Waiting for the elevators at the BC Cancer Agency Research Centre, I see the plaque commemorating the Jambor-McCarthy gift to the BC Cancer Foundation. It includes their family motto: work hard, live well, give back. I’ve adopted this for my own mission statement, and try to exemplify these in my work at the BC Cancer Agency.
Every day, I work hard to provide effective and motivational leadership to staff at the Genome Sciences Centre and throughout the Cancer Agency. To me, this means leading by example in all of my own tasks, but also working to create pathways for success for everyone. Empowering staff for decision-making, engaging everyone in discussion, and valuing all contributions, while also making the workplace fun, creative and respectful are essential elements of leadership for me.
Outside of the work at the Genome Sciences Centre, I am an active participant and contributor to the development of the research management and administration profession. I regularly deliver webinars, workshops and presentation on topics in administration, management and leadership. Since 2004, more than 2,000 people have participated in training with me, and several of those have moved into research management careers locally and nationally.
I am also an active mentor, working regularly with two to three “mentees” at a time. As a mentor, I spend time with people interested in making a career transition into project or research management, and provide them with coaching and guidance in the development of their skills and interests. It is always thrilling to see someone succeed when they take on a new career, and an honour to be a part of that.
My role is challenging, exciting, demanding and fun. It provides me with opportunities to learn new things and to contribute my skills and knowledge to the science and research advancements happening daily at the BC Cancer Agency. With those opportunities to work hard and give back, I feel like I get to live well with the satisfaction of helping things happen and making research work. It all comes together to make an exciting and rewarding career.
Thank you for reading. I hope you found it interesting and enlightening. For more of what I’m doing in the field of management and leadership, please visit my website at www.robynroscoe.com.
Robyn