Name: Meghna Chaudhary

Title: Environmental Health & Safety Manager

Organisation: Hologic

Environmental Health & Safety Manager with diverse experience in Program Management, Public Health, Hospital Management, and Dentistry. Angel Investor.

Thank you to the 2,000 leaders who’ve generously done the 7 Questions on Leadership!

I hope Meghna's answers will encourage you in your leadership journey. Enjoy!

Cheers,

Jonno White

1. What have you found most challenging as a leader?

Making difficult decisions. Striking the right balance between various stakeholders' interests can be complex.

2. How did you become a leader? Can you please briefly tell the story?

Leadership isn't a title; it's the spirit you bring to every challenge. From TV show host to safeguarding the well-being of hundreds, my diverse roles (Program Manager, Patient Services Manager, Consultant, Dentist) share a common thread – a passion for empowering others. I have a proven track record of helping Fortune 500 companies achieve their EHS and Project Management goals.

My commitment is to exceptional service and fostering team success. Jack Welch's sentiment resonates deeply: "Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others." This philosophy guides my approach, ensuring I empower my team to excel.

3. How do you structure your work days from waking up to going to sleep?

Me? Up at 7, protein shake to fuel the day, then it's work mode. Hit the gym after to clear my head, and Netflix takes care of the rest. Leading isn't all sunshine and rainbows, gotta have some chill time too!

4. What's a recent leadership lesson you've learned for the first time or been reminded of?

Constructive criticism delivered with empathy and careful wording can be far more effective than harsh honesty.

5. What's one book that has had a profound impact on your leadership so far? Can you please briefly tell the story of how that book impacted your leadership?

One book that has profoundly impacted my leadership perspective is 'The Leader Who Had No Title' by Robin Sharma.

This book challenged my perception of leadership, emphasizing that leadership isn't just about a title or position, but rather an inherent mindset and set of behaviors.

Sharma's message resonated with me because it highlighted the power of individual initiative and the importance of personal responsibility within any role.

6. If you could only give one piece of advice to a young leader, what would you say to them?

Focus on building trust – it's the cornerstone of effective leadership.

7. What is one meaningful story that comes to mind from your time as a leader, so far?

The waiting room was busy, and next up was Mr. Patel. He wasn't a big fan of the dentist's chair - he got super jittery! I knew the feeling: tight jaw, white knuckles, all that. And it wasn't just him, we had many challenging patients on a daily basis. Being a newly graduated dentist, it was even more difficult for me to handle everything on my own in the new clinic. Taking a breath, I greeted him kindly.

"Hey Mr. Patel, come on back. Dentist visits can be scary, but we'll get through it together." A little pat on the shoulder to show I cared.

Didn't rush straight into things. I introduced him to Vidhi, my awesome assistant. "She's great at making people feel comfy," I said. Having her there, someone who knew how to help nervous patients, seemed to relax Mr. Patel a bit.

Throughout the whole thing, I explained everything simply, like talking to a friend. "This thingy just blows a little air to dry things," or "This might feel a little cold, but it'll be quick." Mr. Patel even asked questions, and I answered them calmly.

By the end, he almost smiled (hard to do with your mouth open!). "That wasn't so bad," he chuckled. A big weight lifted off me - success!

Looking back, I learned a big lesson: being a dentist isn't just about teeth and tools. It's about understanding your patients, working as a team, and making them feel heard and relaxed.

This helped me in all my ventures. If you make your client (or customer, patient, etc.) trust you, you're already halfway to a successful outcome!