- One word that best describes how you work and why?
Innovative
- Current mobile device?
iPhone 8+
- How long have you worked at UTMB, what brought you, and what has kept you here?
Worked here for 14yrs. Somewhere in that timeframe I left for MD Anderson for a year and then came back when I had the opportunity to start up a BI group. It was an opportunity I could not pass up because UTMB has always felt like home. It’s where I grew up!
- Take us through a recent workday.
I check my calendar, read emails, respond to emails and plan my day as soon as I wake up so that by the time I get to work I know what my day is going to be like. Once I’m at the office, I set my things down and it’s off to meetings the rest of the day both at CLC and on campus. My goal every day is to maximize the time that I have.
- What is the funniest thing that ever happened at work?
After Hurricane Ike, back when I worked in the Academic Enterprise my small team of 4 people were the first few people to occupy a small suite in the Rebecca Sealy building. It was deserted and somewhat scary. We would be afraid to walk to the restroom on our own especially after people took it upon themselves to scare us with the legendary ghost stories of Rebecca Sealy (St. Mary’s Hospital in the past)! So, we developed a buddy system to go to the restroom in case we encountered something we didn’t want to on the way.
- What apps, gadgets, or tools can’t you live without?
My banking and airline check-in apps are so convenient. Waze saves me so much time navigating traffic and as a music composer, I love listening to and getting inspiration from, the music on Spotify. I also enjoy completing the activity rings on my Apple Watch. I have a competition with my family on who can complete theirs every day.
- What is your favorite food or meal?
I may be Indian but I cannot live without Japanese food. So Sushi is my favorite food and Uchi in Houston is my favorite restaurant and has the best sushi in Houston in my opinion.
- What’s your best time-saving shortcut or life hack?
I make to-do lists to keep me organized by mainly using the Notes app on my iphone. I even have to-do lists for the weekends.
- What everyday thing are you better at than everyone else?
Ability to think on my feet and find resolutions to problems pretty quickly.
- What do you listen to while you work? Got a favorite playlist? Maybe talk radio? Or do you prefer silence?
I prefer silence at work. Outside of work I love listening to alternative rock (Coldplay & Red-Hot Chili Peppers are some of my favorites).
- What’s your sleep routine like? Are you a night owl or early-riser?
Night owl. I would much rather stay up than wake up early.
- Who is your role model?
Sheryl Sandberg because as a woman, she overcame various challenges in her life, working her way up to becoming CEO of one of the largest companies in the world and I admire her for it. I also admire my Dad because he was a hard worker, and an ambitious man. The majority of my foundational qualities came from him.
- What’s your least favorite thing to do, and how do you deal with it?
Laundry at home. I get around it by delegating it to someone else. I also don’t enjoy having difficult conversations with employees but understand it’s for the betterment of the team.
- What’s your ideal weekend look like?
No production issues (Laughs). Playing Japanese Taiko Drums (I spend 5 hours on Sunday rehearsing with my group and absolutely love it), visiting farmers markets, throwing dinner parties, checking out festivals in Houston, trying new restaurants, and hanging with family/friends.
- What are you currently reading, or what’s something you’d recommend?
Just completed 5 Dysfunctions of a Team and currently reading The Advantage. Both by Patrick Lencioni. Do not seem to have time for fiction anymore.
- You were nominated by Ronnie Austin. He wanted to ask you—If there is any human event, past, present, or future, that you could witness in person, what would it be and why?
Malaysian Independence (where I’m from) & the Moon Landing because it’s been a game changer for the history of mankind.
- I’d love to see Mary Lou Morales answer these same questions as well as the following question:
What has been the most difficult thing you had to overcome in life, how did you do it and what did you learn from it?
- What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? Doesn’t have to be work or productivity-related.
Be the change you wish to see in the world- Mahatma Gandhi
Thanks to Rev for the excellent insights, and to Cody Milligan for conducting the interview
