The coach deb smith, MBA
By Sam Marie Engle
Passing the ball to set up a team member to make the game-scoring goal is one of Deb Smith’s favorite plays, not only on the soccer field where her kids play, but also in the department.
“Helping others grow, and growing myself, coaching others to success, that’s what I love about my role,” the senior administrator for the Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences says. “Carving out time to help grow new leaders and to help existing leaders be the best they can be really is rewarding.”
Opportunities for such coaching and leadership abound as the department goes through a strategic planning process. “There’s incredible opportunity before us and exciting and positive changes ahead. To be part of the Emory Radiology team as we get to the next level is thrilling,” she says.
As one of the facilitators of the recent two-day strategic planning retreat, Deb deftly moved the group of more than 50 department leaders through the packed agenda. She frequently did the ball-passing thing: teeing up other members of the planning committee to lead different visioning exercises. By the end of the second day, people were more pumped than pooped, proud they scored (achieved) all the goals and then some. It wasn’t easy, but this longtime student of leadership has lots of practice.
“Helping others grow, and growing myself, coaching others to success, that’s what I love about my role,” the senior administrator for the Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences says. “Carving out time to help grow new leaders and to help existing leaders be the best they can be really is rewarding.”
Opportunities for such coaching and leadership abound as the department goes through a strategic planning process. “There’s incredible opportunity before us and exciting and positive changes ahead. To be part of the Emory Radiology team as we get to the next level is thrilling,” she says.
As one of the facilitators of the recent two-day strategic planning retreat, Deb deftly moved the group of more than 50 department leaders through the packed agenda. She frequently did the ball-passing thing: teeing up other members of the planning committee to lead different visioning exercises. By the end of the second day, people were more pumped than pooped, proud they scored (achieved) all the goals and then some. It wasn’t easy, but this longtime student of leadership has lots of practice.
The Path Taken
Deb began her Emory career in 2003 as the manager of a 15-person research laboratory and then worked her way up to directing the lab. The decision to work in academic healthcare was a deliberate one.
“As a child, I was sure I wanted to be a doctor. As I neared adulthood and was making actual career decisions, I realized that wasn’t going to be my path, but I still was absolutely sure I wanted to be in healthcare and wanted to have an impact on people’s wellness.”
Eager for more responsibility, she pursued an MBA at Emory’s Goizueta Business School with a concentration in leadership and organizational management. She graduated with top grades and was inducted into the Beta Gamma Sigma national business honor society. Those credentials led her to join the Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences as the director of strategic integration. Less than six years later, she was promoted to her current position of senior department administrator.
Instead of being a doctor, she says, “I’m pleased that today I can help our doctors and other providers so they can provide the best care for patients.”
Lessons in Leadership
Since joining Emory Radiology, Deb has completed the Radiology Leadership Academy (RLA) (class of 2013) and then became the program’s leader. She also completed the Goizueta Executive Women's Leadership Program (2019) and recently completed a short course on Executive Presence and Influence through the Wharton executive education program.
Even with all that study and experience, Deb says, “it’s one thing to know and understand the concepts and frameworks, but practicing leadership is another thing,” she says. “Leadership takes a lifetime to master.”
Surprisingly, she says, the best leadership program hasn’t been a program at all. “I very often draw parallels between leadership in the workplace and in the home. When I had my children (8 and 11 now), I saw leadership impact in a different way. It’s one thing to state your values and another to live them. Raising children shines a spotlight on whether or not I’m living my values. I really honed in on the idea the world is a stage, and someone always is watching and learning from you.”
As much as motherhood supercharges her leadership skills, it also decompresses her. “Real, focused quality time with my children recharges me in a big way. When I pick them up after work, we’ll stop for a donut or a smoothie and talk about our day and the world and life. I love hearing their perspective and learning what’s going on in their world. I’m also recharged by hanging out socially with other working moms like myself who are senior executives in their fields.” Going to the movies also is fun.
From the Heart
When asked where her heart is, Deb doesn’t hesitate. “My kids are absolutely first.” She’s thoughtful for a moment, gathering the words. “My heart is in a place where I truly want the humans of the world to feel like they have a place in the world, to feel love and acceptance and to feel free from harm. And in my small world, I want my children to thrive and find happiness as defined by each of them.”
Another pause. “Also, wherever there’s chocolate.”
This year is one of big changes and challenges for the Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences. When asked for a slogan to guide the year, Coach Deb says, “Challenge the status quo.”
Sounds like a great way to approach the year and a career.
Deb began her Emory career in 2003 as the manager of a 15-person research laboratory and then worked her way up to directing the lab. The decision to work in academic healthcare was a deliberate one.
“As a child, I was sure I wanted to be a doctor. As I neared adulthood and was making actual career decisions, I realized that wasn’t going to be my path, but I still was absolutely sure I wanted to be in healthcare and wanted to have an impact on people’s wellness.”
Eager for more responsibility, she pursued an MBA at Emory’s Goizueta Business School with a concentration in leadership and organizational management. She graduated with top grades and was inducted into the Beta Gamma Sigma national business honor society. Those credentials led her to join the Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences as the director of strategic integration. Less than six years later, she was promoted to her current position of senior department administrator.
Instead of being a doctor, she says, “I’m pleased that today I can help our doctors and other providers so they can provide the best care for patients.”
Lessons in Leadership
Since joining Emory Radiology, Deb has completed the Radiology Leadership Academy (RLA) (class of 2013) and then became the program’s leader. She also completed the Goizueta Executive Women's Leadership Program (2019) and recently completed a short course on Executive Presence and Influence through the Wharton executive education program.
Even with all that study and experience, Deb says, “it’s one thing to know and understand the concepts and frameworks, but practicing leadership is another thing,” she says. “Leadership takes a lifetime to master.”
Surprisingly, she says, the best leadership program hasn’t been a program at all. “I very often draw parallels between leadership in the workplace and in the home. When I had my children (8 and 11 now), I saw leadership impact in a different way. It’s one thing to state your values and another to live them. Raising children shines a spotlight on whether or not I’m living my values. I really honed in on the idea the world is a stage, and someone always is watching and learning from you.”
As much as motherhood supercharges her leadership skills, it also decompresses her. “Real, focused quality time with my children recharges me in a big way. When I pick them up after work, we’ll stop for a donut or a smoothie and talk about our day and the world and life. I love hearing their perspective and learning what’s going on in their world. I’m also recharged by hanging out socially with other working moms like myself who are senior executives in their fields.” Going to the movies also is fun.
From the Heart
When asked where her heart is, Deb doesn’t hesitate. “My kids are absolutely first.” She’s thoughtful for a moment, gathering the words. “My heart is in a place where I truly want the humans of the world to feel like they have a place in the world, to feel love and acceptance and to feel free from harm. And in my small world, I want my children to thrive and find happiness as defined by each of them.”
Another pause. “Also, wherever there’s chocolate.”
This year is one of big changes and challenges for the Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences. When asked for a slogan to guide the year, Coach Deb says, “Challenge the status quo.”
Sounds like a great way to approach the year and a career.