In celebration of Women’s History Month, leaders from the Women’s Commission and Women in Academic Medicine, two of the University’s Employee Resource Groups (ERG), share stories of inspiration and advice that have made an impact in their lives.
Read insightful responses from a candid Q&A with Stephanie Fleitas, associate director, Orientation and Commuter Student Involvement; Robyn Hardeman, director, Faculty Senate; and Dr. Sharon Andrade-Bucknor, assistant professor of clinical medicine and associate program director, Cardiology Fellowship, Miller School of Medicine.
In October 2022, Fleitas was selected as the new president of the Women’s Commission, a long-standing University group that advocates for women. A member of the Women's Commission since 2006, Hardeman helped formalize the book club. Andrade-Bucknor serves as president of Women in Academic Medicine, a group dedicated to advancing opportunities for mentorship, institutional advancement, networking, and career development for women faculty members.
Q: Who is the most influential woman you know (historically or personally)? How does she inspire you?
Andrade-Bucknor: As cliché as it may sound, the most influential woman I know is my mother. From an early age, I realized she defied the societal norms of her time. She became a lawyer in the early 1960s in England and eventually earned the title of the first female Registrar of Titles for Jamaica. She never complained and appeared to be able to do it all, which included family and work responsibilities. She endured significant family tragedies with grace, inner strength, and her faith. Even at the age of 88, she continues to amaze me with her attitude of gratitude despite her growing medical issues. She inspires me to work hard, always give my best, and not be confined by society. Because of her, I was not daunted by my choice to specialize in cardiology, which is still largely male-dominated and has a low representation of Black practitioners in the U.S. I was the first Black cardiologist at UM when I joined the faculty in 2000. I am happy that I have since been joined by an outstanding heart failure specialist, Dr. Luanda Grazette.
Fleitas: My mom is the greatest person ever. Her greatest motivation is knowing she can help contribute to a loving and caring community. Her level of humility and kindness motivates me to be the best version I can be of myself every day.
Hardeman: I’ve been really lucky to have many influential women in my life, but if I had to choose one, it would be my grandmother. She was born in 1902 and passed away in 1998 at the age of 96. She lived through the 1918 influenza pandemic and struggled to feed her family of six during the Great Depression. She lost a teenage son in a car accident, proudly grew a victory garden during World World II, and built and designed her own home in her late 60s after my grandfather's passing. Through all of this, she was involved in community organizations, including PTA’s, Cub Scouts, and Girl Scouts, and always found time to support her grandchildren. She inspires me because she never gave up, and she always wanted to learn new things. Whenever I was apprehensive to do something she would say, “there's always a first time for everything!” Although she was a woman of few words, she was kind in a way that drew people to her and kept them near. She was definitely a powerhouse who knew what she wanted.
Q: What is some good advice you’ve received?
Andrade-Bucknor: Strive for a good balance between your work and personal life. Without balance, your ability to reach your potential in either area will suffer. At any given time, the needs of one area may encroach on the other, but after the “fire is out” the balance should be reestablished. Finding a means to de-stress is very important for your well-being. I started long-distance running about 12 years ago, and it is a great source of stress relief and “me time.”
Fleitas: Take advantage of any opportunity that allows you to build your network in a variety of professional areas and industries. When I was a student at the University of Miami, one of my professors shared the following quote with me: “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” It’s a message that I try to remind myself and my students about regularly.
Hardeman: Don’t take yourself so seriously, don’t be afraid to be you. No one is looking at you, they are thinking about themselves. Also, the best conversationalist asks questions about the other person and listens.
Q: What factors impact a woman's ability to lead others?
Andrade-Bucknor: I believe the greatest factor for a woman to effectively lead is respect. There must be respect for her abilities, knowledge, integrity, and fairness. In order to lead she must actively listen, empathize, respect others, communicate—not just with words, but also through actions—and lead by example. These are important, integral factors in being able to motivate, inspire, and empower others.
Fleitas: Believing that they have the ability and key characteristics to lead is the first step. Another factor is having role models and mentors. I’ve developed my leadership style because I’ve been lucky enough to work with some outstanding leaders throughout my career who have provided the space for me to ask questions and receive critical feedback.
Hardeman: As women, we often shy away from being leaders in a conversation. I’ve seen women in meetings—and I’ve caught myself doing it, too—who will devalue their opinions or statements. To lead others, we need to know that our opinions and contributions are just as important as everyone else's. We just need to own it.
All ERG’s, including Women’s Commission and Women in Academic Medicine, are open to faculty and staff members at the University of Miami. Learn more.
