Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Shirk Patrick.
Heather, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My story really starts when I was 18 and became involved in Delta Gamma, an organization that has a philanthropic focus on service for sight. It also is an organization focused on empowerment of women and leadership. I have worked both in the for-profit and non-profit space but found my calling in the world of healthcare nonprofits. I am a believer that healthcare and education really can define your path forward and we need to do so much more to improve both. I also believe that part of my calling or mission is to educate individuals how to advocate so that they know how to move through our healthcare system. Empowerment is key. I have worked for all different nonprofits across the United States and know every piece of the business, but my heart is in vision care. Currently, I serve as the President and CEO of Prevent Blindness Texas.
Every day I have the opportunity to work with children, adults, and seniors to help them regain their sight and prevent further vision loss. I have the opportunity to educate how vision connects to our overall health and why it’s so important, and I have the privilege of working with an amazing team and hundreds of volunteers. It has been a long and sometimes, grueling, journey, but I love the type of work I do. I also love what I do because as the CEO I have the chance to work with individuals on their own leadership journey and walk beside them in growth, and that is something I love being a part of.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It absolutely has not been a smooth road. I was part of a nonprofit when a major, national crisis happened and watched a trusted, global brand crash. I have been discriminated against as a young woman with a young family when interviewing for an Executive Director position I so desperately wanted and was crushed when I didn’t get it, but stayed at the organization as the number two person on the team. I had been in my current position just 30 days when Hurricane Harvey hit Houston. I have had to fire people, lay people off and restructure.
I think I have worked through almost every scenario you could imagine serving more than 15 years in the nonprofit space and five years in the for-profit business world. I am in the world of fundraising and development so constant rejection is part of our work on a daily basis. I have watched women die because they couldn’t access care for breast cancer. I have seen children who had no idea they couldn’t see and their parents/teachers thought it was a behavior issue when really they just could not learn and their development was being impacted. For me, it’s why I do this work, to change this and to build a legacy of solid leadership and management in the organization (s) I am a part of.
Please tell us about Prevent Blindness Texas.
Our mission is to prevent blindness and preserve sight. We help connect people to vision services, we provide resources those that can’t afford to access the system and receive the care they need, we educate the public and providers on the connection between over health and vision, and we advocate so that policies change and improve to help the clients we serve across the state. I am proud of our team for working so well together to change the landscape of vision care so that all people can access the care they need. In 2017, we served 15,000 individuals, in 2018, we served 28,000 and in 2019, we served almost 40,000 individuals across the state. The people that are a part of the organization is what sets us apart. The staff is committed to this mission and the people we serve. The Board has really looked at how to improve the impact the organization has in our communities. We work endless hours but it is so amazing to see how that work pays off. Last week a car hit our building, came through our conference into one of our offices. It happened at 2:45 am in the morning and by 5:15 pm, we had the building patched and secured, but more importantly, we never stopped serving clients (no one was hurt, which we are so incredibly thankful for.) We are known throughout the state as a strong partner that delivers on their commitment to their partners and clients.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I would not change anything about my journey other than learning how to advocate for myself sooner. I would have walked out of the interview where the only male board member of the organization asked me who was going to watch my children if I was to get the ED position and what my husband thought of me taking the position. The first time I negotiated my salary, I had already served in five Executive positions. Prior to that, I took each offer presented. You have to get to a place where you know your value and are willing to stand behind that. The path I have taken has been one full of incredible lessons and truly amazing people, especially impactful women mentors. I know how important culture is, and that it truly can make or break an organization.
It’s important to remember the tools that got where you wanted to be in the first 40 years of your life are likely not going to be the tools/skills that help you thrive in the next 40 years. In leadership, there are always going to be people who think you can do it better or different, and they tell you that on a regular basis. Understanding your core values and then aligning all the pieces of your life to them is when life becomes awesome! It’s hard to thrive in an organization that is in conflict with your values. Surrounding yourself with a team that is diverse, talented, and has a desire to learn leads to great outcomes.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2202 Waugh Drive
Houston, TX 77006 - Website: www.preventblindnesstexas.org
- Phone: 713.526.2559
- Email: hpatrick@preventblindnesstexas.org
Image Credit:
The photographs are owned by PBT.
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