client Executive, Brandi Brock, who is an invaluable piece of the HCTec puzzle. Brandi began her career in patient care as a nursing assistant. Although she loved her role, she started to experience the reality of clinician burnout, ultimately compromising their ability to empathize with patients. According to Brandi, this is what motivated her to chase her passion in health literacy, and empowering patients through teaching self-efficacy.
Brandi began to work and train in public health and education, training as a health coach and working side-by-side with clinicians. She was soon offered the role of an Epic Trainer and saw this as an opportunity to further her patient influence and involvement. With experience in at-the-elbow (ATE) support and plenty of Go-Lives under her belt, she joined HCTec in 2019.
Since then, Brandi’s role has been dynamic, working on dozens of clients, projects, and teams, helping fuel her passion for bettering the patient experience, and helping to advance HCTec’s commitment to improving the health of the communities we service by optimizing their IT functions.
As a woman in technology, Brandi has learned to navigate day-to-day challenges with the help of her master’s degree in management, and what she described as “a lot of trial and error!” Brandi said, “…especially as a woman in tech, there’s a lot of emphasis on communication and how you communicate.” Brandi also said that when it comes to creating a safe and comfortable environment for your co-workers, emotional intelligence is crucial. Taking time to understand how you communicate, and evaluating how others may perceive your communication is directly related to how successful your team will be.
Brandi also mentioned the importance of finding leaders who are invested in you. As a leader, you show your commitment to a balanced workforce and culture when you enable diversity. When asked if she had advice for other women in tech, she shared, “Imposter syndrome is real. Remind yourself you deserve a seat at the table. Your ideas are valuable, and your experience is important.”
We are incredibly grateful to have team members like Brandi, who not only exemplify HCTec’s mission, values, and vision, but create a dynamic climate that respects the unique backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives of all individuals. We believe that creating a diverse and inclusive workplace is not only the right thing to do, but it also leads to better decision-making, increased innovation, and improved service for our clients.
Happy Women’s History Month to all the women in tech!