Meet Olivia, a BLI Alumna with an inspirational story and journey to share. Initially attending school for Business Management and Public Relations, and she launched her career path in Los Angeles, landing a job in the Public Relations Industry. Yet as things began to shift within her personal life, she was pulled in another direction.
“Around that time, my mom had a stroke due to Atrial Fibrillation. My father passed away when I was 12 due to Cardiac Disease, and at that point I had also already taken care of my Grandma for some of her own health issues… so I felt compelled to also ‘fix’ my mom before her situation could get any worse. I became very involved in her medical journey, and got to know her doctors well. As I worked closely and interacted with them during my mom’s appointments, a few of them ended up recommending that I go back to school for Cardiovascular Ultrasound. So, I took a few courses over the summer to prepare for the program, and ended up graduating in a year, spending the next year working as a Research Coordinator and Specialist for two published studies.”
Following graduation, Olivia moved to Houston to work as a Cardiac Sonographer in a medical center. She specifically worked closely with structural heart procedures, and eventually started to be approached by medical device companies about jobs within that industry. While not immediately feeling swayed to leave, she eventually agreed to sit down with Boston Scientific WATCHMAN(TM), a device she knew well as it had been recommended to her own Mom. They made her a deal she couldn’t refuse.
“I moved down to work in the Mississippi and Louisiana region for Boston Scientific WATCHMAN(TM). I loved the position and worked hard to excel in it; I’ve always wanted to be the best at what I do. I took on a territory that within two years grew from doing four implants per quarter, to 100. It was around this time (about two years ago) that I heard about the Brand Leadership Institute opportunity within BSC. I learned how it could help clinical minds grow to be more business minded. So I approached my manager and asked about it, sharing how I wanted to polish up my business acumen.”
Moving back into the corporate world with BSC from her previous position in a lab setting wasn’t the smoothest, yet it was the BLI that helped Olivia adjust and refocus. It shifted her mindset to live by her MVP (Mission, Vision and Purpose) and ultimately helped her to care less about the many opinions that were weighing in around her.
“It’s my purpose that matters; my mom, helping patients, and getting a strong career set-up. Keeping this in the forefront of my mind keeps me working hard towards what is important. The right people see you. That’s what you need and that’s all you need. Everything else is noise.”
Soon after completing the BLI, Olivia was selected by The She-Suite’s Founder & CEO Melissa Dawn Simkins to speak at the BSC National Conference. This experience helped her to truly get her voice back, and she felt empowered with the opportunity to share her own story. It was through that experience that she was contacted by a soon-to-be mentor who heard her speak, and saw her as a natural leader, which opened up even further opportunities for Olivia. She went on to speak at the International Women’s Conference conference, where she met a Doctor from the audience. That Doctor happened to be the VP of Marketing for Cardiology at BSC, who Olivia is now currently employed under as a Global Product Manager, a role that she’s been in for slightly over a year.
“The Brand Leadership Institute set me up for success in so many different ways, from empowering me, to putting people in my life who have been there for me. I grew a strong connection with my accountability partner throughout the program, and we still stay in touch to this day.
Ultimately, my story started with me living in a tiny apartment with a roommate in LA, to now have full financial freedom over my life. Be bold, and be courageous. Other people will see that, and want to pour into you.”
Since Olivia Smith was led to pursue a career in cardiovascular science in late 2010, she has become a Cardiac Sonographer, Watchman Clinical Specialist and Global Product Manager. Olivia was recognized as a Brand Leader within Boston Scientific after two years. Her accolades include:
- Winning Spirit Award (2021)
- 15 consecutive quarters at >110% to plan quota
- Co-authored two published studies, “Genetics of Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy in African Americans” and “Epidemiology and Genetics of Diabetic Retinopathy in the Jackson Heart Study.”
“I have been blessed with the ability to treat every patient as my own mother. Great communication allows patients to understand their process and equips them with what’s needed to teach their own families. This is how we help an entire community.”
